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Bob Cotton retired earlier this month as chief executive of the British Hospitality Association. In this, his final column, he bids fairwell to readers of Leisure Opportunities


L Ibrahim joins BHA from the World Travel & Tourism Council


Ufi Ibrahim takes over at BHA New chief executive to drive 'forward-thinking policies'


By Tom Walker Ufi Ibrahim has taken over as chief executive of the British Hospitality Association. She replaces Bob Cotton, who is retiring after ten years in the role (see Cotton's column, right). Ibrahim joins the association


from the London-based World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), where she was chief operations officer, working with governments and industry across the world. Her role involved advising the council on policymaking and the


development of planning frameworks in tourism. Speaking on her first day


at the BHA, Ibrahim said BHA’s mission is clear – to work closely with industry, govern- ment and partners to strength- en the hospitality industry’s role in driving forward- thinking policy decisions. “As demand for leisure and


travel continues to grow across the world, the potential for the hospitality industry to grow its contribution to GDP and jobs across Britain is hugely significant," she said.


Travelodge buys 52 M&B hotels By Tom Walker


Budget hotel chain Travelodge has acquired 52 Innkeeper's Lodges from restaurant and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B). The deal – equating to 1,994 rooms – will increase Travelodge's estate to 452 hotels and its room stock to 30,504 across the UK, Ireland and Spain. The 52 hotels include a


number of grade ll listed buildings, range from 21 to 85 rooms and are adjacent to an


© Cybertrek 2010


eaving the BHA after ten years was always going to be a wrench but there’s no doubt that this year was a most opportune time to quit - when a new government is in place


which, I devoutly hope, will take the tourism and hospitality industry – worth more than £115bn annually - far more seriously than it has been taken in all the 13 years of the last administrations. That can only be good. Of course, the industry won’t get all it


wants but I know that the BHA’s arguments will be positive, forward-looking and clearly designed to meet the many future challenges which will inevitably be presented. The hospitality industry has made great strides in the last ten


years – I’ve no doubt that there will be similar progress in the future. It has survived enormous challenges, largely by its own efforts: the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, the attack on the twin towers in the same year, the London bombings, and, more recently, the economic recession which still concerns many operators. Yet in the last ten years more than £30bn has been invested in the


hotel industry and the UK's restaurants are now admired throughout the world. Success rightly follows such massive investments in people and facilities but it would be folly to become self-satisfied and complacent. Yes, the country is currently in difficult times but it will recover from them; investment must continue. I wish the association the greatest good fortune. I am sure it will


drive the industry forward and advance its interests to the advantage of everyone – employer and employee alike. And I know that the industry will give Ufi the level of support that it has so generously given to me – and that she, too, will find she has the best job in hospitality.


M&B restaurant and pub. The £91m deal saw the hotels sold to Prupim, a property invest- ment arm of Prudential, which has leased the hotels to Travelodge for a 25-year term. The company will now


undertake a £10m investment programme to bring them in line with the Travelodge brand, a move which will include building new reception areas, replacing all the beds and decorating the hotels. The hotels will be rebranded within four months.


BOB COTTON became chief executive of the BHA in January 2000 and announced his retirement in September 2009. Leisure Opportunities is a member benefit of the BHA, for your free copy call 01462 4719932


London hotels set for double-digit growth


London hoteliers remain "on track" to post double-digit revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth in 2010, according to new figures from advisory firm Deloitte. During the first half of the


year, the capital's hotel operators reported a 9.3 per cent increase in RevPAR, driven by a 7 per cent


growth in average room rates. Occupancy increased by 2.1 per cent. Meanwhile, regional hotel


operators have seen occupancy grow by 4.2 per cent during the first six months of the year, which comes after Q1 brought an end to seven successive quarters of decline.


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