Heather Sandlin - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 9

1 min

The Malone nears completion of 18-month refurb ahead of reopening

📍 Belfast, February 2026: The Malone Hotel, celebrating 35 years, completes an 18-month refurbishment. Located off Lisburn and Malone roads, this four-star hotel will reopen with 103 redesigned bedrooms, an expanded restaurant, and a 240-guest ballroom. It offers 70 off-street parking spaces. The Malone has partnered with UK-based Focus Hotels for management. Director Gareth Macklin highlights the transformation as the hotel's most exciting chapter, enhancing its heritage and service.

8 min

How Bottle Up is helping hotels turn the tide on sustainability

💦 In 2025, Andrew Eversden, co-founder of Bottle Up, launched a sustainable solution for the hospitality industry with reusable sugarcane-based bottles filled with UK-sourced water. Amid COVID-19, Bottle Up faced challenges but emerged offering eco-friendly options to hotels like Strand Palace, reducing single-use bottles from 15,000 to 4,000 weekly. For each bottle sold, 100 liters of clean water are donated to the Made Blue Foundation. Over £42,000 has been donated, supporting water projects globally.

1 min

Dunblane Hydro to join Apex Hotel portfolio

🏨 Apex Hotels will reopen Dunblane Hydro as Apex Dunblane Hydro Hotel on 28 November 2025. Acquired in November 2024, this 200-bedroom hotel in Central Scotland will undergo a multi-phase refurbishment. Initial upgrades focus on conference spaces; subsequent phases will modernize guest rooms and public areas. With capacity for 500 delegates, it's positioned as a key leisure and conference venue. Apex Hotels, known for four-star hotels across the UK, aims to enhance guest experiences with this historic property.

2 min

HIT Scotland appoints Dave Allen to lead executive training

📈 Dave Allen has been appointed as the programme director for HIT Scotland's new executive and leadership development initiatives. These programs aim to enhance leadership skills, operational performance, and strategic planning for senior hospitality executives in Scotland. Covering topics like business growth, finance, and AI, they address current industry pressures. Allen, with over 30 years of experience, will lead these efforts to foster a new generation of hospitality leaders and drive strategic transformation in the sector.

2 min

Hotel occupancy remains steady in August

🏨 Hotel occupancy in the UK increased slightly in August, from 81.4% to 82.1%, with London rising from 84.2% to 84.5%. Despite this, room rates remained flat at £155.20 in the UK and decreased in London from £214.86 to £210.77. Scotland saw the highest occupancy at 87.2%, influenced by events like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Profits dropped due to rising staff costs, with UK hotels' operating profits falling from 38.1% to 37.5%.

1 min

Auberge Resorts Collection rebrands amid urban expansion

🏨 Auberge Collection, a luxury hotel and resort portfolio, has rebranded from Auberge Resorts Collection to signify its expansion into urban markets. The rebranding occurs ahead of the Spring 2025 opening of Cambridge House in Mayfair, London. Recent and upcoming openings include Collegio alla Querce in Florence, The Woodward in Geneva, and several properties in Dallas, Miami Beach, Houston, and Puerto Rico. Dan Friedkin and Christian Clerc emphasize the brand's commitment to unique, luxury experiences.

1 min

GHA promotes two senior execs to VP roles

💻 Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) promotes Steve Ayalo to VP of IT governance and Matthew Lloyd to VP of marketing technology. Ayalo, with GHA since 2015, will manage cybersecurity, compliance, and ISO certification. Lloyd, joining in 2018, will oversee CRM initiatives and digital marketing. Their promotions reflect GHA's focus on technology and customer engagement. CEO Chris Hartley emphasizes their vital roles in GHA’s growth and innovation.

1 min

The Duke Street Boutique Hotel sold to Golding Group

🏨 The Duke Street Boutique Hotel in Liverpool city centre was sold to Golding Group at an undisclosed price. The hotel, with 30 en-suite rooms, three of which have courtyard access, will reopen in a few weeks. Tom O’Malley from Christie and Co, who managed the sale, noted the strong demand in the city centre hotel market, with nine offers received. Golding Group is eager to integrate the hotel into their Liverpool hospitality portfolio.

1 min

Hilton Garden Inn unveils trio of ‘major’ refurbs

🏨 Three Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Birmingham, Bristol, and Glasgow underwent major refurbishments, overseen by Valor Hospitality. The Birmingham hotel refreshed 238 rooms with industrial finishes, Bristol redesigned 171 rooms with maritime-inspired decor, and Glasgow reimagined 164 rooms with shipbuilding themes. ABDA Design managed the renovations, focusing on sustainability and reducing waste by retaining and redesigning furniture. These updates aim to enhance guest experiences by incorporating each city's unique industrial heritage.

2 min

Luton Hoo Hotel to host auction ahead of major redevelopment

Blog Post Excerpt 📁 The historic Luton Hoo Hotel in the UK will host a two-day auction of 3,000 furniture pieces before a multi-million-pound redevelopment. The Arora Group, which acquired the estate in 2021, plans extensive upgrades under Fairmont branding. The auction, both onsite and online, will support charitable causes, with beneficiaries announced later. Director Alison Griffin emphasizes environmental and community commitment.

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