Heather Sandlin - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 10

3 min

Full list of winners for AA Hospitality Awards 2025 unveiled

🍽 Chef Gareth Ward and sommelier Nataliia Maiseionok won top honors at the AA Hospitality Awards 2025 in London on September 2025. Ward, from Ynyshir, won AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year, while Maiseionok, from Fischer’s Baslow Hall, won the inaugural Rising Star Award. The event, held at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, had over 960 attendees and featured 18 award categories. Notable winners included The Cavendish Hotel in Derbyshire and Raffles London at The OWO, which received 5 Red Stars.

2 min

Oakwood Hotel acquired by Kang Hotels

💸 Oakwood Hotel near Gloucester was sold to Kang Hotels for an undisclosed sum, after being listed for over £2 million. Situated on Tewkesbury Road, it features 55 bedrooms on 3 acres within a Grade II-listed Georgian manor. The sale was managed by Christie and Co. Kang Hotels plans a refurbishment to enhance the hotel, including new dining options. The original owner intended additional expansions but sold due to semi-retirement and emigration.

3 min

The rise of microcement bathrooms in modern hotels

🚧 Hotel owners are embracing microcement bathrooms for their modern aesthetic and practicality. This thin, seamless coating enhances small spaces, reduces cleaning time, and lowers maintenance costs by being impermeable and easy to clean. Popular among boutique hotels, it creates a luxurious feel without sacrificing space. Microcement's longevity and eco-friendliness appeal to environmentally conscious travelers, while wet room trays ensure durability. This trend meets both guest preferences and design needs, offering beauty and efficiency.

2 min

Hilton Glasgow completes five-year refurb with launch of new spaces

🛍 Hilton Glasgow completed a five-year refurbishment, launching the Serenity wellness facility and Dram and Wee Dram social venue. Serenity includes advanced therapies like the Welnamis tranquility experience and Wellsystem Wave Touch massage bed. Dram and Wee Dram, inspired by Scotland's whisky heritage, caters to private events. The investment aims to attract business and leisure visitors. General Manager Calum Ross highlights the new spaces' focus on connection, celebration, and well-being.

2 min

The Manor and Ashbury resorts sold to Evergreen Escapes Group

🏟 The Manor and Ashbury resorts in Devon, UK, were sold to Evergreen Escapes Group, led by Stephen Twiss, a former CEO of Lakeshore Leisure Group. The resorts cover 546 acres near Dartmoor National Park and include two hotels with a combined 404 guest rooms. Annually, they welcome about 135,000 guests, generate over £15 million in revenue, and host 115,000 rounds of golf. The business, held by Joan and Simon Essex for 47 years, was sold as they retired.

1 min

Old Course Hotel launches new chef series

🍴 Old Course Hotel in St Andrews will launch a chef series at Road Hole Restaurant. On November 1, 2025, Alex Dilling, a two-Michelin-star chef from Hotel Café Royal, will present a menu featuring dishes like roasted organic chicken with haggis. The series continues on March 7, 2026, with Irish chef Rachel Allen, who will offer Irish-inspired dishes and a special afternoon tea for International Women’s Day on March 8. Local produce from Fife will be highlighted throughout.

2 min

Hospitality job losses to hit 111,000 by next budget, UKH finds

🛑 26 November: UKHospitality (UKH) projects 111,000 hospitality job losses by the upcoming budget. Recent Office for National Statistics data show 84,000 jobs lost in the sector, accounting for 4% of all hospitality positions and 55% of UK job losses. The lowering of the employer NICs threshold hit 774,000 part-time and flexible jobs. UKH urges the government to address business rates, NICs, and VAT to mitigate further damage.

6 min

Tej Walia on the success of Foxhills’ ‘bleisure’ blueprint

🏨 Tej Walia, Managing Director of Foxhills Collection, leads a Surrey-based resort, with a 440-acre estate, featuring a £25 million investment in facilities. Since joining Foxhills, Walia oversaw the Pavilion's May 2021 launch—a leisure hub doubling membership, 70% from families. His career spans 25+ years, including eight years at Hilton. Walia champions adaptability, staff development, and 'bleisure' travel, with an 85-90% staff retention rate. Despite challenges, his leadership emphasizes learning and nurturing talent.

1 min

The Hoxton expands into Ireland with Dublin hotel

🏨 The Hoxton opens its first Irish property in Dublin's Creative Quarter this November, transforming the former Central Hotel on Exchequer Street into a 129-room hotel. The Victorian building features a lobby bar, Cantina Valentina restaurant, a sandwich shop/wine bar, and a basement club. Designed by Ennismore's AIME Studios, the hotel combines traditional Irish pub elements with modern finishes referencing Viking-era discoveries. Located near George’s Street Arcade and Temple Bar, it includes the revamped Library Bar.

2 min

Raglan Lodge brought to market on new lease

🏨 A 43-bedroom hotel, Raglan Lodge, on the A40 in Monmouthshire, is up for lease at £75,000. Located at Monmouth Northbound Services, it features various amenities such as Asda Express, Starbucks, and Subway. The hotel, refurbished in 2017, offers ample parking and three meeting rooms. Connected to major roads, it's one mile from the A449. Asda, the current owner, seeks a hospitality-focused operator. The Heads of the Valleys Road improvement is set to complete in 2025.

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