hotels


Summit to underline sector’s contribution


ufi ibrahim is chief executive officer of British Hospitality Association


New sector partnership signed


Capita Symonds has entered into a partnership with devel- oper Oxford Hotels and real estate investor Equiture in a bid to capitalise on new opportunities within the UK’s £10bn hotel industry. Te partnership is target-


T


his is an exceptional year for UK tourism. During the London 2012 Games, the UK will play host to visitors from all over the world –


including 30,000 journalists reaching out to more than 4 billion viewers worldwide. Tis gives us an unprecedented opportu-


nity to celebrate the strength and dynamism of UK hospitality and tourism. Te British Hospitality Association’s (BHA) first-ever Hospitality and Tourism Summit takes advantage of this year’s events and celebrates the strength of UK tourism and hospital- ity. Te event – taking place on 1 June at the InterContinental London Park Lane – is bringing together industry leaders, investors and high-level officials for discussions that will help shape the future of industry. Our thanks go to InterContinental Hotels Group for its sponsorship of the summit. Why is such a gathering of some 400


delegates and a great range of speakers so important? Because it will focus on pow- ering links between major events, sports, tourism and hospitality with the objective of driving economic growth in the UK. Another major BHA event, jointly with


Springboard UK, to be held on 11 July at the Royal Horseguards Hotel London, tack- les the rising youth unemployment. Te Big Conversation is the brainchild of one of Prince Charles’s charities – Business in the Community – and its aim is simple: to boost dialogue between employers and youngsters, to find jobs for young people and to encour- age work placements and apprenticeships. Te Big Conversation for Hospitality


is bringing together 50 senior company executives, chaired by Patrick Dempsey, managing director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, with a cohort of youngsters to promote the development of quality, struc- tured work experience and apprenticeships in the hospitality industry. We want Te Big Conversation to increase


the number of young unemployed who can be offered work in the industry by encourag- ing companies to create new jobs. If we can do this, it would provide a stream of young talent for the sector and make a real differ- ence to the life of so many young people.


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ing “outright acquisitions” of hotel investments and developments, as well as opportunities to work with stakeholders in the asset man- agement of properties. Capita Symonds will be


responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of hotel refurbishment schemes, while Chris King of Equiture and Simon Wood of Oxford Hotels will move to secure projects. King and Wood will also look to acquire and


finance – on behalf of third party groups – on and off-market projects and the negotiation of new operator agreements among others.


Te new partnership will provide “short term and long term” solutions Tim Smith, director at the international


hotel valuation, consulting and brokerage com- pany, HVS said: “Te partnership offers both a short term and long term solution to owners and financiers and a real alternative to insol- vency and the huge impact on value.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=D1j8o


Hotels report ‘exceptionally strong’ trading in April


Economic concerns and poor weather condi- tions failed to prevent UK hotel operators from reporting “exceptionally strong” trading dur- ing April, according to new research. Te latest preliminary figures from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services showed a 9.7 per


cent growth in rooms yield for London prop- erties, when compared with April 2011. Regional hoteliers saw rooms yield grow 3.7


per cent and room rate grow by 3.5 per cent, although occupancy was broadly flat. Details: http://lei.sr?a=v2R6I


PWC: Jubilee poses challenge for hoteliers


PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has said that London hotels will benefit from June’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations but that not all would be able to gain from the events. Te company said the main


challenge for hotel operators will be to fill rooms, while res- taurants and bars are expected to benefit most from an antic- ipated influx of visitors. More than 1,000 boats will


participate in a flotilla down the River Tames on 3 June for the Diamond Jubilee, marking Te Queen’s 60-year reign. Compared with last year’s


Hotels that could benefit most are those along the Tames flotilla route


Royal Wedding, PwC said it was primarily hotels along the route that benefited, If the effect is replicated for the flotilla, only around 10 hotels are situated by the river.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital PWC head of hospitality and leisure Liz Hall


said: “It should be a good weekend for London hotels, but not the golden prize many expect.” Read more: http://lei.sr?a=B9f1z


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2012


image: sf2301420max/shutterstock


image: skyearth/shutterstock


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