HOTELS


Keeping safe from Legionnaires’ disease


PETER DUCKER is chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality


The Student Hotel to target UK millennials


Amsterdam based hospital- ity brand Te Student Hotel has set its sights on the UK millennials market as part of a planned £117m expansion across European cities that are particularly popular with the young demographic. Te company – which cur-


T


wo recent fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in Europe are a stark reminder of our health and safety obligations


to keep staff and guests safe. Legionnaires’ disease has been in the


news recently. A 69 year-old man died aſter visiting a spa in the Netherlands. As many as 300 people visited the spa in the northern Dutch town of Avenhorn and were at risk of infection, according to local media reports. In a another outbreak in Portugal, five people have died. In 2012, ten guests at the JW Marriott


Chicago contracted Legionnaires’ and three of them died from the disease. Legionella bacteria were found in the hotel’s pool, whirlpool and decorative fountain. Legionnaires’ disease is a lung infection, a type of pneumonia contracted by the inhalation of water droplets or spray-mists contaminated by legionella bacteria. It mostly affects people aged over 50, with those already in poor health most at risk. It was first identified in the US in the 1970s following an outbreak at a hotel hosting a veteran organisation known as the American Legion. Employers, building owners and leisure operators need to be aware of the dangers and possible criminal and civil proceeding which could result from an outbreak of the disease. Guardian Water Treatment, a Business


Partner of the Institute of Hospitality, has made a three-minute video available to demonstrate the latest Health and Safety Executive changes to Legionella guidelines (ACoP L8), which were revised in April this year. Te short video cuts through long-winded versions of the updated regulations and highlights the key points that affect the majority of organisations. In many cases the new guidelines


actually reduce the amount of work that a facilities manager has to do to keep visitors, guests and staff safe. Te video covers the safe management of air conditioning, drinking water, waste water and ornamental installations, such as fountains – all of which are potential sources of legionella bacteria.


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rently operates four properties in the Benelux region – has secured a capital increase and equity commitment of £118m funded by Perella Weinberg Real Estate to address what it calls the “shortage of qual- ity accommodation” across Europe aimed at students. Te Student Hotel plans to own and oper-


Te Student Hotel caters for increasingly mobile millennials


ate properties ranging from 350 to 700 bedrooms in cities such as London, Brighton and Edinburgh as it bids to attract students, young professionals, and youth travellers. Scottish entrepreneur Charlie McGregor,


founder and CEO of Te Student Hotel, said: “Te movement of students between countries has become a global phenomenon. Te grow- ing number of international students deserves


better and more accommodation options and it’s great to work with an investment part- ner that shares our vision to roll-out high quality and community-driven student and hotel accommodation across Europe.” Te UK low-cost hotel market continues to


attract investors, with this latest development coming weeks aſter Tune Hotels revealed £200m expansion plans to open up to 25 new properties by 2020. Details: http://lei.sr?a=q6q8N


Scottish Highlands: £25m resort


A resort that would take 20 years and an estimated £25m to develop is being planned in 7,300 acres of national forest land next to Britain’s highest mountain peak, Ben Nevis. The joint Forest r y


Commission Scotland (FCS) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise is hoping to apply for planning permission in Q3 of 2015. Te project will com- prise a five-star hotel and spa, a bunkhouse, up to 50 lodges and a campsite. Details of the spa’s design will be developed and released as the project progresses. While being unable to give an exact figure


on the cost of the project due to a number of possible alterations, FCS project team mem- ber Robert Grant said: “If all of the parts of the project were to come together, then indicative investment would be around £25m.” Developers hope to capitalise on the num-


ber of visitors to the region who come to the neighbouring Nevis Range Mountain Resort to pursue winter sports, mountain biking, climb- ing and hill walking. Tese outdoor activities attract thousands of visitors every year.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


Developers hope to capitalise on the region’s large number of visitors “We’re aiming for a resort hotel that com-


plements, rather than competes with, existing provision in the area – and consultation has highlighted a general agreement with the principle of a resort complex,” said Grant. “Te majority of [consultation] participants


would welcome the facilities and additional tourist numbers it could bring,” added Grant. Having taken on board consultation feed-


back, the latest version of the proposal includes changes such as the addition of the Lochaber Rural Complex site and ski range. Details: http://lei.sr?a=X3f6m


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014


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