Hotel Owner November 2018 | Page 10

MONTH IN REVIEW MONTH IN REVIEW www.hotelowner.co.uk With Motto by Hilton, we are bringing to market something the industry has never experienced with its flexible and affordable room product , desirable locations and guest- empowered service Christopher J Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton HOTEL BRANDS Hilton launches new affordable lifestyle brand Motto Hilton has announced the launch of Motto by Hilton, its newest affordable lifestyle brand that aims to “empower guests” by giving them the freedom to create their own experiences. Motto by Hilton hotels will be located in prime neighborhoods, such as the 100-bed Motto by Hilton in Marylebone, London, which is being developed with the UK-based developer, Dominvs Group. Demolition on the site has commenced and construction will start in January 2019, targeting a 2020 opening as one of the first Motto by Hilton properties. Guest rooms are to be designed with an average footprint of 163 sq ft or 14 sqm and will include space-saving features such as wall-beds, lofted beds, segmented shower and toilet stalls, and multi-functional furniture that can be discreetly stowed when not in use. Motto will also have the option for guests to book multiple connecting rooms in advance. This global brand will be made up of a carefully curated portfolio of hotels in the most desirable urban destinations throughout Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Motto by Hilton has deals in various stages of development in exciting urban destinations like: Lima, Dublin, Savannah, San Diego, Boston and Washington, DC. 10 www.hotelowner.co.uk 1 NEW BUILDS New 400 key hotel granted planning permission in East London The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has granted planning permission to Rockwell Property for a hotel-led development at 82 West India Dock Road in Westferry, East London. Rockwell will deliver a 30-storey landmark building on the site, which has been derelict for over a decade, at the gateway to Canary Wharf and next to Westferry DLR station. The hotel will feature 400 rooms including a ground floor restaurant, café and bar. The development has been designed by leading UK architects Simpson Haugh and Partners, the practice responsible for One Blackfriars and Circus West Village at Battersea Power Station. Donal Mulryan, founder of Rockwell, said: “Our vision for 82 West India Dock Road will breathe new life into a neglected site that has been derelict for many years. This inspiring new building includes a hotel that will bring new jobs and business to the local area, in addition to much needed new homes for the local community in an inspiring new building. “We are dedicated to delivering this exciting, high-quality development and look forward to turning this site into a place that locals can be proud of.” Construction is due to start on the site in summer 2019. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BUSINESS TAX Business taxation could threaten 625,000 hospitality jobs UKHospitality (UKH) has warned the government that hundreds of thousands of “vital sector jobs” could be lost and investment stunted unless “urgent action” is taken on business taxation. The ‘Economic Contribution of the UK Hospitality Industry Report’ highlighted best and worst- case scenarios for the hospitality sector and how, if it continues to be overtaxed without government support, 625,000 jobs could be lost over the next five years. Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKH, said this “sobering news” should serve as a “huge warning sign” for the government, as thousands of hospitality businesses, including hotels, pubs, restaurants, visitor attractions, nightclubs and cafes face a “£113m business rates bombshell” from next April. She added: “They are increasingly struggling from the effects of a disastrous rates revaluation last year and an archaic tax system that is shutting down the UK’s growth engine and resulting in a bloodbath on our high streets. The threat of losing over half a million UK jobs must surely be reason enough for immediate action. “We call on the chancellor to announce a freeze on business rates increases in the Budget and introduce a new digital tax to slash the rates burden on hospitality from April 2020.” Keith Knowles CEO of pan-European hostel operator Beds and Bars, added: “We urgently need root and branch reform of the business rates system. As a group, our total property tax bill increased by £675,000 this year - a rise of 64% - with huge double-digit hikes across UK venues, compared to an average of 2% increases for our European sites.” November 2018