Hotels and B&B's

Cautious hoteliers are being reminded not to wait for the Christmas period to update their facilities as the number of late-year bookings has soared.   Experts believe this could be the start of a larger trend of “fifth season” travel where British families are rediscovering the UK as a holiday destination. Many of these may have enjoyed similar adventures when they were young and they are now passing the same experience onto their children.   The evidence for this is that the period between summer and autumn, sometimes called "Sortumn", has seen a 61% increase in reservations. Continue reading →

At Richard Haworth, we recognise that the hotel rooms of the future will be smarter, but a recent video at Hotels.com shows what hotels may look like in 50 years, and its a technophobe's worst nightmare! From the moment the guest arrives, smart technologies will welcome them and shape their stay to their own needs. This is likely to include:   Face recognition to enter rooms   Hotel safety and security can be greatly enhanced by systems which will read their features as they check in. Continue reading →

High thread count fine yarn fabrics can be a challenge to efficiently launder and achieve an acceptable level of finish so creases and wrinkles do not put off guests. The following instructions will help you achieve the best results possible. Temperature A minimum wash temperature of 60C should be used in the initial wash for new stock but higher temperatures ( upto 70C ) would be advantageous. This should ensure a good level of removal of any unwanted sizes and ensure a good level of cleanliness providing the process is working efficiently. Continue reading →

There has been endless speculation on how Brexit will affect the UK economy as a whole – so much so, that despite the fact that the UK has not yet left the EU, high uncertainty has left the pound weak and businesses unwilling to invest. Yet for every type of business suffering, another type of business is reaping the rewards associated with a weakened pound. It isn’t quite clear as to whether the hotel and tourism industry will flounder or flourish, but the early signs are not positive. Continue reading →

We’d like to take a moment to pop the champagne corks and offer a huge congratulations to our client Flemings Mayfair, after the stunning boutique hotel in the heart of London was among the winners at the prestigious 10th World Luxury Hotel Awards.   The beautiful city hotel, which can be found on the capital's Half Moon Street and was originally founded all the way back in 1851, was named Best Luxury City Hotel at the glittering ceremony held in the St Regis Doha in Qatar at the end of October.   An annual event, the World Luxury Hotel Awards is a highly regarded ceremony celebrating the finest in Continue reading →

The hotel industry has always been highly competitive, especially in recent years, but new research shows how establishments are refurbishing their premises in order to up their game and secure profitable custom. Funding Options, the online business finance firm, found that the British hotel industry had increased its refurbishment spend to £1.6 billion in the past year (a rise of 57%) in order to compete with the new wave of home-letting offers such as Airbnb. These new online competitors are proving to be a tough new form of competition for traditional hotels - who are fighting back Continue reading →

The Brexit vote in June was not just a major political event; it sent shockwaves through every sector of the economy. But what does the decision to leave the EU and the slow process of withdrawing mean for the hotel trade? One trend is already becoming obvious. A report carried out by auditing giants Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) after the Brexit vote revealed that, while London hoteliers are facing short-falls in the business customer sector, regional hotels are experiencing a corresponding rise. In fact, PwC forecasted that occupancy rates in regional UK hotels would be the highest ever recorded. Continue reading →

It’s no surprise that, in a world increasingly aware of the environment, people want their holiday accommodation to be as respectful of the world as they are, if not more so, opting for sustainable bedding options to further reduce their ecological footprint. The findings, confirmed by a poll from energy supplier E.ON, show that of 2,000 people surveyed, a hotel showing good ecological credentials would be more attractive to someone looking to book a holiday. Features which were particularly appealing were renewable energy sources like solar panels, or low energy lighting, with almost 20% of respondents saying that they would actively look for these when choosing their accommodation. Continue reading →

During the cold winter days, or even in early spring when warm days contrast sharply with cooler nights, maintaining a comfortable temperature while sleeping can be difficult. At home, if you prefer to keep central heating costs to a minimum, the air temperature in your bedroom can drop suddenly, while in hotels achieving a consistent climate can be downright difficult. Both hot and cold temperatures have the effect of stimulating your body’s natural alarm clock, meaning that without the optimum temperature, you’re more likely to suffer a restless night. Fortunately some simple remedies can help to give you a warmer, more comfortable night’s sleep: Continue reading →

Some people just aren't themselves when they're not at home, and when they're on the road and travelling, they can be downright bizarre and have all sorts of crazy expectations. Possibly nowhere else is strange human behaviour consistently exhibited than in hotels, places of rest for the weary where people demand the oddest of things. One of Britain's largest hotel chains, the budget-conscious and big-roomed Travelodge is certainly no stranger to receiving decidedly offbeat requests from guests, odd questions that often leave front-desk staff entirely perplexed. Continue reading →