Hotel Owner March 2018 | Page 6

MONTH IN REVIEW MONTH IN REVIEW www.hotelowner.co.uk START: THE MONTH’S NEWS BEGAN HERE REFURBISHMENT Crowne Plaza Belfast commences £5m investment The Crowne Plaza Belfast has embarked on a £5m investment programme, which will see a significant upgrade and extension of the property’s guest bedroom accommodation. Owned and operated by Andras Hotels, Belfast’s largest hotel group, the project is the final stage of renovation for the four-star hotel. Over the past 24 months the property has enjoyed an upgrade of all public areas including a complete refurbishment of the Grand Ballroom, the Malone and Laganview wedding suites, and a remodelling of the lobby and creation of the Great Oak Conference Centre. The current investment, awarded to local fit-out specialists MSM Contracts, will see all 120- bedrooms completely refurbished in a design-led approach, with new bespoke furniture and soft furnishings, air-conditioning, Wifi and all new bathrooms. In addition the hotel will see a further 36-bedrooms rooms added including 16 new executive club rooms, six bridal suites and a presidential suite. The work commenced in January and will be completed in two phases, completing in early 2019. STAT OF THE MONTH £4.6bn That is the combined value of transactions in the hotel industry for 2017, nearly double that of 2016 6 www.hotelowner.co.uk 1 ACQUISITION Choice Hotels welcomes four boutique properties to its UK portfolio Choice Hotels has announced that four upscale hotel properties have joined its UK portfolio, joining their four- star Clarion Collection brand and the Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio. Choice Hotels Europe also operate the three-star rated Comfort and Quality hotel brands. All four hotels are located in the Yorkshire towns and cities of Harrogate, Bradford, Wakefield and Huddersfield. Three of the properties that are part of Cedar Court Hotels, Yorkshire’s largest independent hotel collection, have become Clarion Collection hotels. One hotel, Cedar Court Harrogate Hotel, will become part of the Ascend Hotel Collection. The Cedar Court Harrogate Hotel, is an historic Grade II listed property offering 100-guestrooms. The Cedar Court Harrogate Hotel will be the UK’s third Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio member, joining Edinburgh-based The Howard and Channings Hotel. The Cedar Court Bradford, a Clarion Hotel Collection will offer 131-guest rooms, a restaurant, a health club with pool and one of the largest purpose- built conference and suitable for weddings, banquets and conferences with up to 800 guests. 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOVELTY EasyHotel to trial £5 self-assemble four-poster upgrade EasyHotel is trialling a self-assemble four poster addition to its beds for romantic couples looking for that little bit extra for their overnight stay. For £5, couples can hire a pink and orange four-poster canopy to self- assemble in their room. The structure, which folds out to form the four-poster, is topped with a vinyl pink canopy and orange ‘chiffon-effect’ netting. Guests will also be treated to some ‘bedside champagne’ (litre bottle of Premier Cru Fanta 2018) and a Terry’s Chocolate Orange as part of the upgrade. Jorge Rodriguez, ‘romantic experience coordinator’ at EasyHotel, said: “There’s no beginning to the steps we will take to add extra romantic touches to our guests’ experience at EasyHotel. “For £5, and with a little imagination and a bit of elbow grease, guests can transform their rooms into romantic havens. This, combined with the bedside bottle of bubbly, will no doubt be irresistible for some.” The trial is taking place at EasyHotel’s Croydon hotel, which has recently been undergoing refurbishment, with major improvements to décor, beds, bathrooms and finishing touches such as the bedside integrated USB charging points. To order a self-assemble four-poster, guests simply have to ask at reception, and the 25kg self-assemble pack will be handed over in exchange for a £5 per night rental charge.” March 2018