Heather Sandlin - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 3

3 min

Oberland to open first hotel in Glasgow as it sets out expansion plans

🏨 New British hotel group Oberland will open Arthouse Glasgow in April 2026, converting a 19th-century townhouse into a 76-bedroom hotel in the city center. Room prices start from £99 for 'Pocket' rooms to £229 for suites. Celentano’s restaurant will provide over 60 covers. Oberland plans further expansion in the UK and Europe, including Manchester. Arthouse Glasgow will maintain heritage while offering modern design and community-focused spaces, designed by studio A-nrd.

2 min

Innside Manchester marks 10th anniversary with refurbishment

🏨 Innside by Meliá Manchester completed refurbishment of 52 premium rooms, including City View rooms, Studio Suites, and eight Townhouse Suites, marking its 10th anniversary. The upgrades, focusing on design and sustainability, introduce bedside USB charging and smart TVs. With a commitment to local partnerships, like BlackJack Brewery, all rooms will be updated by Q1 2026. Garry Fortune emphasized enhancing comfort to create a "home away from home" for guests.

2 min

Safestay signs sale and leaseback deal for Brighton site

🏡 Safestay plans to sell and lease back a Brighton property for £3.125 million, with a completion date before January 15, 2026. The property, bought for £2.275 million in June 2024, will convert into a 170-bed hostel by summer 2026. Safestay will lease it for 15 years, with an annual rent of £300,000 after a six-month rent-free period. The five-story building spans 15,300 sq. ft. and will create about 20 new jobs.

3 min

OTAs overtake search engines as first stop for hotel research, SiteMinder finds

🗺 Online travel agencies (OTAs) have surged in popularity as a starting point for accommodation searches, rising from 18% to 26% globally, while search engine use declined to 21%. The SiteMinder 2026 report, surveying 12,000 travelers from 14 countries, notes that 80% want AI features for travel planning, with 65% open to demand-based pricing. Travel for events is expected to grow, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the trend. Japan, the US, and France are top destinations.

2 min

Edinburgh hotels account for 75% of all investment in first three quarters

💸 Edinburgh dominated Scottish hotel investment in January-September 2025, accounting for 74.4% (£227m) of the £305m total, per Knight Frank. Over 5 million visitors supported high investor interest, with hotel occupancy at exceptional levels. Significant deals include the sale of W Hotel to Schroders Capital and Bruntsfield Hotel to Dutco Group. Hotels led Edinburgh's property asset performance at £246m, outpacing offices, retail, and industrials. Investor demand remains robust with limited supply.

2 min

Sofitel London St James completes refurb of six signature suites

🛨 Sofitel London St James, located in London, completed refurbishments of six signature suites by Paris-based Pierre-Yves Rochon. Four prestige suites are available now, with Suite 70 and The Opera Suite launching in January 2026. The suites feature 1970s aesthetics, Klein blue and Wimbledon green themes, modern art, and smart amenities. The Opera Suite will be the largest, with a private bar. Marie-Paule Nowlis, the general manager, emphasized the blend of French sophistication and London's cosmopolitan spirit.

2 min

Focus Hotels Management appoints finance director

💸 Craig Jones, with 25 years of hospitality finance experience, joins Focus Hotels Management as finance director in 2025. Based in the UK, Focus Hotels faces challenges like rising national living wages and increased utility costs. Jones will prioritize expense control and operational efficiencies. CEO Devin Grosse emphasizes Jones’s role in strengthening financial foundations amidst the company’s growth phase. Recent developments include opening a Polo Club Hotel in Warwickshire on 9 May 2025.

2 min

Watergate Bay Hotel wins top Cornwall tourism awards

🏨 Watergate Bay Hotel, based on the North Cornwall coast, won the Gold Cornwall Tourism Award for large hotel of the year and the Winner of Winners title on 13 November 2025. The hotel will represent Cornwall at the 2026 Visit England Awards. Recent expansions include appointing a new executive head chef, COO, and GM. The hotel will open Cornwall’s first beachside real ice rink on 17 November. Key partnerships include Land Rover Discovery.

1 min

Ardbeg House appoints new general manager

🍹 Ardbeg House, a boutique hotel near Ardbeg Distillery on Islay, has appointed Richard Needham as general manager to enhance its whisky-focused offerings. Located near Port Ellen, the venue, designed by Russell Sage Studio, features work from over 20 Scottish artisans. Needham, with experience at Fife Arms and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, will manage operations and guest services. The hotel aims to blend Islay's culinary delights with local narratives for a unique visitor experience.

2 min

QHotels appoints Paul Bayliss MBE as GM at Oulton Hall

🏨 Paul Bayliss MBE appointed general manager at Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort. With 30+ years in hospitality, Bayliss aims to transform the hotel into the UK's best over 5-10 years. His strategy focuses on team development, world-class service, and exceptional guest experiences. The historic estate near Leeds offers 18th-century architecture. Bayliss, a former British Army chef, emphasizes training, mentoring, and profitability to reinvest and enhance standards.

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