Cynera Rodricks - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 19

1 min

The Belfry unveils new multi-million pound resort expansion

🏨 The Belfry Hotel and Resort, Midlands, unveils a multi-million pound expansion, completed in two years. New facilities include Brabazon House with 149 rooms, balcony views, and a two-bedroom suite. The Masters Suite, now 852sqm, hosts up to 920 people, generating over £80m in enquiries and £10m in bookings. The Club offers a Technogym, yoga studios, sports hall, and pools. Early clients: DP World Tour and Team Europe.

1 min

House of Gods to open first London hotel in Canary Wharf

🏨 House of Gods will open its first London property in Canary Wharf on 27 October. The 79-room hotel features a design-led, "maximalist" style, similar to its Edinburgh and Glasgow locations. Highlights include the Sacred Garden rooftop bar and restaurant with a 300-person capacity and views over Eden Dock. Backed by leisure investor Imbiba, the hotel aims to enhance Canary Wharf as a cultural and business hub, offering guests a unique and immersive experience.

2 min

The Beaumont to open new restaurant Rosi on 1 October

🍴 Rosi, a new restaurant at Beaumont Mayfair hotel in London, opens on 1 October. Chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, a Michelin-starred chef, leads the culinary team, working with Brendan Fyldes and Jozef Rogulski. The menu offers British classics with twists, featuring dishes like chicken Diane and English Wagyu steaks. The redesign, under CEO Stuart Procter, includes a vibrant interior. Desserts include a flamed sponge and Mayfair Millionaire Tart.

2 min

US visitor slowdown hits UK hotels as weaker dollar pressures pricing

📈 American visitors to the UK have decreased in early 2025, impacting London hotel rates due to a weaker dollar and new tariffs by President Trump. The US, a vital market, contributed £7 billion in 2024, with Americans making up 15% of international stays. From mid-July to mid-August, UK hotel rates rose 1.4% in pounds but nearly 6% in dollars. London hotels saw a 0.6% ADR drop to £201, equating to a 4% rise in dollars.

1 min

Whatley Manor secures EarthCheck certification for fourth year

🌎 Whatley Manor, a Wiltshire hotel, achieved EarthCheck Silver certification for the fourth year, recognizing its energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management. In 2024, it recorded 907 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions, a 14% reduction from 2023. Since 2022, the hotel collaborates with Greenly for emissions tracking. It retired 1,000 carbon credits from Mexico's San Jerónimo Coatlán project, supporting local communities and biodiversity. The hospitality sector contributes nearly one-sixth of Britain's greenhouse emissions.

2 min

Horwood House opens UK’s first ‘butterfly resort’

🦋 Horwood House hotel in Buckinghamshire launched the UK’s first “butterfly resort” on its 38-acre estate near Milton Keynes. This initiative supports eight native butterfly species, developed with local schools' input. A “butterfly butler” uses surplus hotel fruit to feed the insects. The hotel also collaborates with Urban Bee-lievers to install beehives, engaging youth in beekeeping and cooking with on-site honey. The project aims to enhance biodiversity and conservation education.

1 min

Mandarin Oriental appoints new chief information officer

💻 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has appointed Raphael Bick as chief information officer, effective immediately. Bick, with 20+ years in technology and digital transformation, will lead the group's tech, digital, and AI strategies. Reporting to CEO Laurent Kleitman, he brings experience from McKinsey Technology and McKinsey Digital Labs. Originally from Germany, Bick has global experience across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the US and will be based in Hong Kong.

2 min

Paddy McKillen awarded £700m in dispute with Qataris over London hotels

💸 Irish property investor Paddy McKillen awarded over £700m in a dispute with Qatari owners of London's luxury hotels Claridge’s, the Berkeley, and the Connaught. The 2015 consultancy agreement entitled McKillen to 36% of hotel value increase, estimated at £6bn. The London Court of International Arbitration's ruling suggests hotel values were between £4bn and £4.25bn. Partnership ended in 2022, with investors disputing asset coverage. Both parties can challenge, but successful appeals are rare.

1 min

Mandarin Oriental appoints new group director of spa, leisure and wellness

📷 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group appoints Emlyn Brown as the group director of spa, leisure, and wellness in August 2025, following Jeremy McCarthy's 11-year tenure. Brown, previously with Accor as global senior vice president for wellbeing, aims to enhance guest experience and operational performance. His career includes senior roles at Resense Spa, GOCO Hospitality, Six Senses, and Jumeirah Group. Brown emphasizes wellness as central to hospitality, building on Mandarin Oriental’s wellness heritage.

1 min

Holiday Inn Express and Ibis Styles join Burton Albion as joint bronze partners

🏨 Holiday Inn Express and Ibis Styles Burton Upon Trent joined Burton Albion FC as bronze partners. Holiday Inn Express has operated since 1997, and Ibis Styles marks its first anniversary. Both hotels are managed by HCM Midlands under IHG and Accor franchises. Alan Northern, the general manager, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. HCM Midlands also runs hotels in Swindon, Cardiff, and Wimbledon. Ibis Styles caters to long-stay guests with in-room kitchens.

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