News in brief Hotels
RECORD FEBRUARY PERFORMANCE FOR LONDON HOTELS London hotels achieved the best February occupancies and average daily rates (ADRs) for more than a decade last month, according to preliminary figures published by STR Global. Occupancy increased by 0.6%
to 77.3% and ADR 0.7% to £128.4 year on year, while revenue per available room rose 1.3% to £99.34. The increase in room supply of 3.5% was outstripped by the 4.1% rise in demand.
QATAR AIRWAYS ACQUIRES SHERATON SKYLINE AT HEATHROW Qatar Airways has made its first hotel acquisition outside Qatar itself with the purchase of the four-AA-star, 350-bedroom Sheraton Skyline at Heathrow Airport for an undisclosed sum. The state-owned airline, which in
Qatar owns the Oryx Rotana hotel in the capital Doha and runs the city’s Hamad International Airport hotel, now intends to expand its hospitality investments by making further acquisitions in the UK as well as North America and elsewhere. The hotel will continue to be
managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts under its Sheraton brand.
Sheraton Skyline
COOKERY SCHOOL FOR EXCLUSIVE HOTELS AND VENUES UNDER WAY AT LAINSTON HOUSE Work has started on the construction of a £1m cookery school for Exclusive Hotels and Venues, located within the grounds of its five-AA-star Lainston House hotel, near Winchester, Hampshire. Season, the Exclusive Cookery
School, is being developed in a wheelhouse barn adjacent to the kitchen garden of the 49-bedroom hotel. It will become the home of the
STARBOARD HOTELS ACQUIRES FIRST SCOTTISH HOTEL Starboard Hotels has completed the acquisition of its first Scottish hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Greenock, near Glasgow. The addition of the 71-bedroom hotel to its portfolio follows the purchase last month of the 58-bedroom Best Western Carlton in Blackpool. Starboard also owns and
operates the Holiday Inn Express Burnley, the Days Inn Wetherby and the Edinburgh-based Smart City Hostels.
12 | The Caterer | 20 March 2015
Exclusive Chefs’ Academy, which launched last year with 13 trainees, as well as host a range of masterclasses and bespoke events for members of the public.
VISITENGLAND TO BECOME STANDALONE BODY FOR ENGLISH TOURISM VisitEngland is to be given greater autonomy following a recommendation to formally separate from VisitBritain. The proposal to create greater
distinction between the two bodies is highlighted in the government’s Triennial Review of VisitEngland and VisitBritain, published by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport. The move – which will require
confirmation by the incoming government – will see VisitBritain being accountable for the tourism promotion of Britain overseas, with VisitEngland undertaking all domestic tourism marketing.
More online
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EXCLUSIVE DEVON COASTAL RESORT FOR SALE FOR £8.5m The 18-bedroom Gara Rock hotel near Salcombe, Devon, has been put on the market with a price tag exceeding £8.5m. The hotel, which
originally opened in 1946, is located in a prominent cliff-top position. It has recently been rebuilt and now includes four cottages, 11 apartments and a spa. A new 150-seat café is
now operated by Ode-True Food, which runs two other outlets in Devon and was the winner of the Sustainable Business Award at the 2014 Cateys. Gara Rock is being
marketed by Colliers International.
ACCOR PLEDGES TO DOUBLE NUMBER OF UK APPRENTICES Hotel group Accor has pledged to increase the number of its UK apprenticeships from 150 to 300 by the end of 2016. Accor UK & Ireland managing
director Thomas Dubaere said: “I believe that apprenticeships are vital as they offer young people an alternative to further education, allowing them to earn while they learn and helping them to reach their career goals.” More than 500 apprentices have
completed their training with Accor since the company introduced apprenticeships 10 years ago.
PAUL BATES STEPS DOWN AS BEAUMONT EXECUTIVE CHEF Paul Bates has left his role as executive chef at the Beaumont in London, the first hotel to be opened by legendary restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King. He said his six-month contract
to recruit the brigade for the launch of the hotel had come to an end. Bates joined the Beaumont
Lainston’s executive chef Olly Rouse and Exclusive MD Danny Pecorelli
from the InterContinental London Park Lane, where he had spent six years as executive chef. The Colony restaurant at the Beaumont will continue to be run by head chef Lee Ward.
www.thecaterer.com
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