Travelodge turns to robot vacuums amid budget hotel chain facing £21m costs hike November 28, 2024 Travelodge has revealed it is facing a £21m hike in costs in 2025 following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget. The budget hotel group has warned it will see the increase because of the combined impact of another minimum wage hike in April as well as a higher rate of employer national insurance set to push up [...]
Recalibrating time at the Iconic Jamaica Inn November 25, 2024 On my way to Jamaica, I had two hours to kill at Miami Airport. I parked myself at one of the Cuban cafes for a cubano, a perfect sandwich of roast pork, ham and pickles welded together by a semi-fluid puck of Swiss cheese. Then in that very American, somewhat disorientating way, especially after a [...]
Employer National Insurance hike a ‘significant burden’ and will impact working people, warns Thwaites November 12, 2024 The hike in employer National Insurance contribution (NICs), which was revealed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Budget, will place a “significant burden” on historic brewer, pub and hotel owner, Daniel Thwaites, the company has said. The Lancashire-headquartered group added that the increase, together with the rise in the National Living Wage, “make it less [...]
Inside the London restaurant serving Michelin-starred chicken ice cream November 7, 2024 Chicken ice cream and kipper custard? Sign me up! Says Adam Bloodworth, who ate at Brooklands London restaurant within the new Peninsula Hotel on Hyde Park Corner As a Londoner, spending the night in one of the capital’s smartest hotels used to be a rare but justifiable treat. But in recent years it’s become the [...]
Hotel group PPHE reports double-digit growth after strong summer October 31, 2024 Hospitality real estate group PPHE has reported strong growth driven by higher occupancy rates in central and eastern Europe. The LSE-listed company posted record revenue of €125.4m (£104.8m), an increase of €12.6m, or 11 per cent, year on year. The firm, which is registered in Guernsey, said that demand continued to increase for its city centre hotels [...]
Major change planned for tallest skyscraper outside London October 18, 2024 A proposed 76-storey tower planned for Manchester city centre, which would be the tallest skyscraper in the UK outside London, is in line for a major change. Developer Salboy, which was co-founded by Fred Done who set up Betfred with his brother Peter, is on the verge of resubmitting its plans for Viadux 2 to [...]
Premier Inn owner Whitbread raises dividend despite slower growth October 16, 2024 Premier Inn and Beefeater owner Whitbread has raised its interim dividend and announced a share buyback despite flat revenue. The hotel and restaurant chain told markets this morning that revenue was unchanged year on year in the six months ended 29 August at £1.57bn. It has raised its interim dividend seven per cent to 36.4p [...]
The Dorchester Hotel owner struggles with rising costs and fewer guests October 14, 2024 The group that includes The Dorchester Hotel in London fell into the red in 2023 as it struggled with rising costs and fewer guests. The Dorchester Group has reported a pre-tax loss of £5.2m for its latest financial year, having made a pre-tax profit of £17m in 2022. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House also show [...]
Pennyhill Park owner’s profit slashed after major renovation October 7, 2024 Profit has been slashed at the owner of Pennyhill Park, the five-star hotel where the England men’s rugby team are based, after it underwent a huge renovation project. The group saw a complete renovation of its newest addition, the Ansty Hall hotel near Coventry, while it also “invested heavily” in its South Lodge location. As [...]
Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs-owned Hotel Football still in the red despite record sales October 1, 2024 Hotel Football, which is co-owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, remains in the red despite achieving a record year. The hotel, which is located in the shadow of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, has reported a pre-tax loss of £601,030 for 2023 after also making a loss of £630,158 in 2022. The loss comes [...]