Corina Duma - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 3

2 min

Hospitality venues face average £32,700 rise in business rates

🏠 UKHospitality forecasts England's hospitality venues will see an average business rate increase of over £32,000 in three years. By 2028/29, rates may rise from £20,835 to £40,409, a 94% increase. Holborn and St Pancras face a £96,429 hike, while Leeds West and Pudsey see £12,297 more. Despite transitional relief and a sector-specific multiplier, costs rise. UKHospitality urges a 20p reduction in the business rates multiplier, warning of potential closures and job losses.

2 min

Marriott to open EDITION hotel at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront

🏨 Marriott International plans to open The Cape Town EDITION at V&A Waterfront in 2026. This marks Africa’s first EDITION hotel, featuring 142 rooms, suites, and private residences. Designed by Neri and Hu with StudioMAS, it will offer dining venues, a rooftop bar, a spa, and a pool. Located in Granger Bay, it offers views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. This development is part of Marriott’s African expansion strategy focusing on luxury lifestyle brands.

2 min

Criterion Capital opens second underground hotel in London

🏨 Criterion Capital expands in London with Zedwell Underground Park Lane, a 133-room hotel in Mayfair, opened in 2025. As the second underground Zedwell hotel in the capital, it repurposes urban space to reduce environmental impact. Features include windowless “cocoons” and automated check-in. The company operates over 3,000 rooms in London, with plans for 6,000 more by 2029, extending to Oxford, Edinburgh, and Manchester, targeting leisure and business travelers.

2 min

Fort George Hotel and Spa named Belize’s best MICE hotel for 2025

🏨 Fort George Hotel and Spa in Belize City was awarded Belize’s Best MICE Hotel for 2025 at the World MICE Awards in Bahrain on 6 December. The Lord Ashcroft Centre, offering over 6,600 square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 500 guests, was a significant factor. Opened in early 2024, the hotel features in-house event planning and a new room tower set for 2026, adding 120 rooms. Located 30 minutes from Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport.

2 min

BoE cuts interest rates to 3.75%

💸 Bank of England cuts interest rates to 3.75% from 4% on 3 December 2025, marking the lowest since February 2023. The Monetary Policy Committee's decision was split 5-4. Inflation fell to 3.2% in November, driven by decreases in food, alcohol, and clothing costs. Despite this, the rate remains above the 2% target. Budget measures such as energy bill reductions are expected to aid further inflation decline. Governor Andrew Bailey emphasizes ongoing vigilance regarding inflation and labor market trends.

2 min

Corvex takes 6% stake in Whitbread and calls for strategic review

💰 US hedge fund Corvex Management has acquired a 6.05% stake in Whitbread, equivalent to 10,221,246 shares, and is pushing for a strategic review of the company's direction and capital allocation. This comes amidst Whitbread's five-year £3.5 billion investment plan. Corvex argues that Whitbread's current share price undervalues its assets. They seek board representation to collaborate on strategy. Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, has yet to respond publicly.

2 min

Daish’s Holidays to invest £1m on refurbs across 10 hotels

📈 Daish’s Holidays plans a £1m refurbishment across 10 UK hotels in early 2026, targeting 155 bedrooms and communal areas. The Sandringham Hotel in Weston-super-Mare receives the largest investment of £250k for 90 bedrooms. Scarborough, Llandudno, Newquay, Torquay, Weymouth, Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, and Eastbourne hotels will also upgrade rooms. Paul Harper emphasizes the investment's role in enhancing guest experiences with modern amenities amidst competitive hospitality demands.

2 min

Líbere Hospitality Group enters France with Paris property

🏠 Líbere Hospitality Group will open its first Paris property in the 8th arrondissement by early 2026. The Spanish firm aims to expand across Europe with an asset-light model, managing but not owning buildings. The Paris site currently has 12 apartments for up to 50 guests, set to increase to 19 units. Líbere, operating in six countries, plans revenue to exceed €32 million in 2025, with 1,000 units active and a 2,300-unit pipeline.

2 min

Whitbread secures planning consent for Dorset House hotel conversion

🏨 Whitbread secures planning for a 421-room Premier Inn hub at Dorset House, Southwark. Acquired in May 2025, the 90,000 sq ft site will open in summer 2028. This marks Whitbread’s fourth Central London conversion in 2025, adding nearly 1,000 rooms. Investments exceed £100m, with aims for renewable energy use. Construction starts in the second half of 2026. Whitbread targets 125,000 UK rooms, with London housing 18% of its 86,000-room estate.

2 min

17th Century hotel in Wales sold to new owners

🏨 Roshan and Srishankar have acquired The Lion Hotel and Restaurant, a 17th Century property in Berriew, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Former operators, sculptor Andrew Logan and Michael Davis, launched it in 2018 as a boutique hotel with seven en suite bedrooms and three dining rooms. After eight years, they are stepping back. The new operators aim to highlight hospitality and Welsh produce, positioning it as a destination restaurant and hotel. The sale was managed by Christie and Co's James Dodd.

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