2012 - feast or famine - Travel Intelligence Network

the
hive
Official magazine of the BSI group of companies Issue 10
2012 - feast or famine
Assessing the likely impact of the Games
Also inside...
Ultimate destination visits Tallinn, Estonia
BSI wins event award with Indesit stand
B
Something
for everyone
From quiet country retreats
to perfectly located city centre
hotels, Ramada Jarvis has the
right location for your needs.
Over
40 Great
locations
FREE Wi-Fi in the lounge
Over 5,000
contemporary
bedrooms
19 Sebastian
Coe Health
Clubs
Great
value
Summit
conferences
24hour room service
Relax & Unwind
FREE high speed internet
in all meeting rooms
For more information or
reservations, contact BSI
1
9
BSI news
Welcome
Confidence in the economy is currently up & down like a yo-yo, with
optimism and pessimism in equal measures amongst finance and industry
leaders, giving rise to much speculation within our industry.
What is very clear is that businesses have to travel to facilitate growth and at
BSI we have seen demand bounce back as organisations invest in their staff,
focus on communication, speed up production and engage with their
customers. This recovery has resonated throughout the travel sector since
spring and probably reflects the UK GDP growth figures announced in October.
BSI has continued to concentrate on its core values of delivery and in investing
to remain ahead of our competitors at the cutting edge of the market.
Increasing headcount is a fundamental part of this and we have recently
strengthened our Account Management team to meet the need to provide a
strategic input into clients’ cost management strategies. At the same time our
new Supplier Procurement team has been focusing on best in class hotel and
venue procurement on a global basis.
This is all part of our ‘People Plan’; to nurture and build on the amazing talent
within BSI, ensuring we are well positioned to meet the demands of the future.
And talking of the future, on the technology front our focus has been five-fold.
First, to make BSIDirect™ even easier to use to help improve upon current
overall adoption levels of above 70%. Secondly we will shortly release the next
phase of our online internal meetings management tool, which will be followed
next Spring by a new online rail booking tool. Fourth, we are developing a
revolutionary online hotel and meetings procurement pricing tool, and finally the
next generation of BSI’s management information will include many new
features including industry leading CO² reporting for clients’ accommodation
and meeting usage.
CONTENTS
02
06
18
22
28
BSI News
News from across the
BSI group of companies
Industry Zone
News, views and
developments from the
serviced apartment,
hotel and meetings industry;
What’s on diary
Intelligence Zone
Industry forecasts and
statistics
Client Zone
2012 - feast or famine.
Assessing the likely impact
of the Games
Feature Zone
Ultimate destination Tallinn, Estonia; Catherine
Chetwynd looks at
loyalty programmes
All in all 2010 has been a very positive year for BSI with significant new account
wins. Our TMC relationships have evolved to allow clients to benefit from
specialist expertise within the travel booking process. We’ve seen incredible
growth in our Meetings and Events client portfolio and continued online
developments with our latest integration with the self booking tool Traveldoo
going live this Winter.
38
Coffee Zone
Relax and take a break!
Trevor
44
Twilight Zone
Bob Papworth ponders
product launches
Trevor Elswood
Managing Director
THE HIVE is published by the Travel Intelligence Network on behalf of the BSI group of companies
TIN, Argent House, 13 Argent Close, Egham, Surrey TW20 8XB
Publisher:
Stuart Tandy
[email protected]
Editors:
Mark Harris
Maggy Sainsbury
[email protected]
[email protected]
Contributors:
Toni Byrne
Catherine Chetwynd
Bob Papworth
Ian Sclater
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Design & Print:
Creativo
[email protected]
Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, Travel Intelligence Network,
BSI or Creativo cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.
2
the
hive
BSI news
No spin required
Indesit and BSI Meetings & Events
win ‘Best Stand in Show’ Award
BSI Meetings & Events managed the award-winning Indesit stand at the
CIH Euronics suppliers tradeshow held at the NEC in September, voted
‘Best Stand in Show’.
The achievement is the result of BSI’s
successful management and delivery of Indesit’s
stand for the second year running at an event
that showcases suppliers’ product ranges to
Euronics franchisees, attracting over 1,000
customers and clients.
Building upon the success of Indesit’s presence
at the show last year, BSI worked alongside Full
Circle Group on the design and build for the
2010 event.
BSI Operations Director Jim Quintrell
commented: “We helped create a powerful
showcase for both Indesit and Hotpoint
products and brands whilst reflecting the Indesit
Group’s core values and reinforcing their
position as market leaders. The team worked
effectively with Indesit’s budget to deliver value
and ensure that the visitor experience was
Issue 10
cohesive, providing a real connection. It is
testament to our creative team that Indesit won
the ‘Best Stand in the Show’ Award.”
Indesit Events Manager Jayson Weston said
“This is a great achievement. BSI were working
within a restricted budget but we had high
expectations. Every one of our aspirations and
objectives was interpreted exactly and
integrated in an aesthetically beautiful but
practical way. The outcome was an awardwinning stand which looked fantastic and was,
ultimately, highly engaging.”
The delivery of the stand is the latest in a
number of Indesit events delivered by BSI
Meetings & Events, who were appointed to the
company’s supply roster in early 2009 for
technical production, creative design and event
logistics delivery.
3
Following October’s
government spending
review, attention has
again been focussed
on public sector travel
expenditure.
BSI’s Head of Business
Development Public
Sector, Steve Savage believes plenty of scope
exists for costs to be cut through intelligent
purchasing. “Public sector procurement and
travel departments are noticeably smarter and
better informed. They realise that lower spending
on accommodation/meetings isn’t achieved by
rate negotiation alone."
"Higher savings can be achieved through
process efficiencies delivered through
outsourcing of payment settlement processing,
implementation of a ‘total cost of stay’ strategy
(cost of travel from offices to and from hotels,
breakfast, parking charges etc are taken into
account to bring down the overall cost and
effectively negotiate future rates and added value)
and cost-avoidance opportunities such as
pre-travel authorisation policies and enforceable
internal meetings space management."
Savage agrees with recent trade press
speculation that public sector activity is down,
but not by as much as 30% as some reports
suggest.
BSI does a double take
Your business is in safe hands with BSI!
BSI has implemented Double-Take®
Availability as part of a wider business
continuity and disaster recovery strategy.
The new implementation provides BSI with
improved protection for its physical and virtual
IT resources against the risk of downtime. IT
Director Ian Lower: “The Company’s continuity
and disaster recovery plan is a critical part of its
business efforts, as we handle bookings for
over 1.7million hotel rooms per year, and
manage more than 17,000 events and
conferences, both on and offline.”
BSI is using Double-Take Availability to replicate
data from its central office over to a remote site,
as Mark Conabeare, BSI’s Systems and
Network Security Manager, explains. “We have
been looking at how to improve our existing
business continuity and DR plans, moving data
from our existing production site to a remote
location. Using Double-Take Availability meant
that we could meet our requirements around
bandwidth, as well as supporting the mixture of
physical and virtual servers that we have in
place.”
Double-Take Availability provides organisations
with real-time replication for their Windows,
Linux and virtualised servers, ensuring
maximum protection against data loss. This
approach allows organisations to implement
continuity and recovery plans for all their servers
with one product, and across any geographic
distance. With Double-Take Availability,
companies can replicate virtual machines from
one host to another in real time, including
between different virtualisation platforms.
BSI news
Public sector
can save more
4
the
hive
Environmental
health-check
BSI leads the way for clients to fulfil
hotel CO² reporting requirements
As the Government’s CRC (Carbon Reduction
Commitment) Scheme comes into force, BSI is
rolling out carbon reporting on hotels to clients.
The groundbreaking reporting allows BSI clients to
monitor the levels of carbon produced as an
outcome of their hotel usage, enabling them to
modify travel policies in line with their
environmental or CSR strategies.
BSI’s timely accomplishment is a result of their
commitment to fulfil corporate and public sector
requirements for access to meaningful CO² data. The
reporting enhances the selection process of clients’
preferred hotel programmes and enables BSI to identify,
with greater accuracy, properties that meet customers’
own environmental policies and aspirations.
BSI’s data has been supplied by CarePAR (carbon
emission per available room) who takes physical and
variable data from hotels and uses them to calculate the
carbon weight generated in a single room per night. As
hotels re-submit the variable data, their indices are
recalculated, and reductions in environmental impact
logged. The data has been loaded into BSI’s in-house
reservations and booking systems with resulting reporting
allowing clients visibility.
BSI’s Managing Director, Trevor Elswood, said: “BSI
partnered with CarePAR to work on delivery of CO²
reporting as a priority to address a major industry gap
and enhance the selection process of clients’ preferred
hotel programmes. We have engaged key suppliers and
clients such as E.on and Fujitsu, throughout the entire
Issue 10
planning process, working together towards the
common goal of reducing carbon emissions”.
One of the UK’s leading renewable energy
companies, E.on, is just one of BSI’s clients
who have supported BSI in developing its latest
reporting tool. Judith Gledhill, UK Travel
Manager for E.on, said: “Minimising the
ecological impact of our business is a top
priority and BSI’s reporting provides us with a
much needed benchmarking tool for business
accommodation. Based on informed choices,
we can modify travel policies in line with wider
environmental strategies, whilst continuing to
benefit from the significant and accountable
cost savings that BSI offers”.
CarePAR’s Peter Ducker commented: “The
reports BSI has produced enable procurement
and environmental teams to work hand in hand
to deliver sustainable cost savings and
environmental care. It is important to recognise
that their achievement is also raising awareness
of legislation among their suppliers, many of
whom had to register with the Environment
Agency by the end of September this year and
consequently, report their emissions from
2011.”
Elswood concluded: “Thanks to our effective
account management and IT teams, the
reporting is currently being rolled out across
BSI’s client portfolio.”
5
London 2012
BSI news
London 2012 – good
for your business?
Will over-supply create unexpected availability?
What's your 2012 Olympic accommodation
strategy? Will you be telling your travellers
to stay out of London or relying on last
minute cut-price rates?
London 2012 is supposed to be the
springboard for London to finally become a truly
global destination, but what impact will the
Games have on corporate transient & meetings
spend. Will rates soar as availability dries, or will
a glut of refurbishments & new openings
coupled with lower-than-predicted demand lead
to tough times for providers, post-Olympics?
Have the lessons of Barcelona, Sydney and
Athens been learned, and can the answers be
found by looking at other prominent events?
The next edition of BSI’s IndustryEye™ looks
at the effects of the Games on supply and
demand in the accommodation and meetings
markets. The paper reveals buyers & suppliers
perspectives, possible pricing models, security
and duty of care issues, and looks at the effect
of major UK events & previous Olympics Games
on rates. This is the ideal starting point for
deciding how to approach your 2012 strategy.
Register now to receive your FREE COPY of BSI’s IndustryEye™ ‘Feast or Famine’.
Visit www.bsi.co.uk/resources
See
page 22
for a full
preview
HBA, TMC
or…BSI?
Moonraker
challenge
BSI took part in the fourth annual Business
Travel Conference (TBTC) organised by
The Business Travel Magazine and staged
at the Novotel London west Hammersmith
in October.
No, not James Bond’s ill-advised 1978
venture into space, but the 15-mile walk BSI
staff took part in last month at an event
which raised over £10,000 for the Albermarle
Centre in Taunton.
TBTC'10 was a series of conference sessions
held over two days geared to inform, advise
and train business travel arrangers and buyers.
The keynote speaker was former MP and
cabinet minister Michael Portillo.
The walk – described as being for “only the
seriously fit” - took a BSI team including
Managing Director Trevor Elswood, FD Malcolm
Derry, Business Development Director, Paul
Hussey and a cross section of volunteers from
national accounts and finance, around
Taunton’s Great Wood at night time.
As well as exhibiting at the show for the first
time, BSI Account Manager Mark Hulme
co-moderated a workshop looking at the
respective merits of TMCs and HBAs. The
session put forward various solutions including
‘why compromise?’ – a fully integrated
HBA and TMC service.
Commented a slightly out of breath Malcolm
Derry “this is an excellent cause and we are
delighted to have been able to help. In fact, we
are sure there were some colleagues who
sponsored us more in the hope that we might
not all make it back again.”
6
the
hive
industry zone
London focus
UNITED KINGDOM
apartments
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments
The number of serviced apartments
available to BSI clients continues to grow
and has recently reached the milestone of
300 properties!
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments has opened in
London’s Bethnal Green. Just one tube stop from
Liverpool Street station, these executive
apartments are ideal for business travellers who
need quick and easy access to the City. These
studios and one, two and three bedroom
apartments are fitted with comfortable,
contemporary furnishings within spacious, openplan living areas. Each apartment comprises a
double bed, an en-suite shower room, separate
bathroom (some shower only), a modern kitchen
and a large living/dining area. Guests can enjoy
complimentary broadband, flat screen TVs with
DVD players and daily maid service. All guests
can also take advantage of the on-site swimming
pool and state-of-the-art fitness centre with
treadmills featuring virtual tours of famous cities.
At the on-site restaurant Viajante diners can
expect intricate dishes served from an open-plan
kitchen in contemporary, intimate surroundings.
free daily shuttle service to Liverpool Street and
Bank operates at 07.30 and 08.15 Monday-Friday.
Citadines Prestige London South
Kensington including its historic Grade I-listed
façade, has been fully refurbished and restored by
parent company The Ascott Ltd. All 92 studios
and one bedroom duplex apartments have been
intelligently restyled to present a comfortable living
space in keeping with the prestigious location;
energy efficiency is integral throughout and the
public areas have been opened up to create the
welcoming ambience of a homely living room.
Situated on the corners of Gloucester Road and
Elvaston Place, the residence is within walking
distance of famous London landmarks including
the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, Hyde
Park and the Victoria & Albert Museum. The
nearest underground station is Gloucester Road
and the local neighbourhood benefits from
excellent cafes and restaurants plus a variety of
excellent shopping facilities from food to designer
stores.
Citadines Prestige London South Kensington
Issue 10
Refurbishment work at sister property Citadines
Prestige London Holborn-Covent Garden is
nearing completion. Among the changes guests
will experience are studios equipped with double
7
industry zone
Citadines Prestige London Holborn - Covent Garden
or twin beds instead of a sofa bed, floors finished
in natural bamboo and the installation of flat
screen TVs. The reception area and conference
centre have also been completely upgraded.
Chilworth Court is a newly refurbished property
situated in Bayswater, within a short walk of
Paddington railway station, Notting Hill, Hyde Park
and Oxford Street. Its location in such a vibrant
area of London means that there are a wide range
of bars, pubs and restaurants nearby. A variety of
studios and one, two and three bedroom
apartments are available and all are decorated in a
contemporary style. Each apartment has a full
kitchen, comfortable living area, a flatscreen TV
with satellite channels, high-speed WiFi Internet
and a luxury bathroom with a marble finish.
130 Queen’s Gate opened in October following
a complete refurbishment. These luxury serviced
apartments lie near the south west edge of Hyde
Park and are a 5 minute walk from the Victoria
and Albert and National History museums, while
the shops of High Street Kensington are only a 15
minute walk away. The property contains 50 luxury
apartments ranging from studio apartments to 4
bedroom penthouses. All apartments have daily
maid service and offer fully equipped kitchens with
a dishwasher and washer/dryer. Visitors can make
use of Freeview television, HiFi and free wireless
broadband. Regular and superior apartments have
queen size beds while deluxe apartments and
penthouses have king size beds. The apartments
will offer a gym (free) and a meeting room
(chargeable) from January 2011.
Chilworth Court
130 Queen’s Gate
to the master bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen with
a range of integrated appliances, and a comfortable
sitting/dining room. Features include complimentary
wireless broadband, free on-site parking, widescreen
LCD TVs with Sky+ and DVD player, and a private
balcony or terrace. Guests will also receive a welcome
pack of essential groceries on arrival. Extra touches
include luxurious Egyptian bedding, Arran Aromatics
toiletries and free calls to landlines in the UK and top
20 international countries.
Outside London
Now available via BSI, Oakhill Apartments are a
range of luxury serviced apartments located on the
north eastern edge of Edinburgh in Leith. They are
a 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk from Edinburgh
city centre although Leith itself boasts good local
amenities and a great selection of boutiques, bars
and restaurants. These generous apartments
comprise one, two or three double bedrooms (some
with twin beds if required), an en-suite shower room
Oakhill Apartments
Send all news items and press releases
to Maggy Sainsbury at
[email protected]
8
the
hive
Also new in Scotland, The Spires Glasgow has
relocated their operation to new purpose-built
premises in a more central location. The new
property on Glassford Street is just five minutes walk
from Queen Street station and two minutes from
George Square. All fully equipped with a kitchen,
lounge and dining area, these luxurious serviced
apartments offer a comfortable, home from home
stay. The building offers a range of one, two and
three bedroom apartments. Each apartment has a
terrace or a balcony and each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom. Also available are The Spires’
Directors Suites which provide business guests with
a separate office within the apartment. The office is
furnished with a full-size desk, wireless Internet, a
printer and stationary. Daily maid service is provided
and laundry and dry cleaning services are available
on-site for a small charge.
GLOBAL
apartments
Htel Serviced Apartments Amstelveen has
recently completed an ambitious three-year
refurbishment and extension programme and now
features 245 studio apartments. Located just south
of Amsterdam, these purpose built apartments
provide comfortable self-catering accommodation
within the residential area of Amstelveen. Ideal for
those who are looking for a short-term Amsterdam
apartment in a quieter residential area, guests are
within convenient reach of central Amsterdam (15
minutes), Schiphol Airport (15 minutes), the World
Trade Centre and the Zuidas business district
Issue 10
(10 minutes) via public transport. The studios have
been specially designed with the business traveller
in mind and feature a fully equipped kitchen, a
comfortable living/dining area and a bathroom. The
property even has a dedicated floor just for female
business travellers. A lounge has recently been
opened and is exclusively for residents to enjoy for
the duration of their stay. The on-site fitness centre
features a swimming pool, sauna, Turkish steam
bath and a well equipped gym. Health and beauty
treatments are also available for a supplement.
hotels
nationwide
21
adaptable
160 meeting rooms
1st Birthday
One year on
and we’re still
keeping our
promises
first class facilities
come as standard
in hotels that are
anything but
Barceló UK’s Hotels offer an elegant and inspirational
backdrop for any business event at anyone of our 21
hotels nationwide. When you book a meeting or event
with Barceló UK you can trust in our promises too.
Our MeetBarceló promise to you:
To respond to your enquiry in 2 hours –
or one free delegate space for every
working day that your details are late
All meeting and event rooms set up at
least 30 minutes prior to your arrival –
or you don’t pay for the room hire
On-site AV assistance will be available on
request – or you get free equipment hire
All meals and breaks delivered where,
when and how you want them – any that
are not will be removed from your bill
The organiser will be offered the best room
available at the hotel, assistance with bags
and where possible, reserved parking – or
you don’t pay for the organisers room
Choose from 21 hotels nationwide from Troon to Torquay.
DDR rates from £25 and 24 Hour rates from £99.
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For more information
or reservations,
contact BSI
HOTELS & RESORTS
Terms & Conditions apply, see website for full details. Barceló UK reserves the right to withdraw
an offer at any time.
10
the
hive
hotels
Barcelo Harrogate Majestic Hotel has
reopened following a major fire in May 2010. The
hotel suffered extensive fire and water damage to
a narrow section of the east wing however the
hotel has opened the central and west wing with
88 of the bedrooms, with a structured building
programme which is self contained so guests
can't be disturbed. The hotel’s lobby and public
areas have been redecorated, the leisure club
has had a significant makeover and the main
dining room will be open in time for Christmas
parties and weddings.
Best Western has added 6 new hotels to its
portfolio over the summer, the new hotels are
spread evenly across the UK with two in
Scotland, one in London, and one in the North
West, South East and South West. Between
them, the hotels add over 350 bedrooms to Best
Western’s existing stock of 15,000 rooms.
Conference and events space is also given a
boost with additional facilities for over 1,300
guests with the individual hotel’s conference and
event capacities adding facilities for between 150
and 300 covers. Five of the six properties also
offer leisure facilities ranging from an 18-hole golf
course to excellent health and leisure clubs.
The new Best Western hotels are:
• Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel & Golf
Complex, Nr Blackburn
• Best Western Chilworth Manor, Chilworth,
Southampton
• Best Western Balgeddie House Hotel,
Glenrothes, Fife
• Best Western Buchanan Arms Hotel & Leisure
Club, Loch Lomond
• Best Western Cliff Head Hotel, St Austell
• Best Western Palm Hotel, London
Coworth Park
Issue 10
Buchanan Arms Hotel
UNITED KINGDOM
Mytton Fold Hotel & Golf Complex
Balgeddie House Hotel
Located next to Ascot and bordering on
Windsor Great Park, Coworth Park, a new 70
room country house hotel and spa has opened in
240 acres of Royal Berkshire parkland.
Comprised of The Mansion House, with a series
of intimate public rooms on the ground floor and
two floors of 30 bedrooms and suites, each with
extensive views through high Georgian windows
out over gardens and parkland. The stable
houses 28 rooms and suites with crisp, modern
furnishings and simple, pastoral colour schemes,
the upper floor rooms being open to the eaves
above. Coworth Park’s cottages whose original
use was as a bothy or farmers’ cottages are
home to 11 rooms and suites which offer
contemporary luxury accommodation. The jewel
in the crown of Coworth Park’s 16 suites is The
Dower House. This picturesque private house
built in 1775 has its own dining room, lounge,
kitchen, snug and a secluded garden with its
own stream running through it; home to Coworth
Park’s family of swans. With three restaurants,
two polo fields, an equestrian centre, and an
eco-luxury Spa with an indoor swimming pool
Coworth Park is an exceptional property.
11
industry zone
Principal Hayley’s 186 bedroomed Grand
Central Hotel in Glasgow has re-opened after
a £20m refurbishment which has seen the hotel
stripped back to basics, uncovering many of its
original features including marble floors and
intricate cornicing which have been brought back
to life. The ballroom's original coffered ceiling
has been raised by 3 metres to unveil a second
set of windows which have been hidden for the
past three decades. There are 21 flexible meeting
rooms including the Grand Room of Glasgow
and a lavish champagne bar overlooking Central
Station's concourse. Dating back to 1883, the
Grand Central Hotel has an illustrious history of
attracting high profile guests including Cary
Grant, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Laurel and
Hardy, the Queen, Sir Winston Churchill and John
F Kennedy.
citizenM has a new hotel in Glasgow’s city
centre. The 198-room hotel is eight storeys high
with a façade made in robust natural granite.
Guests enter the hotel through an illuminated,
double-height glazed red entrance leading to the
first floor via a striking red spiral staircase.
Upstairs, to the right of the lobby is a long bar
and relaxed lounge area as well as canteenM, the
24/7 kiosk-style cafeteria where guests can get
their own high-quality snacks and hot breakfasts.
The prefab rooms feature king-size beds with
Sealy mattresses, wall-to-wall windows, Philips
mood pads (an all-in-one device that controls
everything from free on-demand movies to
wake-up calls) and power rain showers in the
bathrooms.
EasyHotel has opened its first 'no-frills' hotel in
Scotland - Princes Street, Edinburgh. The room
rate covers little more than a bed, a towel and an
en-suite bathroom, with other facilities including
television and Internet offered as paid-for
add-ons. Cleaning the room - offered on request
to those staying more than one night - costs
GBP10.
Hilton Worldwide now offers complimentary
high-speed Internet access to all Gold and
Diamond Hilton HHonors members with effect
from 1st September, 2010. Elite-tier members
receive this benefit during stays at any of the
more than 3,600 hotels within the company's
global portfolio of 10 hotel brands, which include
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels
& Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites
Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels,
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by
Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.
12
the
hive
hotels
The InterContinental London Park Lane is
the first hotel to offer free "Boris Bikes" to guests.
The hotel has purchased, on behalf of its guests,
multiple memberships of Transport for London's
Barclays Bicycle Hire scheme, affectionately
known to locals as the 'Boris Bikes'. Literally a
'free' wheeling way to discover the hotel's
location, the Boris Bikes can be used on a fully
complimentary, hassle-free basis for guests
staying at the hotel and they also have modern
cycle helmets to ensure their safety. There are
three docking stations within a two- minute walk
of the InterContinental London Park Lane.
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts new 120-bedroom
hotel has opened in Windsor. Costing £10m the
Macdonald Windsor can host conferences and
events for up to 150 delegates in the Castle
Suite, and another 70 in the St Georges Suite.
Smaller board meetings can be hosted in two
executive boardrooms for up to 25 delegates in
each plus there are two additional syndicate
rooms for ten available for breakout sessions.
Issue 10
UNITED KINGDOM
Ramada Jarvis are now offering guests free
WiFi access in all of their property lounges, and
the service is available to both residents and
those who have popped in for a meeting.
There’s a new hotel on Westminster Bridge Road
close to London Waterloo station – The Tune
hotel from the Asian budget hotel group. Similar
to the Easyhotels offering, the new 79 room air
conditioned hotel is closely aligned with that of
the low-cost airline industry, with a basic offering
of a bed and shower room at budget prices, and
“frills” such as towels, Internet access and airconditioning all charged per use. The limited
service offering has been built around five
essentials of five-star beds, power showers,
central and convenient locations, clean
environment, and 24-hour security. The hotel
doesn’t have any leisure facilities or bars /
restaurants, aside from a Costa Coffee
concession. Everything is an extra, including TV
(at £1 per night). Most rooms have windows, but
11 double rooms are located in the basement of
the property without windows!
13
Aloft Hotels have opened the Aloft Brussels
Schuman, the first Aloft hotel in Europe. The
spacious guest rooms (min 28sq m) feature the
brand's signature ceilings of nearly three metres
high, oversized windows and an ultra-comfortable
bed as well as roomy walk-in showers. Each
room is equipped with complimentary wireless
Internet access and a unique plug-and-play
connectivity solution which connects most
electronic devices to the 42" flat-screen TV, turning
the room into a high-tech office as well as an
entertainment centre. There is a fitness centre
and a 24-hour grab & go food and beverage area
offering snacks and beverages. For meetings the
hotel's Tactic meeting rooms provide a creative
space for groups of up to 50 people.
Hilton has opened the Hilton Beijing Capital
Airport Hotel, just one minute by free shuttle bus
from the international terminal. The property has
more than 320 guest rooms, seven restaurants
and bars with 32 private dining rooms, two
ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms, executive
concierge services, a luxury spa and state-of-theart fitness centre. It is very close to the Beijing
Airport Rail Link that provides 16-minute access to
the city centre and is just ten minutes away from
the new China International Exhibition Centre.
Mendoza, Argentina’s second city, now has an
InterContinental hotel. The 15-storey
InterContinental Mendoza has 180
guestrooms, inclusive of 24 suites and when
completed a second tower with an additional 72
rooms will soon be available making a total of 252
rooms including 36 suites. The property has 11
meeting rooms including a 12,000sq ft ballroom,
and 18,000sq ft of pre-function space. Amenities
include a full-service spa named Deyabu,
swimming pool, gym and restaurant.
Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square is a
new 5-star property in Toronto. Le Germain is an
expanding Canadian boutique hotel group now
established in all major Canadian cities. This latest
property offers 167 guest rooms including a
duplex apartment suite. The hotel has a library
and a seasonal roof garden and offers free
Internet. Conference facilities are top grade
offering a total of up to 4,600sq ft and ideal for
quiet and discreet city centre gatherings. A stateof-the-art 24-hour fitness facility is also available to
guests.
industry zone
hotels
OVERSEAS
The 403-room Atlanta Airport Marriott
Gateway, a newly constructed hotel adjacent to
the Georgia International Convention Center and
connected to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport is now open for business. The
hotel is connected by a covered walkway to the
adjacent Georgia International Convention Center
and together, both venues provide 321,000sq ft of
meeting space. The hotel is equipped with a
GoThere Virtual Meetings studio, in partnership
with AT&T TelePresence Solution, using Cisco
TelePresence™ technology making it the only
hotel in Atlanta to provide this virtual meeting
technology. Following are some of the hotel’s
outstanding amenities:
• 403-sound proof guest rooms all equipped with
high definition LCD televisions, Plug-In panel,
wired and wireless DS3 fast internet, swivel
desks, iphone docking station, refrigerators,
laptop safe
• Champions Restaurant serving a classic
American menu as well as regional favourites is
open for breakfast, lunch and dinner – offers
free WiFi and numerous HD televisions.
• 24-hour spacious fitness centre and indoor
swimming pool
• The 24hr self–service business centre.
Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway
14
the
hive
OVERSEAS
The 155-room Marriott Courtyard Bremen is
centrally located steps from the Bremen Main
station. Built within the renovated walls of the
historic Lloyd Building, which dates back to 1913
the site was formerly used as a railway building
for emigrants beginning their journey to the
United States. 70 guestrooms are located in the
historical building and a newly constructed wing
houses the additional 85 guestrooms and 380sq
m of meeting space which boasts natural
daylight. The hotel’s modern lobby extends to a
glass enclosed “boulevard” connecting the
historical and conference buildings. Guestrooms
feature large desks, ergonomic chairs,
refrigerators, and flat-screen televisions. For
dining, guests can choose from Lloyd’s, a
modern bar and restaurant or the hotel’s 24/7
market which is open around the clock and offers
drinks, sandwiches and snacks.
Pullman Hotel
ACCOR has opened its first Pullman hotel in
Dubai, the Pullman Dubai Mall of the
Emirates, a 24-storey luxury development
featuring 481 guest rooms including 94 suites,
two restaurants, pool and spa lounge, There are
800sq m of meeting space including nine rooms
with individual pre-function areas, board rooms,
and several venues for cocktail receptions and
creative breaks, For leisure there are two indoor
swimming pools with one lap pool as well as a
Jacuzzi. The hotel provides direct access to the
Mall, with the new Metro link ensuring a rapid
transit to other areas of the city.
Issue 10
hotels
Park Inn Oslo Airport
Rezidor’s new Park Inn Oslo Airport, is directly
linked to the passenger terminal – and only 20
minutes by express train from the city centre. The
300 sound-proofed guest rooms feature kingsized, queen-sized or twin beds and amenities
such as individual climate control, flat-screen TV
and high-speed wireless Internet access. The allday-dining restaurant RBG (“Red Bar & Grill”) can
accommodate up to 220 guests. For meetings
and events there are 46 meeting rooms and a
236sq m ballroom feature top-of-the-range
audiovisual equipment and wireless Internet
access.
Rotana has opened its first hotel in Qatar – the
400-room five star Oryx Rotana, in Doha is
conveniently situated close to Doha's
International airport and just minutes away from
the city centre. Oryx Rotana caters largely to
business travellers and offers the latest high-tech
facilities including nine fully-equipped meeting
rooms with the most up-to-date audio-visual
equipment and two ballrooms. Alongside the
high-tech meeting facilities, the hotel features a
fitness centre, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna,
swimming pool, and massage room plus a
choice of five specialised F&B options.
TRADERS, the 4-star brand of the Shangri-La
Group has opened its first hotel in Hong Kong.
Traders Hotel, Hong Kong, is located on Hong
Kong Island in Queen’s Road, Western District,
the heart of buzzing street life, traditional shops,
temples and numerous local eateries. Previously
operated as Hotel Jen, the hotel has 280
guestrooms and the Traders Lounge on the 28th
floor is available to Club guests during the day
and offers a variety of benefits including private
check-in/out, complimentary buffet breakfast,
afternoon tea and evening cocktails. The lounge
is open to the public after 19:30. There is also a
rooftop outdoor pool with adjacent gym.
15
Old Hotel Names
The Ambassador Hotel, New Delhi
Taj Blue Diamond, Pune
Taj Connemara, Chennai
Vivanta by Taj - Coral Reef, Maldives
Fisherman's Cove, Chennai
Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Goa
Taj Residency, Lucknow
Taj Hari Mahal, Jodhpur
Taj Holiday Village, Goa
Taj GreenCove, Kovalam
Taj Garden Retreat, Kumarakom
Taj Residency, Bangalore
Taj Malabar, Cochin
Vivanta by Taj - Panaji, Goa
Taj President, Mumbai
Sawai Madhopur Lodge, Sawai Madhopur
Taj Residency, Trivandrum
Vivanta by Taj - Whitefield, Bangalore
UNITED KINGDOM
Re-branded Hotel Names
Vivanta by Taj - Ambassador, New Delhi
Vivanta by Taj - Blue Diamond, Pune
Vivanta by Taj - Connemara, Chennai
Vivanta by Taj - Coral Reef, Maldives
Vivanta by Taj - Fisherman's Cove, Chennai
Vivanta by Taj - Fort Aguada, Goa
Vivanta by Taj - Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
Vivanta by Taj - Hari Mahal, Jodhpur
Vivanta by Taj - Holiday Village, Goa
Vivanta by Taj - Kovalam, Kerala
Vivanta by Taj - Kumarakom, Kerala
Vivanta by Taj - M G Road, Bangalore
Vivanta by Taj - Malabar, Cochin
Vivanta by Taj - Panaji, Goa
Vivanta by Taj - President, Mumbai
Vivanta by Taj - Sawai Madhopur Lodge
Vivanta by Taj - Trivandrum, Kerala
Vivanta by Taj - Whitefield, Bangalore
meetings
The Academy of Medical Sciences has
undergone a refurbishment of 41 Portland
Place, London. The Grade II listed building
designed by James Adam in 1773 is close to
Euston train station and a 5 minute walk from
both Oxford Circus and Regents Park tube
stations. The Regency town house has
undergone a £5 million renovation programme
and is open to the commercial market offering a
range of facilities to accommodate meetings,
conferences, private dining and non residential
events. The rooms are spread across three floors
providing seven meeting rooms, an exhibition
area and a purpose built conference suite.
Audiovisual services, video conferencing and WiFi
Internet are available throughout all the meeting
rooms. Located on the first floor, the elegant
John Newsom-Davis Council Chamber is suitable
for board meetings, small lectures, dinners and
drinks receptions of up to 125 people. On the
ground floor, the purpose built Wolfson
Conference Suite and contemporary exhibition
area can accommodate up to 100 delegates
when combined. The lower ground floor also
features two meeting rooms each for up to 15
delegates, ideal for small meetings and training
events that require interactive white-board and
video conferencing technology.
The Conference Centre Dublin (CCD),
Ireland’s first purpose-build international
conference and event centre opened in
September after more than three years ‘in the
making’. Located in the heart of Dublin, the CCD
is easy to get to and only 20 minutes from Dublin
Airport. The venue has the capacity to host up to
8,000 delegates and has banqueting facilities for
up to 2,000. There are 22 purpose-built meetings
rooms, and a 2,000 seat auditorium with full
stage. The largest option is The Forum which can
seat 3,000 theatre style and there is also 4,500
sq m of exhibition space. Offering the latest
technology, this sophisticated venue offers
advanced audio-visual equipment, lighting and
sound systems as well as WiFi enabled halls and
meeting rooms.
OVERSEAS
CCD
industry zone
A number of Taj Premium Hotels have been brought under a bold new brand, “Vivanta by Taj – Hotels & Resorts”.
Vivanta by Taj has been created specially for the global guest who appreciates style & spirit; who is cool & comfortable
and loves being touched by small surprises. The group has not put aside its strong ties to The Taj: the quintessential
Indian hospitality brand and guests will notice some smart changes & a fresh twist to the usual hotel activities.
16
the
hive
EVENTS CALENDAR
CALENDAR
EVENTS
3-5
9-12
13-17
15
15
30-2 Dec
ATLAS Annual Conference
World Travel Market
National Tour Association (NTA)
BTC International
MADI Travel Market
EIBTM - Exhibition of events, incentives, business travel & meetings.
Limmasol
London
Montreal
Rome
Prague
Barcelona
SITE International Conference - The Society of Incentive & Travel Executives
Capetown
PCMA Annual Meeting (Professional Convention Management Association)
Reiseliv (Norway International Meeting and Travel Fair)
ATF Asian Tourism Fair
Caribbean Marketplace
37th IAPCO Seminar on Professional Congress Organisation
IH&RA 49th Annual World Congress (Intl Hotel & Restaurant Assoc)
Conventa 2011
FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair
ABPCO Annual Conference (Association of British Professional Conference Organisers)
MATKA Travel Fair
The Special Event Show
SATTE (South Asia Travel & Tourism Exhibition)
Las Vegas
Oslo
Phnom Penh
Montego Bay
Wolfsberg, Switzerland
Kathmandu
Ljubljana
Madrid
Manchester
Helsinki
Pheonix
Delhi
The Event Production Show
BEDOUK Exhibition MC&IT
ITM India Travel Market
PATA 2011 Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism Conference & Mart
Travel Technology Europe 2011
The Business Travel & Meetings Show
CAUTHE National Conference 2011
EMTT East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism
MPI European Meetings and Events Conference
AIME 2011 19th Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo
BIT Borsa Internazionale del Tourismo
LACTTE 6th Annual Latin American Corporate Travel and Technology Exchange
Meetings Africa
BTL Lisboa Travel Market
HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation Meeting)
London
Paris
Chandigarh, India
Pokhara, Nepal
London
London
Adelaide
Istanbul
Dusseldorf
Melbourne
Milan
Sao Paulo
Johannesburg
Lisbon
San Diego
International Confex
Polish Travel Mart
ITB
ITM Intour Market Moscow
NBTA Strategic Travel Symposium
COCAL 2011 La Confederación de Entidades Organizadoras de Congresos y Afines de América Latina
British Tourism Week
The Moscow International MICE Forum
EMIF European Meeting Industry Fair
BoBI Best of Britain & Ireland 2011
18th MITT Moscow International Exhibition Travel & Tourism
Mondial du Tourisme
Ukraine International Travel & Tourism Exhibition
NBTA Mexico Corporate Travel Conference
2011 IACC North American Annual Conference
2011 Guangzhou International Travel Fair
TUR 2011
2011 NBTA Canada 7th Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase
GIBTM Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition
Meeting Luxury
London
Warsaw
Berlin
Moscow
New York
Vina del Mar, Chile
UK
Moscow
Brussels
Birmingham
Moscow
Paris
Kiev
Mexico
Leesburg, Virginia
Guangzhou
Goteborg
Toronto
Abu Dhabi
Lugano
December
4-7
January
9-12
13-16
15-21
16-18
17-20
18-21
19-20
19-23
20-22
20-23
25-28
27-29
February
1-2
2-3
5-7
7-11
8-9
8-9
8-11
10-13
13-15
15-16
17-20
20-22
23-25
23-27
29-4 Mar
March
1-3
7-8
9-13
12-15
14-15
14-18
14-20
15
15-16
16-17
16-19
17-20
23-25
23-25
23-25
24-26
24-27
28-29
28-30
31-2 Apr
Issue 10
otel
erfection at the Grand Central
Glasgow’s most iconic hotel is now
open. With an eclectic collection of 21
unique meeting & conference rooms,
a stunning Champagne Bar, capacity
for up to 500 guests in the Grand
Room and located in the heart of
Glasgow, at Central Station, when are
you going to book?
Prices from
£13
24 Hour Rate inc.
B&B and evening meal
For more information or reservations,
contact BSI.
From only
£35
Day Delegate Rate
Meeting your business needs...
Brentwood, Essex - Marygreen Manor
Highest rated 4-star hotel in the area • Minutes from junction 28 of the M25 motorway
H
N
E
O W
TE
L
You can find Classic British Hotels in over 85 key UK locations. Our hotels are refreshingly individual in style
and offer superior accommodation, excellent restaurants and quality meeting facilities. This edition's featured
hotels are in Brentwood, Essex and near Birmingham Airport/NEC...
• 1 mile from Brentwood Station • Direct links to Central London in 30 minutes • London
Stanstead is 30 minutes drive • 44 bedrooms plus 12 serviced apartments • Award-winning
restaurant • Ample free parking on-site • Complimentary Wi-Fi • Unique & flexible
Birmingham Airport/NEC - Manor Hotel at Meriden
Highest rated 4-star hotel in the area • Just off junction 6 of the M42 motorway • 10 minutes
H
N
E
O W
TE
L
conference rooms • Excellent winter conference rates from £35 (inc. VAT) per delegate
drive from Birmingham International Airport and NEC • Pick-up and drop-off service to the
airport • 2 restaurants • Largest of 7 conference rooms can accommodate up to 275
delegates • Links with the National Motorcycle Museum for larger events • Ample free
parking • Excellent winter conference rates from £45 (inc. VAT) per delegate
For more information or reservations, contact BSI
18
the
hive
intelligence zone
In these days of ongoing company belt tightening budget hotels
continue to grow and the main budget brands in Europe now
represent over 27% of hotels and nearly 19% of room stock.
Since 1993, the number of branded budget hotel rooms in the UK
has grown more than tenfold, and while Premier Inn and
Travelodge dominate here, there have been many new brands
entering the growing market. The most successful challenger has
been Holiday Inn Express which now has 109 hotels with 12,464
rooms.
A report by HotStats makes clear that while resilient, the budget
sector has not remained unscathed by the recession. During
2009, revenue per available room fell by 9.1%, with occupancy
dropping by 5.9 percentage points to 67.8% and rate holding up
better with a fall of 1.1% to £50.97.
According to Ernst & Young branded budget hotels will come out
of the recession stronger, while unbranded three and four-star
properties are likely to struggle. Their research predicts that those
who will do best from the downturn include branded budget
properties and operators of management contracts, who are
insulated against recession, adding that these operators would be
in the best position to flex rates quickly coming out of the
downturn.
But, even in the downturn, for budget hotels to be successful they
need to compete on more than just price. While executives are
actively seeking cheaper alternatives, they are clear about the
minimum level of service they expect from a low-cost alternative.
Most important is Internet connectivity. Over three-quarters of an
Amadeus survey panel said that an inability to log on in their room
would stop them from staying at a budget hotel. Good transport
links, a quiet room and a central location are also considered
essentials.
So exactly what can you expect at three star hotels in Europe? –
the table on the following page shows the minimum criteria for
such properties in each EU country listed.
European Brands by category
Main Budget Brands in Europe
No. of Hotels
No. of Rooms
Ibis
692
72,813
Premier Inn
583
41,146
Etap
405
33,868
Travelodge
389
26,017
Campanile
387
24,671
Formule 1
295
21,802
Holiday Inn Express
188
21,648
Premiere Classe
227
16,313
Source: HVS Research
Main Budget Brands in the UK
No. of Hotels
No. of Rooms
Premier Inn
582
41,511
Travelodge
377
27,010
Holiday Inn Express
109
12,464
Ibis
53
7,173
Jurys Inn
23
5,828
Innkeeper’s Lodge
91
2,652
Etap
17
2,212
Ramada Encore
16
1,947
Days Inn
30
1,834
Days Hotel
12
1,562
Source TRI Budget Hotel 2010
This is a non-exhaustive list of the main budget brands in Europe, classified into four categories according to room size,
room amenities, on-site facilities, design and service offered.
Ultrabudget
Corebudget
Upper-budget
Design-budget
Balladins
B&B Hotels
All Seasons
Citizen M
easyHotel
Ibis
Campanile
Dakota
Etap
Motel One
Comfort Inn
Nite-nite
Hotel F1
Premier Inn
Days Inn
Qbic
Premiere Classe
Sidorme
Hampton by Hilton
Sleeperz
Tune Hotels
Travelodge
Holiday Inn Express
The Big Sleep
InterCity Hotels
Yotel
Kyriad
Source: Otus Overview Report – Europe 2010
Issue 10
19
intelligence zone
Three star hotels - European Criteria
With the ongoing pressures to achieve best value and the move to 3 star hotels in company hotel programmes we thought you would find it
interesting to have an overview of the criteria required to achieve 3 stars in properties across Europe.
Working modem connection (or equivalent
access to the internet available for guests)
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
UK
1.4 Food Services
Dining area
Breakfast served/available
Lunch and Dinner available
Room service
Parking spaces and garages
2. Room Conditions
Single room minimum surface area
Double room minimum surface area
Safe in the room
Denmark
1.3 Facilities for disabled people
Facilities for disabled people (access in the
building etc)
Belgium
MINIMUM CRITERIA/3 STAR HOTELS
1. Common Services & facilities
1.1 Reception
Permanent reception service
Temporary reception service
Foreign language speaking employees at
reception desk
Safety boxes
Luggage room
Wake up services
Debit/Credit Card accepted
Telefax
PC Access
Access to Internet
Lounge
1.2 Lift
Lift required
Austria
A quick look at the comparative table reveals that the list includes only the minimum criteria. 3-star hotels are free to offer the services and the
facilities which in the table are listed as ‘No’. Thus, if a traveller has a particular need or wants a specific facility or service during his/her stay in
a 3-star hotel, he/she should verify its availability before booking and checking-in.
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
N/A
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
N/A
No
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
No
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No 12m² 14m² 11,5m² No 10m² 8m2 No 14m² 10m² 12m² 13m² 8m² 8m² No 5.6m²
No 17m² 18m² 13,5m² No 16m² 14m² No 16m² 14m² 17m² 15m² 12,6m² 15m² No 8.4m²
Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No No N/A Yes No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
N/A
Yes
No
Radio and colour television set with satellite
Yes
or cable TV
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
N/A
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
N/A
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Telephone
Changing of bed linen once per week
Changing of bed linen twice per week
Daily room cleaning
Air conditioning available
Nonsmoking rooms available
Table/Desk available
3. Bathroom
Individual bathroom/WC available
Towels change daily
Hairdryer available
Shower Gel/Shampoo/Soap available
Source: The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)
20
the
hive
The
INSIDERS’ guide to...
Hotel & travel trade associations
Since the recession started to bite, many corporate buyers have looked long and hard at their association
memberships and the return they – and their organisations - receive on those investments. But are the
benefits of association membership quantifiable? Isn’t the purpose of belonging to bring about needed change
in the industry?
The reasons for joining an association tend to vary between professional bodies only in their respective
rankings. The primary motivations for most buyers in joining any professional body are to increase knowledge,
share best practice and to expand their networks of contacts.
In any industry, the challenges facing one buyer are bound to be those faced – to a lesser or greater degree by buyers in other organisations. All that changes is the corporate culture and the maturity (or otherwise) of
the travel policies and programmes already in place.
Association memberships are actually counter-recessionary. When trading conditions are tough, buyers are
under greater pressure to cut costs and suppliers have to look even harder for business, the common bond of
association membership fosters an environment of mutual-help, and provides a unique channel through which
to build relationships with buyers and suppliers alike. Of course, like any exclusive club, simply becoming a
member is only the first step. The value of any membership is related directly to how the member leverages
the opportunities on offer.
So what options does the hotel, travel or meetings buyer have in terms of professional bodies that can deliver
real member benefits? Here’s The Hive™ guide to the pick of the bunch.
Association of Corporate Travel Executives
(ACTE)
www.acte.org
Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply
(CIPS)
www.cips.org
US-based ACTE boasts 6,000 members in 80
countries, and is widely regarded as the global
business travel industry’s leading provider of
education through a series of conferences, events
and seminars.
Well over 30,000 members in the UK along makes
CIPS the largest association for procurement
professionals, although only 7 – 8,000 of CIPS
members have responsibility for travel within their
portfolios. Founded in 1932 CIPS’ mission is “to
promote and develop high standards of
professional skill, ability and integrity among all
those engaged in purchasing and supply chain
management.”
Buyers make up 37% of ACTE’s membership,
compared to 42% who are suppliers, with the
remainder being TMCs (17%) and media. For
some years, ACTE has gone head to head with
NBTA outside the US, with Europe being the latest
battleground following the launch of NBTA Europe.
Issue 10
Membership benefits include internationallyaccredited qualifications, training courses,
seminars and events, plus resources centre and
the fortnightly Supply Management magazine.
21
Created in 2006 as a result of a merger
between the Corporate Events Association
(CEA) and the Incentive Travel & Meetings
Association (ITMA), Eventia also swallowed up
the British Association of Conference
Destinations (BACD) in January 2009.
Eventia positions itself as the official trade body
of the events and live marketing industry,
lobbying government, regulators and the
corporate community. Event buyers can join the
association as Event Organiser Members,
although this category is mainly for live
communications agencies; conference and
incentive travel organisers; producers of
experiential marketing activity and corporate
hospitality agencies.
.
Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA)
www.hbaa.org.uk
Membership of the HBAA is not open to
corporates, but to hotel booking agents (there
are around 85 members in this category) and
hotel operators (referred to as partners). Set up
in the late 1990’s, the HBAA has done much to
legitimise the sector by creating a code of
practice for agents and hoteliers, and by
breaking down the mutual mistrust that existed
throughout the 70’s and 80’s.
HBAA members now manage £2.5 billion of
transient accommodation and meetings
business on behalf of corporates; that’s around
8% of all corporate travel and meetings
expenditure by UKPLC.
buyers and has led the sustainability agenda
through its award-winning Project Icarus.
The 600+ buyers within ITM’s 1,000-strong
membership are responsible for around £8
billion of annual travel and meetings spend, with
over half of the FTSE top 100 companies’ travel
buyers as association members.
Meetings Professionals International (MPI)
www.mpiuk.org
The UK chapter of the global MPI organisation
has around 1,000 members covering the
corporate, agency and supplier communities.
MPI UK offers regular events and its own
qualification through the MPI Foundation,
together with online resources covering a wide
range of tools and research.
National Business Travel Association
(NBTA)
www.nbtaeurope.org
NBTA and ACTE are the two behemoths of the
corporate travel sector, which is ironic
considering that their offices are no more than
200 yards apart in the US. NBTA has recently
revived its relationship with ITM, which now runs
the new NBTA Europe association.
NBTA Europe has been created to give the
mother association a stronger foothold on this
side of the Atlantic, and will no doubt be looking
to take full advantage of ITM’s members with
larger, international spend.
Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM)
www.itm.org.uk
Re-branded from the Institute of Travel
Management in 2009, ITM has been the leading
professional body for travel buyers since its
formation in 1955. In recent years ITM has
focused on providing high quality research to
Please go to www.traveljargon.org for
details of more travel, meeting and
hospitality associations around the world.
intelligence zone
Eventia
www.eventia.org
22
the
hive
client zone
2012 - feast
On 27th July 2012 the opening ceremony of the Olympic flame will take
place, directed by award-winning filmmaker (Trainspotting, Shallow Grave
and others) Danny Boyle in front of a worldwide audience expected to top
the 1 billion who witnessed the corresponding event in Beijing in 2008.
Amidst the growing Olympics hysteria and
dreams of a reborn London taking its place in
the pantheon of global business destinations,
hoteliers are not exactly bubbling over with
enthusiasm for an event that will cost the UK
£9.3 billion – four times the original estimate
when the games were first awarded to London
in 2005.
The hospitality sector has good cause to be
nervous, having invested heavily in additional
bed stock to meet the expected needs of
competitors, sponsors, their clients, media and
spectators. 6,000 new hotel rooms will open in
Issue 10
London by the time the Games comes to town,
with a further 6,000 in the pipeline.
When the starter’s gun is first heard, the capital
will have around 125,000 hotel rooms available.
What proportion of this inventory will be
available to book is the first of two major
concerns shared by suppliers and buyers alike.
The second, of course, is the cost of that
accommodation to would-be guests.
The London Organising Committee of the
Olympic Games (LOCOG) has reserved around
55,000 rooms across 250 hotels for the Games,
23
client zone
London 2012
t or famine?
representing 60 - 65% of the available inventory
at each property. This covers everything from
university halls through to serviced apartments
and deluxe hotels in Park Lane. Interestingly
25% of the mega-allocation held by LOCOG is
university accommodation.
Who uses what types of accommodation, and
where, is decided by the different groups that
comprise the Olympic Family. Collectively, the
IOC, International Paralympic Committee (IPC),
International Sports Federations (ISFs), National
Olympic Committees (NOCs) and broadcast
media makes up the demand for 55,000 rooms
already secured.
LOCOG’s announcement of how much of their
allocations they will be taking up is due around
Christmas time, but the indications are that few
rooms will be returned to the operators – at
least initially. This leaves around 70,000 rooms
to house visitors coming to a city whose hotels
are usually 90% full in July and August.
Which is where the trouble really starts,
because, as 2010 research by the European
Tour Operators Association (ETOA) shows, the
predicted number of overseas visitors to
previous Olympiads has never materialized.
Sydney anticipated 132,000 visitors and
received 95,000; Athens planned for 105,000
per night but received fewer than 50,000. At the
Winter Games in February 2010, Vancouver
hotels were virtually empty in the weeks leading
up to the event.
Then there’s the visitors who will camp in one of
the many sites available across London, stay
with friends and relatives or use Eurostar to
come over for the day and don’t stay overnight
in the capital.
the
hive
London 2012
24
Most hotels are waiting for LOCOG’s
commitment to bed space before announcing
their strategies for 2012. Unfortunately this also
means that few are even selling space, thereby
fuelling the possibility that corporates will buy
up hotel rooms as far in advance as possible in
order to secure availability.
Fortunately for corporate buyers, August is
usually the quietest month of the year for
business travel, so demand for rooms at
corporate rates is assumed to be lower and the
effect of the Games on those who do need to
travel to London during the Games period will
not be appreciably felt. Unless you work for
Samsung, Lloyds TSB, BT, British Airways or
any of the Games’ main sponsors who are all
finalising plans for staff engagement events and
corporate hospitality. And they will be taking up
bed space in London during this period!
Corporates are already drawing up contingency
plans to deal with the many unknown factors
associated with London 2012. After two years
of recession will hotels forget their customers’
loyalty and hike the rates? Will there be a
minimum stay, and what will the cancellation
terms be?
Issue 10
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and
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bedrooms located in key cities across the
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Each hotel is conveniently located within
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For more information or reservations,
contact BSI
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels operates a portfolio of more than 100 hotels worldwide
Whether you’re looking for a small meeting room
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The finest collection
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26
the
hive
London 2012
feast or famine?
The likely supply of, and demand for overnight
accommodation is the subject of BSI’s latest
Industry Eye publication. Available shortly from
www.bsi.co.uk/resources Feast or Famine
explores the true impact of the Games on both
corporate buyers and hotel operators.
Will rates soar as availability dries, or will a glut
of refurbishments & new openings coupled with
lower-than-predicted demand lead to tough
times for providers, post-Olympics? Have the
lessons of Barcelona, Sydney and Athens been
Issue 10
learned, and can the answers be found by
looking at other prominent events?
Feast or Famine sets out to re-assure buyers by
assessing the likely impact of the Games,
putting the Olympics into the context
of major events, and by providing practical
strategies to deal with what the organisers hope
will be the biggest event in Britain for 70 years.
To request your copy of Feast or Famine
go to www.bsi.co.uk/resources
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Planning a conference or just looking for a small interview
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Designed for natural living
28
the
hive
feature zone
Ultimate destination
Tallinn
By Ian Sclater
Tallinn is gearing up to enjoy its year in the spotlight as the 2011 European
Capital of Culture. The city is best known for its Old Town, which has been
extensively smartened up after years of Soviet neglect and is now chocolate
box pretty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At barely a square mile in size,
it is small and compact and crisscrossed with atmospheric, cobbled streets,
alleys and courtyards clustered around Old Town Square with its medieval
Town Hall.
Tallinn is a newcomer in the conference business.
(The local convention bureau team remains
small and has only three years’ experience
under its belt.) However, companies wary of
Tallinn as a ‘new’ destination may be swayed
by value for money.
Issue 10
At the end of a hotel building boom which
lasted until the late 2000s, bed stock in Estonia
has grown dramatically (by over 30% between
2006 and 2009 alone) to over 12,500 rooms,
equal to Helsinki.
29
feature zone
Over the same period, however, occupancy fell
by nearly 23%, and the Tallinn hotel market,
according to one sales and marketing director,
was left ”seriously overstocked”. Came the
economic crisis, and prices plummeted by as
much as 25% over the last three years.
Improving air links will soon make it easier for
British planners to enjoy Tallinn’s favourable
rates. Estonian Air, easyJet and Ryanair have all
announced additional services between Tallinn
and UK cities, including Stansted, Gatwick,
Luton, Edinburgh and Liverpool.
All the large conference hotels are located in the
business district, which skirts the Old Town, so
ground transportation costs are minimal. The
large hotels have extensive spa facilities (a
Nordic obsession) and most bedrooms have
good, even spectacular city or sea views.
Tallinn struggles to handle conferences of over
1,000 delegates. According to figures compiled
by the Tallinn City Tourist Office and Convention
Bureau, in 2009 eight venues could handle
meetings for 500 to 1,000 people, two could
take between 1,000 and 2,000 and only one,
the Saku Arena, could take more.
With its ‘wireless wherever’ ethic, Estonia – or
‘E-stonia’ – regards WiFi as a basic human
right. No hotel charges for it and it is universally
available at no charge in filling stations, cafes
and the like.
Tallinn’s Lennart Meri International Airport is only
4.5 kilometres from the city centre. Depending on
traffic, a taxi ride to a city centre hotel can take
as little as 10 minutes. Says one hotel manager:
“Every hotel in Tallinn is an airport hotel.”
An EU member since 2004, Estonia introduces
the Euro on January 1, 2011.
Conference hotels
Opened in spring 2009, the Meriton Grand
Conference and Spa Hotel is Tallinn’s newest
conference venue. There are 11 meeting rooms,
all with natural light and fully equipped, three of
which can be connected for a theatre-style
capacity of 120. One of four Meriton hotels in
Tallinn, this one has the city’s biggest hotel gym.
Part of Solaris Tallinn, a shopping and entertainment centre on the edge of the Old Town, the
Nokia Concert Hall celebrated its first birthday
in October 2010. As well as conferences, the
multi-purpose, 1,800-plus capacity facility hosts
around 20 concerts a month. All major hotels
are within a 15-minute walk.
The state of the art sound and video equipment
is among the best in the Nordics and including
Meriton Grand Conference and Spa Hotel
30
the
hive
a massive, 20 x 9 metre screen. The complex
comprises another nine cinema screens over
four floors, which can be closed to the public.
quirky, nature-inspired interior decor featuring
tree and leaf motifs, “grassy” carpets and
hardwood bedroom floors.
When flights were grounded in spring 2010
because of volcanic ash, some of the main
speakers who were due to attend a medical
conference in the city were Skyped in by video
to give their presentations.
The Nordic was the first hotel in the Baltics to
offer Skype phones in all its rooms, enabling
users to log on to their own account without a
computer. (Skype software was developed by
Estonians.) Each phone has €4 credit on it,
enough to cover an average stay. There are also
four Skype video phones. The service attracted
a 2009 award for best Skype business
application.
The four-star, 267-room Nordic Hotel Forum
is a local landmark with its striking facade and
The Nordic is also the only Tallinn hotel with a
website optimised for access with smart
phones, for example to view the hotel’s image
gallery or watch a video of the facilities. The site
is customised for small screens and cheaper to
download.
Nordic Hotel Forum
Built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, when
Tallinn hosted the yachting regatta, the 390-room
Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia has been
operated by Rezidor since June 2010. Mainly a
business and conference hotel, it has a total
meeting capacity of 1,000 over 15 rooms, with
400 theatre-style the most any one room can hold.
The 280-room Radisson Blu Hotel Tallinn
has one large banqueting area for up to 350
theatre-style plus 14 smaller meeting rooms. All
but one room have natural daylight. The terrace
of the 24th floor Lounge 24, with its spectacular
panoramic city and harbour views of the city,
is the highest location in Tallinn with outside
seating. All the bedrooms are the same size at
around 30 square metres; a third are Business
Class.
Radisson Blu Hotel Tallinn, Lounge 24
Located across a large, leafy square from one
of the Old Town gates, the 516-room Sokos
Hotel Viru was the highest hotel in Estonia
when opened in 1972 as part of Intourist, the
official Russian state travel agency. Purposebuilt as a conference hotel, it was considered
very trendy in Soviet times.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the
hotel’s new owners found plans that indicated
the existence of a secret, twenty third floor. This
turned out to house a KGB radio room where
coded messages were picked up from Soviet
embassies in the Nordic countries and relayed
to Moscow. (Guests were also heavily surveilled
and routinely bugged. During modernisation, the
walls were found to be full of wiring.)
Sokos Hotel Viru
Issue 10
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With over 1,500 acres to explore, gourmet
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Elite Hotels are happy to cater for all
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32
the
hive
Tallinn
From January 2011, the secret room will
become the first museum in a Tallinn hotel. A
tour group will be greeted by Soviet “militsiya”,
who will check visitors’ documentation - and
find some problems with their visas. The entire
group will then be taken to the KGB room,
where they will be “interrogated” and shown all
the procedures of detention. On the way, the
“policemen” will tell the group about life in
Soviet Estonia. (Reassuringly, according to the
press release, ‘the mood will be elevated by a
welcome drink’.)
Swissotel Tallinn
Named Estonia's Leading Hotel at the 2010
World Travel Awards, the five-star Swissotel
Tallinn is a modern, smoked glass tower in the
business district. Opened in 2007, its sixth floor
Conference Centre can handle up to 500
theatre-style in the ballroom. The Swissotel was
good enough for a NATO conference in April,
when US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton
occupied the Presidential Suite.
The dazzlingly glass-fronted Tallink City Hotel
is another of Tallinn’s recent crop of sizeable
(332 rooms) modern business class hotels. It is
owned by the Tallink shipping company, which
operates ferries around Estonia, Latvia, Finland
and Sweden. (Hotels account for only 1% of
their business.) There are six conference rooms
for up to 186 persons.
Tallink City Hotel
Like its sister hotel, the 275-room Tallink Spa
and Conference Hotel, opened in 2007, has
an extensive glass facade. Glass also features
heavily inside, including a soaring, atrium-high
‘wall’ which separates the public area from the
Aqua Spa.
Described by its designer as being like a “space
relaxation station”, Aqua Spa is the focus of
activity, with hotel guests and outside customers
wandering back and forth in white bathrobes,
but it’s all part of the Nordic love of public
bathing. This extends to some delegates, who
gather for swim suited brainstorming sessions
with laptops around the pool.
Other venues
For Old Town options on a smaller scale, the
elegant Symphony Lounge of the Telegraaf
Hotel, located in the 19th century home of the
Estonian Telegraph Company, seats up to 50
theatre style, while The Library in the Three
Sisters Hotel, which combines a trio of tall
medieval houses with pointed gables, seats 60
theatre style.
Tallink Spa and Conference Hotel
Issue 10
33
Other unusual options include the 13th century
Tallinn Town Hall (the oldest in the Nordic
countries), the new Kumu (‘Kunstmuseum’, or
art museum) or Peter the Great’s Kadriorg
Palace.
A 10-minute drive from the city centre next to
Tallinn Song Festival grounds, the Estonian
Fair Centre is a complex of six halls that hosts
exhibitions, fairs, conferences, entertainment
and sports events. There is room for a gala
dinner for 2,000 people. For this venue it is
necessary to use a local DMC.
About three kilometers from the city centre, the
Saku Arena is the largest multi-functional arena
in Estonia. There are six meeting rooms with
seating for 10,000 in the main hall.
Kadriorg Palace
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feature zone
Seating nearly 1,000, neo-Classical imposing
Estonia Concert Hall is home to the Estonian
national opera, ballet and symphony companies.
A removable chair system quickly transforms the
hall from concert seating into a variety of
environments over about 500 square metres,
such as receptions (including for the President
of Estonia), launches, fashion show and balls.
While the lighting system fulfils the requirements
for TV and theatre productions, there is otherwise no built-in technical equipment or facilities,
most of which needs to be brought in.
34
the
hive
Testing times
for loyalty?
The considerable reduction in redemption
levels for hotel loyalty points in the past
two years might reasonably be expected to
have undermined the whole idea of loyalty
programmes. Although the schemes are
designed to reward guests in proportion to
the amount of business they give, making
anything less expensive can have the effect
of cheapening it and restoring the image
when times improve is often an uphill task.
Hilton Honors’ introduction of Point Stretcher
rewards in March this year allowed members to
redeem 40% fewer points for rewards at
participating hotels on stays until the end of
2010; Best Western relaunched its Gold Crown
Club International (GCCI) programme in 2009
as Best Western Rewards, with improved
incentives and rewards – GCCI members were
automatically transferred; and Shangri-La has
opened Golden Circle to all guests, a change
from invitation only, and points can now also be
earned on spend in restaurants and spas. And
now, Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts has created
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, launched on
September 1, 2010.
Issue 10
However, despite widespread discounting,
advisory hotels specialist to PwC Stephen
Broome does not foresee a problem. “Loyalty
programmes are a tool in the marketing box
and in times of poor demand, if you have got
a loyal following of customers, you fall over
backwards to make sure you do everything you
can to put the business and the brand in the
best possible light and at the same time,
encourage usage of the hotels,” he says. “And
there is additional spend when someone stays.”
There is also the matter of peer pressure.
“There are mixed views on the benefits of loyalty
schemes,” he says. “From what I have seen,
the benefit of paying for a loyalty scheme rarely
justifies the cost but all the big brands have
them, customers expect it and it would be very
brave for a hotel company to suggest they
should abandon a scheme or make it less
attractive – they are unlikely to do so because
of the competitive threat.”
Realistically, if times have been hard for hoteliers
in the past two years, they have been tough for
hotel guests too and many customers have
35
Research undertaken by PwC with Small Luxury
Hotels’ 40,000 loyalty scheme members
corroborates this. “The profile tends to be As
and Bs, who are wealthy, independent, looking
for quality and overwhelmingly, looking for the
best deal,” says Stephen Broome. “They told us
they would spend a long time searching the
internet for a better deal at similar hotels to the
SLH properties. Brand is relatively unimportant
and if it is cheaper, people will generally book it.”
Choice Hotels’ Choice Privileges has been
running in the US for 11 years and has some
10 million members there. It was launched in
Europe in May 2008, where membership is just
below the 2010 target of 75,000. “The value for
us is not in driving incremental revenues but to
communicate more frequently with clients and
understand the traveller profile better,” says head
of sales for Choice Hotels Europe Brian Garvan.
That has not stopped hotels at both ends of the
scale looking at loyalty programmes. Premier
Inn trialled a promotion based on loyalty with
business guests this summer. “If they stayed
three times within a certain period, we gave
them a free night at the weekend,” says
marketing director for Premier Inn Gerard
Tempest. “We are encouraged by the reaction
we received: a proportion of the people who
would normally have stayed with us once, were
moved to stay three times in a week. A night at
a Premier Inn at a weekend was a strong
enough currency to change behaviour,” he says.
Members earn points based on the value of
their spend on property when converted into
US dollars. They can redeem these against
hotel nights and facilities and through partnership
agreements such as the major US airline
programmes. In addition, members can spend
points at Preferred Hotels. “We are largely in the
mid market, so [a luxury option] was something
we identified as being required,” he says.
Choice has also run special offers to make
stays more tempting for Privileges members.
“It does not undermine the programme,” says
Garvan. “The traveller is getting more back for
their spend and that is an additional incentive
to buy a Choice product. We fund the promotion
centrally, so the incremental business for the
hotel is unchanged. It is a win win for everyone.”
Barceló Hotels & Resorts launched MyBarceló
last year, giving one point per night’s stay, plus
different promotions each quarter such as triple
or double points. “We do believe it encourages
people to book with Barceló again, rather than
with another hotel company,” says head of
marketing and e-commerce Nicole Kaufman.
The British Hotel Guest Survey 2009, undertaken
by BDRC, shows that more than one third
(36%) of British business travellers and more
than half (56%) of all frequent business
customers belong to a hotel loyalty programme.
However, in 2000, 27% of business travellers
were members of two or more schemes and
that figure has increased to 42%. So loyalty
is relative.
And most recently, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards
allows guests to earn 10 points or two airline
miles for every US dollar spent on room rate.
Points can be redeemed against hotel stays
and partnership benefits or miles redeemed
against travel with participating airlines. Partners
reflect the exclusivity of the brand and include
Abercrombie & Kent, Neiman Marcus, National
Geographic expeditions and Vera Wang.
“Customers wanted to see a benefit from their
loyalty,” says president of Ritz-Carlton
International Hervé Humler.
The last word goes to managing director of
Ashton Brand Consulting Group Mike Ashton:
“The objective of a loyalty scheme is to
influence or change consumer behaviour to the
commercial advantage of the scheme owner
but scheme members are often extremely
knowledgeable about how they operate and
[therefore] cynical.”
However, it is possible to get it right. “At Hilton,
during more than one economic dip, when the
rest of the business was struggling, revenue
from HHonors membership grew in double
figures, as members consolidated their stays
around their favoured brands.” This is where
loyalty programmes become mutually beneficial.
feature zone
chosen to reap the rewards of their loyalty.
Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) are a case
in point, making up 44% of the group’s room
nights. “That is highest in our history,” says
senior vice president, North West Europe,
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Michael Wale. “At
the end of the day, loyal SPGs stay longer and
spend more. The programme has evolved over
the last 10 years and has paid off in difficult
times.”
36
the
hive
housekeeping
In this regular feature CATHERINE CHETWYND takes a 'behind closed doors' look at
what people working in key posts within hotels have to contend with when dealing
with the business user.
In a 362-room hotel, the job of executive housekeeper is not an enviable one. First, there are
the countless problems associated with keeping
guests happy, then there is a housekeeping
team to run and finally, their tasks to monitor. It
must be like painting the Forth Road Bridge – a
never-ending task.
However, executive housekeeper for Barceló
Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire Julie
Keitch talks about it without a trace of Angst.
“I start at 6.30am and allocate the workload to
the girls. I have a deputy, two supervisors, three
public area cleaners, two people in the linen
room and 10 contract staff who work up to 35
hours a week; plus 17 casuals – they are not
guaranteed work.
“They would not be working all at one time but
I have to write the rota for two shifts, 8.30am to
1pm and 8.30am to 4pm, and make sure everyone knows what they are doing. In that time, the
girls would be expected to clean either nine or
14 departs, depending on what hours they were
working,” she says.
Cleaning rooms of departing guests takes 10
minutes longer – 30 minutes – than those of
guests who are staying. “As our rooms are large
and half of them have two 5ft. beds (exec
twins), if both beds are used the girls get a
bonus payment; and if they clean rooms above
their allocation, a bonus payment is also included.
“I manage this with my supervisors and we keep
a daily record of all this information, so that we
can monitor the payroll,” says Keitch.
Keitch also does some cleaning and she
checks all rooms. “I look at rooms not used the
previous night, to decide which will be the show
room of the day and I go into all of them to
make sure there isn’t a cleaning issue. I can see
the training needs from that, as well.”
She also attends a 10am meeting every day in
the general manager’s office with the heads of
the other departments in the hotel. “We go
through the daily business of running the
Issue 10
Julie Keitch
property, whether there is anyone important in
and what is going on in the conference rooms.
“I have been at the hotel 14 years and the
greatest change is expectations,” says Julie
Keitch. “People go abroad more often and as a
result they have higher expectations – and quite
rightly so.”
The most common request housekeeping gets
is for phone and BlackBerry chargers: “We have
to lend a lot of those. We keep boxes of them,
which we make up from chargers left by guests
who have not asked for them back,” she says.
“They are often left behind; and coats – when it
is warm, people put them in a cupboard and
forget them.” And one guest forgot their false
teeth. “They rang for them quite a while after
they had left them.”
Otherwise is there anything that distinguishes
one guest from another? “In the bedrooms,
females are much more untidy than men, they
throw things all over the floor and beds. Men
are quite tidy.” So now you know.
Wyboston Lakes…
much more accessible than the South Pole!
Centrally located on the Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire border, Wyboston Lakes offers a complete range of meeting and event space for
2 - 270 delegates, 400 ensuite double/twin bedrooms and an 18 hole golf course set in 350 acres of rural countryside, which is easily
accessible by road, rail and air. Situated midway between Cambridge and Bedford, just off the A1, A428 and A421, with close links to
the M1, M11 and A14, we are less than one hour’s drive from London, the M25 and M6. We are 50 minutes from London King’s Cross
by train and less than one hour from Luton and Stansted airports.
Providing outstanding customer service, superb food, free parking and wi-fi internet access, with onsite leisure facilities, we offer
flexible packages that can be tailored to suit any organisation’s meeting and budgetary requirements, no matter how large or small.
So, however you choose to travel, and for whatever type of event, you will find us easily accessible and versatile.
For more information or reservations, please contact BSI.
38
the
hive
coffee zone
Honest guest's
7 miles a day!
guide to free
hotel amenities
Following on from this month’s Hotel Babylon it’s a fact
….. a hotel housekeeper walks twice as many miles as a
porter and nearly six times more than the gym staff,
according to a recent study carried out by Park Plaza
Victoria London. In the study carried out by the four-star
deluxe hotel, four members of staff were each given a
pedometer and asked to measure how far they walk on
an average day.
• Housekeepers easily topped the poll by clocking
up a staggering 7.1 miles in one day
• Gym staff, despite being surrounded by treadmills,
only managed a measly 1.2 miles
• Porters meanwhile managed a respectable 3.5
miles a day
• and all that glass-clearing and order-taking resulted
in 2.5 miles for the bar staff who keep the drinks
coming in the hotel bar, JB's.
"We always knew that our housekeepers work incredibly
hard and with over 299 guestrooms including executive
suites, 12 studios, one and two bedroom serviced
apartments, it's clear to see how they covered 7.1 miles,"
says Ramesh Costa, General Manager of Park Plaza
Victoria London.
When you're staying at a hotel, is it OK to pocket the
bottles of shampoo and lotion? How about the magazines?
Bathrobes? Furniture? A Travelocity survey found 86% of
hotel guests admitted to taking toiletries, like oatmeal soap
and lavender body gel. About 3% said they swiped a
bathrobe or slippers, and 1% said they stole dishes,
silverware, electronics and even Bibles! The point is, we
can all agree that there is a line. We can't necessarily agree
where the line is.
If there's a price tag on it, it's off limits.
Seems pretty obvious, right? Hang on. The bathrobes in
your room may have a price tag, but they're also there to
be used during your stay. Off goes the tag. And from there,
it's not much of a leap to your unpacked bag – but beware
you could well face a hefty bill.
If you can consume it, it's yours.
Hotel sources have said it's fine to take something that can
be used only once, like a shower cap, or that can't be
recycled once it's opened, like a bottle of lotion. One
manager even said it was OK to take the slippers. But
there are a few notable exceptions. The bottled water in
your room can be consumed, but unless you're staying on
the concierge floor, you'll probably be charged for it. Ditto
for anything in the minibar, so consume with caution.
Don't take more than you're supposed to.
In other words, hands off those carts stocked with soaps
and lotions. Those are meant for someone else's room there's a reason why each hotel room gets just one set of
toiletries, as opposed to a bucket full of soap containers.
Hotels aren't charities
Some hotel guests - not you, I'm sure - justify taking
generous handfuls of soaps and lotions off the cart with the
idea that at some point, they'll donate it to a homeless
shelter or some other charity. This, too, is problematic and
raiding the housekeeping cart, even if it's for a good cause,
is questionable. Remember everything that’s taken is a cost
to the hotel’s bottom line .. and will inevitably be reflected in
future charges.
So where's the line? It's there - not always clearly visible but look hard and you might see it.
39
coffee zone
Sudoku
EASY
HARD
4
2 3
3
1
3
7 5
9
1
9
9 7
5 4
7
5
7 11
8
8 5
2
2
4
9 2
8
6
6 7
3 9
5
1
4 5 6
2
3
8
9
2
6 9
5
3
7
1
9
2
4 5 1
2
6
Lateral thinking
One day Fiona celebrated her birthday. Two days later her older twin brother, Terry, celebrated his birthday. How come?
Quiz
Did you know?
• The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year.
1. Notaphily is the collecting of what?
2. A flittermouse is an old term for which type of creature?
3. The Blarney Stone is in which county of the Republic of
• Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
• Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
• Einstein couldn't speak fluently when he was nine.
Ireland?
4. What does the term "brut" mean when referring to wine?
5. What are Climax, Intercourse, Accident and Sugar Tit:
Towns in the USA; Bono's pet donkeys; Codenames for
UK Vice-Squad operations; or Bands who've appeared
His parents thought he might be retarded.
• The parachute was invented by DiVinci in 1515
• Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton
• A giraffe can clean it’s ears with its 21-inch tongue.
• The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without
on Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage?
repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
• The state of Florida is bigger than England.
8
1
5
3
6
7
9
2
4
4
2
6
1
9
8
3
5
7
9
3
7
2
4
5
1
6
8
2
4
9
5
1
6
8
7
3
3
6
8
4
7
9
2
1
5
5
7
1
8
3
2
6
4
9
7
5
2
9
8
1
4
3
6
6
8
4
7
2
3
5
9
1
SOLUTIONS - EASY
1
9
3
6
5
4
7
8
2
1
2
6
4
7
8
5
3
9
4
3
7
5
1
9
6
8
2
5
9
8
3
2
6
7
4
1
6
1
2
8
3
7
9
5
4
7
4
9
6
5
2
8
1
3
8
5
3
9
4
1
2
6
7
9
6
1
7
8
3
4
2
5
2
7
4
1
6
5
3
9
8
SOLUTIONS - HARD
3
8
5
2
9
4
1
7
6
QUIZ 1. Banknotes (or paper money) 2. Bat 3. Cork. 4. Very dry 5. Towns in the USA
LATERAL THINKING At the time she went into labour, the mother of the twins was travelling by boat. The
older twin, Terry, was born first early on March 1st. The boat then crossed the International Date line and
Fiona, the younger twin, was born on February the 28th. In a leap year the younger twin celebrates her
birthday two days before her older brother..
ANSWERS
40
the
hive
competitions
Please refer to the BSI web site for terms &
conditions and to enter any of these competitions,
go to www.bsi.co.uk/competitions
The CLOSING DATE for all competitions in this issue is Friday 31st December 2010
WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY FOR TWO
AT A BARCELÓ UK HOTEL FOR TWO PEOPLE INCLUDING BREAKFAST
Valid until 30th November 2011 (subject to availability & excludes all bank holidays).
Barceló UK offers a collection of 21 unique four star hotels throughout the UK. With hotels located from Scotland to
Torquay the group offers vibrant city and town centres, spectacular coastal resorts and countryside retreats. The portfolio
includes the Barceló Edinburgh Carlton Hotel, Barceló Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire, Barceló Shrigley Hall Hotel,
Golf and Country Club, Cheshire with a championship 18 hole golf course and Barceló Torquay Imperial Hotel.
Whether you’re looking to organise an executive board meeting, a spectacular conference, productive training sessions or
need a location for stimulating team building events, Barceló UK’s dedicated meetings & events service, MeetBarceló will
deliver memorable events for all clients.
Question: Which Barceló UK Hotel has a 18 hole golf course?
WIN A BREAK AT THE BEST WESTERN PREMIER YEW LODGE HOTEL
WE HAVE A FANTASTIC TWO NIGHT STAY WITH TICKETS TO TWYCROSS ZOO
Prizes must be booked before 30th March 2011 for stays before 30th March 2011.
Whether you are looking for a central location for an overnight stay, conference, social event or wedding
reception, Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel can meet all your requirements and more.
It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and with exceptional links to the motorway network, Midland Mainline
Railway and Nottingham East Midlands Airport. The hotel has an enviable reputation for fine food and warm
hospitality, playing host to conferences and wedding receptions for over 50 years making the Best Western
Premier Yew Lodge the perfect venue.
The folks at the hotel are a pretty special bunch too! Not happy with offering an award winning
green policy, they are also busy helping out at the zoo. Their latest recruit is Boulas the gorilla
who they have adopted from Twycross Zoo to be the hotels mascot!
Question: We have a fantastic two night stay with tickets to Twycross Zoo on
offer for the person who can tell us the name of the hotel’s newest recruit?
WIN ONE NIGHT AT AN ELITE HOTEL INCLUDING DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST
Valid to 31st March 2011. Subject to availability and allocation.
Elite Hotels offers four superb hotels of distinction including Ashdown Park in East Sussex, Tylney Hall in
Hampshire, The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne and Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire.
Each hotel is equipped with excellent conference and banqueting suites and syndicate rooms of varying
sizes, offering everything for the conference delegate and business traveller. All hotels are steeped in
history, providing a stunning backdrop to any event with acres of space available for outdoor teambuilding activities. For an exclusive use venue, Warren Weir at Luton Hoo fits the bill perfectly catering for
up to 380 on the banks of the River Lea.
Conveniently situated in the South East, they are all within easy access of London and the M25, and
both Heathrow and Gatwick International airports.
Elite Hotels has a reputation for fine cuisine in luxurious surroundings. All hotel restaurants have been
awarded 2 AA Rosettes and are committed to providing outstanding service in a friendly atmosphere.
Question: Which International airports are the hotels convenient too?
WIN A FANTASTIC ILLY COFFEE MACHINE WITH ETC.VENUES
etc.venues pride ourselves on running the best City Centre conference, training and meeting
venues available. That why we serve Illy coffee in our venues in London and Birmingham –
because it’s the best and gets every delegate’s day off to a cracking start.
You’ll find everything else at etc.venues is of the same high standard – from the AV kit to the well equipped
meeting rooms to the superb catering by teams of in-house chefs at our 8 venues.
We’re giving you the chance to win a fantastic coffee machine that serves the same coffee as we do in our
venues. All you have to do is answer the question below – you could soon be enjoying the same great
coffee at home as our delegates do in our venues. Good luck.
Question: How many venues are in the etc.venues portfolio and what brand of coffee
do we serve at all of them.
Issue 10
Britannia Hotels offer 35 properties based in key locations
throughout the UK with excellent facilities for both the
corporate and leisure markets.
Our hotels provide a variety of facilities in practical and
inspiring surrounding for any conferences, small meetings,
AGM’s,exhibitions or social events and boast a great range of
leisure and entertainment facilities for delegates.
Our hotels have excellent transport links to major airports and
motorways based in London,Manchester, Liverpool,Birmingham,Aberdeen,Newcastle,London and many more locations.
Majestic. Magical.
TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE, HYDERABAD
Britannia now has over 7,000 bedrooms and our conference
facilities can accommodate from 2 to 4,000 delegates,with free
Wi-Fi. A large number of hotels also host exhibitions and
important social occasions, from weddings to graduations.
Each of our hotels have a unique character to compliment any
occasion, so why not see what’s going on at Britannia hotels.
For more information or reservations,
contact BSI
M9
++++
CROWNE PLAZA GLASGOW
A1
HOLIDAY INN
HOLIDAY
+++
NEWCASTLE UPON-TYNE
NEWCASTLE
UPON-TYNE
M6
++++
HOLIDAY INN HARROGATE
HOLIDAY INN ++++
BOLTON CENTRE
+++
HOLIDAY INN
DONCASTER A1 (M) Jct 36
M62
HOLIDAY INN
+++
MANCHESTER AIRPORT
M1
++++
++++
CROWNE PLAZA CHESTER
CROWNE PLAZA NOTTINGHAM
++++
BEST WESTERN
STOKE-ON-TRENT MOAT HOUSE
M6
A1
++++
HOLIDAY INN
PETERBOROUGH WEST
++++
HOLIDAY INN SOLIHULL
M1
M5
+++
HOLIDAY INN
LUTON-SOUTH M1 Jct
LUTON-SOUTH
Jct 9
M40
HOLIDAY INN
++++
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
M4
BEST WESTERN ++++
READING MOAT HOUSE
HOLIDAY INN
++++
LONDON-ELSTREE M25 Jct 23
++++
HOLIDAY INN
LONDON-SHEPPERTON
++++
HOLIDAY INN PLYMOUTH
BEST WESTERN
+++
GATWICK MOAT HOUSE
For more information or reservations, contact BSI.
42
the
hive
competitions
Please refer to the BSI web site for terms &
conditions and to enter any of these competitions,
go to www.bsi.co.uk/competitions
The CLOSING DATE for all competitions in this issue is Friday 31st December 2010
WIN A LUXURY TWO-NIGHT WEEKEND STAY WITH QHOTELS
AT THE WESTERWOOD HOTEL & GOLF RESORT, NR. GLASGOW
PRIZE IS FOR 2 PEOPLE WITH FULL SCOTTISH BREAKFAST ON BOTH MORNINGS AND DINNER ON THE FIRST NIGHT
Valid to 30th April 2011, subject to availability.
Situated in extensive grounds in the foothills of The Campsie Hills, the four-star Westerwood Hotel & Golf
Resort boasts 148 stunning bedrooms, some with magnificent views over the golf course and beyond.
As you settle in you would be forgiven for forgetting you are only 12 miles from the centre of Glasgow, just a
short hop by train, car or cab with great shops and restaurants. Should the lure of the hotels Leisure and Spa
be too strong then the facilities are yours to use with our compliments.
The dining options at the hotel provide a delightful dilemma; a choice between Flemings Restaurant and the
more relaxed Club Bar & Lounge, both offer creative menus, fantastic food and outstanding service.
The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort not only makes for a fantastic leisure break destination, the conference
facilities at the hotel are a conference organisers dream. A choice of 7 meeting and event suites including The
Carrick Suite with a maximum capacity of 400 delegates are waiting to exceed your expectations.
Question: How far is The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort from the centre of Glasgow?
WIN A ONE NIGHT STAY IN THE MAY FAIR FOR TWO
IN A DELUXE ROOM WITH FULL BREAKFAST
Valid until 31st May 2011, subject to availability.
Radisson Edwardian Hotels are a collection of individual hotels in great London and Manchester locations,
ranging from bijou boutique to large-scale luxe. Think contemporary design that doesn’t compromise on
comfort, complimentary wi-fi throughout and great seasonal British food, with service that anticipates but
never assumes. It’s an experience that relaxes and stimulates in equal measure.
When it comes to meetings our experience creates a better experience. 123 versatile spaces in perfect city
locations. Complimentary wi-fi in all of them. Dedicated teams, with expertise and creativity in equal
measure. Healthy food that fuels success. And a commitment to responsible business that means success
can be sustainable. You could say we’ve thought of everything, so you don’t have to.
Bloomsbury | Canary Wharf | Covent Garden | Fitzrovia | Kensington | Heathrow | Leicester Square
Marble Arch | Mayfair | Oxford Street | Central Manchester
Question: How many meeting rooms in total do Radisson Edwardian Hotels have in
London, Manchester and Heathrow?
WIN A WEEKEND BREAK FOR 2 AT A RAMADA JARVIS HOTEL
IN A DELUXE ROOM WITH FULL BREAKFAST Valid until 31st May 2011, subject to availability.
From quiet country retreats to perfectly located city centre hotels, Ramada Jarvis has the right location for
your needs.
Over the past 2 years we have been busy investing in the refurbishment of bedrooms, conference rooms and
public areas across our portfolio. What's more, we've introduced the latest flat screen LCD TVs with high-speed
internet access in all our hotel bedrooms. Our double executive room package has also been enhanced and
now includes a welcome trary, free movies & broadband access, National morning newspaper, enhanced
toiletries and early check in from 12 noon. With over 40 hotels throughout the UK there's bound to be one to
suit your requirements.
For your chance to win a 2 nights stay including breakfast in one of our Ramada Jarvis hotels, just answer the
following question
Question: What extras are included when booking a Ramada Jarvis double executive room?
A TWO NIGHTS BED AND BREAKFAST STAY AT THISTLE KENSINGTON GARDENS
Prize must be booked before Dec 2010 for a two night stay been January 2011 and June 2011.
The Thistle Kensington Gardens is peacefully located opposite the park that shares its name, and less than 10
minutes from the hustle and bustle of the bright lights in Oxford Street.
Easy access is one of the key features of this hotel, located on three major bus routes, three underground
stations under 5 minutes walk and Paddington Station, with its high speed link to Heathrow, less than a mile
away. August saw the start of a 5 million pound refurbishment of the hotel including all 174 bedrooms, with the
final completion due in Summer 2011.
October will see the completion of the first wave of new rooms as well as the opening of the newly refurbished
bar and restaurant. With a great new menu, fantastic views of Hyde Park and wifi throughout, Thistle Kensington
Gardens is the perfect stop for anyone visiting London
Question: How much was spent on the refurbishment of Thistle Kensington Gardens?
Issue 10
NEW FOR 2011
More Reasons To Stay at
the Grange City Hotel...
We are delighted to announce the £3m refurbishment of the Grange City Hotel.
This will include guest bedrooms, the dedicated conference & events facility
and public areas.
In addition to the new modern and contemporary design, guests will benefit from:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi access in all guest rooms and public areas
- Complimentary bottled EauVita water in all guest bedrooms
- Guaranteed early 11.00 am check in when booking City Club Service
- 24 Hour Room Service
- Express Check Out
Guest rooms already contain an array of benefits including laptop safes, plasma
TVs, Bose Audio CD systems, back lit make up mirrors, mini bars and much more.
And if you're feeling energetic or want some time to relax and unwind after a
productive day, complimentary access to a spectacular health & wellness centre
with fully equipped gymnasium, studio, spinning suite, sauna, jacuzzi and 25
metre swimming pool will add to your comfort and enjoyment.
Grange Hotels also have 14 hotels located in London.
For more information or reservations, contact BSI
six innovative brands. a world of choice.
Whether you are seeking the bright light of a city location or escaping to the serenity of a resort destination, you will find
distinctive design, extraordinary service, world-class amenities and award-winning cuisine at every Hyatt worldwide.
It’s all a part of our commitment to make you feel more than welcome at our participating properties than anywhere else
in the world. For more information or reservations, contact BSI.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts™ encompasses hotels managed, franchised or leased by subsidiaries and affiliates of Global Hyatt Corporation. The trademarks Hyatt,™ Hyatt Hotels & Resorts,™ Grand Hyatt,™ Hyatt Regency,™ Park Hyatt,™ Hyatt Place,™
Hyatt Summerfield Suites,™ and Andaz,™ names, designs and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2010 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved
44
the
hive
twilight zone
We’ve all
by Bob Papworth
been there
After a dyspepsia-inducing gutbuster of
re-constituted chicken, liquidized broccoli and
lard-laden “sautéed” Piper Maris cast-offs, we
watch with mounting suicidal tendencies as some
marketing department numbskull in a lurid
cummerbund stumbles to the MDF podium and
announces, through a screech of tooth-curling
feedback, tonight’s celebrity guest.
The spangly curtains part to reveal some Holby City
bit-parter who, having failed to land a supporting
role in Keighley am dram soc’s seasonal production
of Aladdin, deems it a “career move” to turn up in a
high-visibility frock and far too much make-up to
slur her way through a badly-written “script” to
launch Acme Diesel’s latest widget, the XL4762i.
As she introduces Acme’s managing director, the
perspiring masses, who have long since shed their
Moss Bros DJs and unbuttoned their shirt-fronts,
burst into a Valpolicella-fuelled cacophony of
applause, piercing wolf-whistles and yodel-inspired
ululations stilled only by their Brylcremed boss’s
unforgivingly steely glare.
J. Norman Acme – for it is he – then launches into
a 45-minute reading of the myriad virtues of the
XL4762i which, he is confident, is the breakthrough
for which Acme Diesel’s clients have been waiting,
if not actually pining.
Acme Diesel’s clients, meanwhile, are huddled in
cynical circle around the wall-mounted AddisonLee ashtray outside, hunched against the biting
east wind, and wondering out loud how, in the
name of all that’s holy, they are going to get a
Nissan Bluebird minicab to trek out here at this
time of night, and whether that bit-parter from
Holby might be interested. It is generally agreed
that they wouldn’t climb over her to get to you.
Back inside, in the avocado-and-puce ballroom,
where the shards of a Perspex chandelier are
strewn across the swirly-patterned carpet, the first
fight has broken out between Tables 10 (human
bloody resources) and 16 (corporate bloody
communications), the em-dee has retired to the
green room to give “that wee lass off the box” an
innuendo-laden description of the penetrative
pumping power of the XL4762i, and the gents’ loo
is awash with an eye-watering ammoniac cocktail
of blood, stale urine and regurgitated broccoli.
Nobody, of course, will ever buy an XL4762i. In
the time it has taken to plan and organize Acme’s
no-singing, no-dancing event, some spotty 17year-old truant benefit-fraudster has used his
Playstation PS2 to invent a miniaturized version
that costs less than 3p, is ten times as efficient,
and doesn’t involve listening to J. Norman Acme
droning on forever and a day…
Up on the hotel’s second floor – identified by a
brass plaque in the lift as “administrative offices” –
in a tiny box-room illumined only by a single desklamp, the events co-ordinator and her team are
smugly quaffing their second bottle of chilled Veuve
Clicqot, picking at almond-stuffed olives and
truffled king prawn vols-au-vent, and quietly
congratulating themselves on a job well done.
They won’t be buying an XL4762i, either. Not that
it is beyond their financial reach. Having just
trousered most of Acme Diesel’s annual events
budget, they can afford to wait for the XL4762ii.
Issue 10
Not just another break...
... a Shire Hotel’s
conference café break
Hold your meetings with us and we’ll guarantee
you’ll never be bored with the same old coffee
and biscuits ever again.
From early morning through till close of day, there’s a constantly changing
offering on our stylish conference cafe. Choose from fresh fruit, homemade
smoothies, yoghurts, fresh-baked cookies, granola bake and every afternoon,
the old fashioned tuck shop with all your favourites. Not to mention the high
quality bean-to-cup fair-trade coffee and selection of speciality teas.
And with unlimited all day access, you don’t even need to tell us when you
want to break – let the agenda decide when the time is right.
Set your mouse free
Complimentary internet access for
all delegate - worth £15 per day
For more information or reservations, contact BSI
shirehotels.com
THIS WINTER, THINK OF THE OXFORD COLLECTION
Carnoustie Golf Hotel & Spa, Nr Dundee
Best Western Derwent Manor,
Northumberland
Tulloch Castle, Ross-shire
With over 30 unique properties positioned in enviable
Broadband Wi-fi - Conference Rooms - Award-Winning
locations throughout the British Isles, Oxford Hotels and Inns
Restaurants - Corporate Banqueting - Private Dinning - Elemis
can meet your every business need. Whether it’s a city centre
Spas - Leisure & Health Facilities - Championship Golf Courses.
location, a Highland Castle or a stylish country manor, we’ve
got a hotel to match all your delegates’ needs.
Please contact BSI for further information and to book.
Fire up your team
for 2011 in a motivational setting
“Not only did they have the space we needed, but they offered all
the facilities too for the three days we were there.”
Get 2011 off to a successful start by holding
your strategy meetings at Mercure hotels.
With over 30 hotels in the UK, Mercure brings the
The majority of our hotels carry an AA 4-star rating
reassurance of guaranteed standards that you would
and many are equipped with outstanding leisure and
expect of a well-established international brand.
spa facilities. With Mercure’s growing number of
Recognised for their individuality, each Mercure has its
own character – whether it’s a contemporary hotel in a
city centre or a countryside retreat set in its own grounds.
Whichever hotel you choose, you’ll find an emphasis on
traditional hotel keeping that promises a warm welcome,
professional personal service and a pride in quality food
well-positioned hotels, you’ll find a wide variety of venues
to accommodate meetings of all sizes and formats.
Everything the business traveller needs.
For more information or to book
contact BSI
and wines as essential ingredients.
Over 30 unique hotels from Aberdeen to Exeter in the UK, and over 670 hotels worldwide.