Some of the news items you may have missed this week include:

YOTEL is planning to launch an aparthotel concept – YOTELPAD, with the first opening, YOTELPAD London Stratford, expected to open late 2023. YOTELPAD will include a multi-functional live, work and sleep area plus a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchenette. YOTELPAD London Stratford, when it opens, will be the third London property in the YOTEL group and the seventh in the UK.

Lydiard House & Park, plus conference centre, is set to reopen this April following completion of a £2.6million makeover of its bedrooms and events spaces. Lydiard House has 31 bedrooms plus eight meeting and events suites over two floors with the largest room seating up to 100 delegates theatre style. Lydiard House and Park is located in Swindon, a short drive from the M4J16.

PPHE Hotel Group, the international hospitality real estate group, is planning to launch a new €250 million European Hospitality Real Estate Fund which will enable the group to make strategic acquisitions of hotels across Europe. The group currently operate the Radisson, Park Plaza and Art’otels in the UK.

Plans have been approved for the demolition of a low-rise building in Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh which lies close to Haymarket Station and its replacement with a new nine storey hotel with 200+ bedrooms plus a ten-storey office block alongside. Both properties will share an internal winter garden space and extensive landscaped roof terraces. Construction is expected to start in 2024. Details of its operators await publication.

Kew Green Hotels Group has partnered with PoGo to install new electric car charging hubs at the 40 hotels it owns and operates in the UK- mainly Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, voco and Courtyard by Marriott hotels. Work will start this summer with completion anticipated by the end of the year.

The Kings Arms Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels group, has reopened following a £5000,000 refurbishment programme.  The 17th century coaching inn, located in Keswick town centre, has 13 bedrooms plus a restaurant and bar.

Fairtree and Blantyre have just acquired the seven Scottish-based hotels previously operated by Crerar Hotel Group. These include Balmoral Arms in Royal Deeside, the Oban Bay Hotel in Oban and the Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa in Argyll.

Looking to raise its profile this week is: Hawkstone Hall & Gardens. located near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Hawkstone Hall & Gardens offers a venue with six meeting rooms with the largest seating up to 200 delegates. These include space for team building, corporate events, lectures, celebratory dinners - plus 12 suites and 24 Classic bedrooms.

The Clermont Hotel Group, who operate 17 hotels in London, have just opened The Academy, a dedicated learning and development centre for new and current employees. The Academy is based in the group’s Tower Hotel in London.

City news:

Manchester is set to introduce a tax on people visiting the city for overnight stays from this April. 74 hotels and short-stay serviced apartments in the city will charging an extra £1.00 per room per night. The tax is being levied to help develop and promote tourism in Manchester.

Finally, it’s a long way off but we wait in anticipation to see if the City of Birmingham in partnership with Aston Villa Football Club is successful in its bid to host football’s UEFA EUROs in 2028. Birmingham is currently one of seven cities on the longlist of English cities. Villa Park’s redevelopment plans will ensure that the stadium meets the essential aspects of the UEFA bid requirements.

If you have scrolled this far down the page you will have a good idea of the services we offer. We simply believe in finding the right venue for the right meeting at the right price - because the venue and the services provided are the most important component of a successful meeting. Ring us today 0121 749 7575