hotels
The future is bright for the UK industry
ufi ibrahim is chief executive officer of British Hospitality Association
hilton reveals job creation plan
Hilton Worldwide is planning to create more than 8,500 new jobs across Europe by 2014, with the UK named among a number of key growth mar- kets poised to benefit most. Te operator has more than
D
espite the recession, the UK hotel industry is continuing to expand with 106 hotels opening in 2011 (11,883 rooms) and a fur-
ther 160 hotels (21,000 rooms) to launch in 2012. Tat’s good news – it means that, since the present building boom started in 2003, more than 105,000 rooms have been added to UK hotel stock. Just over half (55 per cent) of new-builds are in the budget sector. Tese figures appear in the 2011 edition of
the BHA’s publication - British Hospitality: Trends and Developments, 2011, sponsored by American Express, RBS/NatWest and Christie + Co – which is published this month. It covers a wide range of topics and is a mine of information about tourism, hotels, restaurants and timeshare, with upfront arti- cles on the state of the industry now and how it might look in the future. The impact of the recession has been
noticeable not only in the performance of the industry generally (London continues to outperform the regional sector) but in the rate of construction. In fact, postponements or cancellations due to the recession or plan- ning delays can be measured in the 18,838 rooms which we forecast would open in 2011 in last year’s Trends and Developments. However, only some of these projects have
been lost; our forecast for 2012 – 21,084 – includes many of the projects postponed from 2011 with some even moving to 2013. And in the catering sector, figures show that, despite the recession, the number of meals served in 2010 continued to increase in all commercial sectors, except pubs and this improvement is continuing into 2011 However, the fact that the industry has
survived in reasonable shape does not mean there are no barriers to future growth. Te primary one is the high VAT rate on hotels, attractions and restaurants, compared with other EU member states. Tis is making the UK uncompetitive with much of Europe. Te BHA is the only organisation lead-
ing discussions on this with the government and we believe they will bear fruit in the long-term. Certainly, only through reasoned argument and discussion will the hospital- ity industry’s case be considered.
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110 properties under develop- ment across the continent and has confirmed it is looking to focus on strategic areas such as the UK, Poland, Russia, Turkey and Germany. Forthcoming new openings
scheduled for the UK include DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln (Q4 2011) and two hotels at the Football Association’s new St George’s Park project in Burton-upon-Trent (Q3 2012). Around 1,500 new opportunities will be
Hilton Worldwide named the UK as one of its strategic growth markets
over the coming three years, such as the Hilton Garden Inn Krasnodar (Q2 2012). Hilton Worldwide’s Ben Bengougam said:
established in the UK with 20 properties open- ing, with a further 1,900 jobs secured through 10 conversion projects. Elsewhere in Europe, there are more than 25 hotels to open in Russia
“We are seeking passionate people interested in hospitality careers with a range of experiences as well as transferable skills from backgrounds outside the hospitality industry.”
New joint schemes for Travelodge and Waitrose
Low-cost hotel chain Travelodge has confirmed that it is currently working on three mixed-use developments across England in partnership with supermarket group Waitrose. Te new schemes are located in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire; Sidcup; and Vauxhall,
London, and represent an investment of £27m, with a further 25 other sites being explored. Travelodge chief executive officer Guy
Parsons said: “Having a Travelodge and Waitrose on site offers an attractive proposition for consumers, developers and investors.”
The Cube opens its doors in Birmingham
A new 52-bedroom Hotel Indigo and Marco Pierre White eatery spanning a 1,319sq m (14,198sq ſt) have opened as part of Te Cube, a £13m development located in the heart of Birmingham. Sanguine Hospitality is
behind the flagship scheme and will operate the new res- taurant and hotel, with the 25-storey building designed to provide a “stunning addi- tion” to the city skyline. Located on the 25th floor,
Te Marco Pierre White eatery is located on the 25th floor of the venue
the 300-seat Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill offers pan- oramic views of Birmingham and an open-air terrace, as well as a private lounge. Te top floor of The Cube also houses a Laurent Perrier’s first UK champagne bar, with Hotel Indigo occupying the 23rd and 24th floors.
Read Leisure Opportunities online:
www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Sanguine Hospitality managing director
Nick Taplin said: “I was astounded to discover that Birmingham did not already have a sky bar or rooſtop restaurant, given the range of magnificent buildings in the city. We have def- initely redressed this now.”
Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011
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