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Holidaying in a time of unrest
Ongoing political turmoil and recent violent events in the Middle East may be beyond a mere hotelier’s control, but how one prepares for and reacts to them is not. Owners and operators based in the region’s trouble spots discuss their efforts to reassure guests about safety.
Crowning achievement: the European Hospitality Awards
Now in its third year, the European Hospitality Awards brought together leading hoteliers from across the globe to London for a night that recognised and celebrated excellence throughout the sector during 2012.
Thermal dynamics: SpaFinder’s global trends
Bathing in the glory of its ten-year anniversary, the 2013 SpaFinder Wellness annual forecast of global trends makes it startlingly obvious just how much the market has evolved in a decade; how sophisticated spas, hotels and their consumers have become. Lie back and relax as SpaFinder president Susie Ellis waxes lyrical about the sector’s three definitive trends.
Pierre-Yves-Rochon: a classic collection
As one of the world’s most fêted interior designers, Pierre-Yves Rochon has spent over 30 years at the forefront of five-star hospitality. With a dizzying array of luxury commissions, he tells Abi Millar how his name has become synonymous with quietly sumptuous European style.
Michel Roux Jr: a family affair
As a representative of perhaps the most influential dynasty in the history of UK fine dining, Michel Roux Jr has built on a legacy that stretches back almost half a century. He speaks to Phin Foster about new restaurants, nurturing talent and staying true to the classics.
Hotel guests say goodbye to check-in queues
Self-service kiosks, iPad ordering systems and RFID room keys are some of the innovations being employed to improve guests’ first impressions of a hotel. Elly Earls meets Swire Hotels’ Brian Williams, Peninsula’s Ingvar Herland and Hyatt’s Arnaud de Saint-Exupéry to find out if this is the end of the check-in desk.
Taste of tranquillity: Hotel Spa of the Year shortlist
The spa has become big business, with guests now demanding an array of treatments and individually tailored programmes. Recent advancements in design, amenities and experience are showcased in the shortlist for Hotel Spa of the Year, sponsored by Dornbracht, at the upcoming European Hospitality Awards 2012, where we highlight our favourites.
YO! heads home
YO! owner and entrepreneur Simon Woodrooffe spent 30 years in the entertainment business prior to opening his famous conveyor-belt sushi bar. The YO! empire encompasses restaurants, hotels and homes, and its latest brand, YO! Home, launched at 100% Design in September.
Make your move
Brash, cut-throat and targeting guests directly, online travel agencies are here to stay, to the detriment of franchise hotel companies. European Hotel Managers Association president Peter Bierwirth examines the fight for customers.
Design of the times: keeping up with changing tastes
For hotels to remain profitable, they must pay attention to design and environmental trends, according to Peter Bierwirth, president of the European Hotel Managers Association.