hotels A look ahead at 2013


ufi ibrahim is chief executive officer of British Hospitality Association


Castle to open as boutique hotel


Privately owned Fonab Castle Hotel will open in Pitlochry on the Scottish highlands in March 2013. Te brainchild of Jed and


A


s we look ahead to the new year, I want to start by taking a last look back at 2012 and then move forward to set out the BHA’s


ambitions for 2013. 2012 will be known for three things - the


fantastic Olympics which has done so much to raise the profile of ‘Great’ Britain, Te Queen’s Jubilee and the wet weather! In 2012, we kicked off some important campaigns which have been gathering momentum throughout the year: • The Economy – to champion a supportive environment for our industry to prosper in the context of global competition.


• Employment - bridging the gap between education and industry to build a skilled workforce for hospitality.


• Intelligent regulation – advising govern- ment on how best to cut costly regulation for our members.


• Sustainability – encouraging industry- led effort to develop economic, social and environmental success.


• Health –shaping industry and public sec- tor policy to enhance the wellness of our consumers. We’ll begin to see the results of our work in 2013. We will soon be hosting the Big


Conversation for Hospitality – encouraging leaders in our sector to reach out to young people in order to attract them into a career in the industry. Our campaign to cut tour- ism vat to 5 per cent is also gaining traction, both within government and the media. We’ll be reminding government that tour-


ism is one of the leading UK industries, demonstrating huge economic potential for export and staycations. We must aim to capitalize on the visibility that the Olympics gave us and be recognized as a major com- petitor in the global marketplace. Crucial to our ongoing success is the need


to invest in our best resource, our young people. Tis is the shared mission of BHA and our members. We’re already counting down to Day


One of world-beating British hospitality. It starts on 11 June 2013 at the Hospitality and Tourism Summit in London. It’s going to be a busy year and we look


forward to working with all our members to bring about shared success in 2013.


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Joanne Clark, the historic castle – which was used as a medical hospital during World War I - has been transformed into a boutique hotel. A new wing has been added


featuring 18 guestrooms in addition to the 13 suites in the main castle. Tere has also been 36 luxury lodges built on the grounds with some featur- ing private hot tubs. Work is soon to start on the addition of a


luxury spa featuring treatment rooms, a swim- ming pool and a fitness centre. Designed by Leeds-based Edwards


Architectural Services, the design of the new extension blends with the stonework of the original building.


Te castle will be transformed into a luxury hotel by March 2013 Joanne Clark and daughter Becky Cross who


were responsible for the interior design con- tracted Style Contracts interior designers to produce a number of bespoke pieces of furni- ture castle. Set on the grounds, which contain the famous Pitlochry Teatre, the castle’s new wing will also feature a 80-seat restaurant.


Profit increase for Leisure Connection’s hotels arm Te company, which is part of management


Hotel and Facilities Management by Leisure Connection (HFM), an operator of outsourced leisure facilities within the private and hotel sector, has reported a 200 per cent increase in profits - just a year aſter a commercial restruc- ture of the business.


company Leisure Connection, also announced an 87.5 per cent increase in membership num- bers across its nine sites. As a result, HFM has invested £20,000 in creating a new corporate identity to further market its services.


UK hotel transaction activity down in 2012


Hotel transaction activity across the UK was down sig- nificantly in the second half of 2012, according to Deloitte. Consistent with the first


half of the year single asset transactions dominated and London remained the focus for most investors. Transaction activity across


the UK totalled around £300m in the second half of 2012, compared with £1bn for the first half, and £2.5bn for the same period last year. Te most notable transaction was the acqui-


sition of the Cavendish Hotel by the Ascot Group for £159m. Deloitte’s global head of hospitality Nick van


Marken said in 2013 the market will favour cash buyers or those not totally reliant on bank financing to close a deal.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Transaction activity across the UK totalled around £300m in H2 2012 “Tere are a number of portfolio and sin-


gle asset transactions that are currently being marketed. As a result, activity is expected to pick-up, although difficulties in access- ing debt funding is likely to continue to be longer and more difficult to complete.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=x2O5r


Twitter: @leisureopps © Cybertrek 2013


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