Oberoi to make European debut in London's Mayfair
Luxury hotel brand the Oberoi Group has received planning consent for its first European site in Mayfair, London, in partnership with Cain International.
Search
COVID-19 Recovery in the UK – The Importance of Domestic Demand
Like much of the world, the UK has been hit hard by the coronavirus, with more than 37,000 deaths and 265,000 confirmed cases as of 27 May and the highest number of attributed deaths in Europe (although fewer deaths per capita than Spain, Italy and Belgium). The pandemic has hit all areas of the economy, but the hospitality industry has undoubtedly been and will continue to be one of the worst affected. Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the lockdown phase, and the focus of hoteliers is shifting from how to manage the closure to developing a sound reopening strategy.
By Stephen Collins, Associate Director with HVS’s London office, HVS
STR: Preliminary April data for London hotels
Reflecting the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, April was London's worst hotel performance month on record, according to preliminary data from STR. Comparison with April 2019:
Lorraine Sinclair has been appointed as Executive Chef at Pan Pacific London
Pan Pacific London announced the appointment of Lorraine Sinclair as Executive Chef. Located in London's new landmark tower, One Bishopsgate Plaza, this multi-award-winning chef returns to her home country, following years honing her craft at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, where she was Director of Culinary Operations for four years.
David Taylor has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Lore Group
Lore Group today announced that David Taylor has joined the group as Chief Operating Officer (COO). David's role is a new one for the company, as it continues to grow its portfolio of thoughtfully designed hotels and hospitality concepts. With offices in London and New York, Lore Group operates award-winning hotels across the globe, including Pulitzer Amsterdam, Sea Containers London and its most recent addition, Riggs Washington DC (wh ich opened in February 2020).David joins the group with 25 years of hotel experience, helping to realise the vision of some of the most creative operators in the business. Most recently, he has been working as VP of Operations for Intercontinental Hotels Group, looking after the Principal Hotels portfolio following their sale by Starwood Capital. He has also been at the forefront of some of the most exciting hospitality brands in the last two decades, from opening the original Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch to launching the London EDITION in 2013, where under his leadership the hotel won numerous awards including the Catey Hotel of the Year award. In 2018 he was also awarded the prestigious title of Hotelier of the Year by The Caterer magazine. David is an experienced and celebrated hotelier, who is passionate about the people and committed to training and development of hospitality professionals. For the last two years he has served as a Trustee at The Savoy Educational Trust - an independent trust to advance education, learning and skills in the hospitality industry.The news of David's appointment comes as Lore Group CEO Billy Skelli-Cohen steps down from the business due to personal reasons.
STR: Preliminary March data for London hotels
Reflecting the circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic, STR's preliminary March data for hotels in London shows significant year-over-year declines in the three key performance metrics. Comparison with March 2019:
STR: London Hotel Performance Drops Amid Growing COVID-19 Concerns
STR's preliminary data for hotels in London shows slightly negative performance in February 2020 that worsened into double-digit declines during the first week of March.
Boutique Aparthotel, The Gate, Debuts in East London
The Gate is a boutique aparthotel opening in Aldgate East, which offers the service and style of a hotel with the privacy of a self-service apartment. Modern travellers' needs and taste in accommodation are changing - people desire more choice than a traditional hotel versus self-catering apartments, and The Gate aims to bridge the gap between the two. The new aparthotel feels like an elevated version of your own home, with full-service amenities and flexible stay periods where guests can stay for one night or up to three months.
The Biltmore Mayfair Unveils Superior Signature Suites With Exclusive Amenities
The Biltmore Mayfair, Europe's first hotel under Hilton's LXR Hotels & Resorts brand, is delighted to announce the launch of its eight indulgent signature suites. Each suite has been designed to provide the discerning guest with an enviable choice of arrangements from a 'townhouse' feel in the One-bedroom Duplex Suite, which offers an extensive private terrace with views over London's rooftops, to the plush and elegant Chairman Suite and hero Presidential Suite.
Hinduja Group and OHL Desarrollos announces Raffles as the brand for the OWO Residences
The Hinduja Group and Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarollos (OHLD) announced an extension to its partnership with Raffles Hotels & Resorts. An agreement was signed in June 2017 for Raffles to operate a 125-room and suites flagship hotel at the iconic Old War Office building in London. A further agreement has now been signed confirming Raffles as operator for the 85 residences at this landmark destination on Whitehall.
Klaus Kabelitz has been appointed as General Manager at The Biltmore Mayfair, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Klaus Kabelitz has been appointed General Manager of The Biltmore Mayfair, bringing over 35 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry with him. He arrives from Belmond Cadogan Hotel London, where he had held the title of General Manager.
Now Open: London Dagenham East Travelodge
London Dagenham East Travelodge is the group's second hotel to open in Dagenham within 12 months. The 78-room hotel offers complimentary onsite car-parking. It represents an investment of £7 million by the landlord and has been built in partnership with Barking & Dagenham Council and Be First, the council's regeneration organisation. It has created 20 new jobs. The hotel is located close to Dagenham East underground and near to 'Made in Dagenham Studios', which is set to be London's largest film studio.
Now Open: London Beckton Travelodge
a 113-room hotel is the group's first hotel in Beckton. It represents a multimillion investment by the landlord, SEGRO plc, and has created 35 new jobs. This new hotel is a key part of the recently completed SEGRO Park Newham, a former landfill site that has not been utilised for over 40 years. The hotel features an on-site restaurant called the Bar Café and a dedicated business floor featuring the company's premium economy SuperRooms.
Boutique Bolthole Locke At Broken Wharf To Open At London’s Millennium Bridge
This March, pioneering hospitality brand Locke will open its second hotel in the capital on the Thames at London's Millennium Bridge. The 113-room Locke at Broken Wharf is located minutes from both Cannon Street and Blackfriars on the north bank stretch of the river path. Locke offers guests a distinctive and memorable experience in the heart of one of the city's most iconic areas, marking the next step in the brand's exciting expansion plans. Locke at Broken Wharf sets the stage for two more London openings in Bermondsey and Dalston later this year, in addition to international projects in Dublin, Munich, Berlin, Lisbon and Copenhagen. These openings build on the success of Locke's existing hotels in East London, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Airbnb has devoured London – and here’s the data that proves it
The number of Airbnb listings in London has quadrupled in the last four years as more and more of the city's housing stock has been gobbled up by short-term rental companies. As of May 2019, 80,770 properties in London were listed on Airbnb, with a staggering 23 per cent, or 11,200, of these thought to be in breach of a legal 90-day limit in the capital.
Some Notes on Crafting the Perfect Hotel Event
Is there really such a thing as a perfect event that's held at a hotel? You know, the one that brides dream of or the one that corporate meeting planners hoping to make their mark lust after? For the past few years, I've been following numerous properties on LinkedIn, and standing out from the pack is Forbes five-star, The Lanesborough in London, England, a member of the Oetker Collection.
By Larry Mogelonsky, Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited
STR: Preliminary January data for London hotels
STR's preliminary January 2020 data for hotels in London indicates lower occupancy but higher rates.Based on daily data from the month, London reported the following in year-over-year comparisons:
Neal Jones has been appointed as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Marriott International Inc. in London
Neal started his career at Marriott International in London over 20 years ago and recently served as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Middle East and Africa in Dubai. Over the past seven years, Jones has provided strategic leadership in Brand Management, Marketing, Digital, Sales, Revenue Management, Loyalty, Communications and Consumer Insight, and has been instrumental in growing the business in the region. . Prior to that, Jones held various sales and marketing management positions around the world, including a position as Vice President in charge of global sales for Europe.
Célia Pronto has been appointed as Managing Director at Love Home Swap in London
Pronto joins Love Home Swap at its London headquarters just two years after its acquisition by RCI, the world's largest vacation exchange company. The hot London-based startup is revolutionizing the home sharing market by providing an easy and secure way for adventurous travelers to choose where they want to go, set up a swap with another traveler and then sit back and enjoy a hassle-free holiday without a hefty accommodation bill.
The Official Association To The World’s Hotels And Concepts In The Boutique Lifestyle Space Completes Another StayBoutique Social Club Dinner
In an effort to bring top minds in the boutique lifestyle space together in a closed, intimate setting to discuss worldly topics and opportunities as well as issues we are facing for 2020. BLLA organized another dinner in London co-hosted by the Inhabit Hotel in Paddington.