2012 Coverage

Title: First Life Date: November/December 2012 Circulation: 19,000 PR Value: £108.80




Title: Facebook Date: 06/11/2012

Title: Twitter Date: 06/11/2012

Title: Twitter Date: 06/11/2012

Title: Travelbite.co.uk Date: 07/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 50,000

Title: Travelbite.co.uk Date: 07/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 50,000

Title: 02B Date: 08/11/2012

Title: BigHospitality.co.uk Date: 09/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 64,000

Title: BigHospitality.co.uk Date: 09/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 64,000

Title: ITCM Date: 09/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 47,000

Title: ITCM Date: 09/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 47,000

Title: Hotel Designs Date: 10th Novermber 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 100,000





Title: Telegraph.co.uk Date: 09 November 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 53,915,491

Title: Telegraph.co.uk Date: 09 November 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 53,915,491

Title: Property Magazine Date: 14/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 87,200 PR Value: £6,163

Title: TravelMole.com Date: 14/11/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 341,606 PR Value: £7,890

Title: Breaking Travel News Date: 15th November 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 166,193 PR Value: £3,000 (approx.)




Title: NET-A-PORTER Date: 15/11/12 Monthly Unique Users: 4,400,000

Title: NET-A-PORTER Date: 15/11/12 Monthly Unique Users: 4,400,000

Title: TTG Online Date: 15/11/12 Circulation: 47,700 PR Value: £813,698



!

!

!


!

!

!

!

!


!

!

!

!

!


!

!

!

!

!


!

!

Title: The Daily Telegraph Date: 17 November 2012 AVE: £29,500 Circulation:560,471




Title: The Sunday Telegraph Date: 18 November 2012 Editorial Value: £762 Circulation: 445,229

Title: The Sunday Telegraph Date: 18 November 2012 Editorial Value: £762 Circulation: 445,229

Title: Urbanologie Date: 01/11/2012

Title: Urbanologie Date: 01/11/2012

Title: Essential London Date: October 2012 Circulation: 8,000 PR Value: £7,500


Title: LUXOS Date: October 2012 Circulation: 750,000 PR Value: £22,313

Title: LUXOS Date: October 2012 Circulation: 750,000 PR Value: £22,313

Title: LUXOS Date: October 2012 PR Value: £22,313 Circulation: 750,000

Title: LUXOS Date: October 2012 PR Value: £22,313 Circulation: 750,000

Title: Square Meal Venues & Events Date: Autumn 2012 Circulation: 101,493 PR Value: £2,500

Title: Square Meal Venues & Events Date: Autumn 2012 Circulation: 101,493 PR Value: £2,500

Title: Wallpaper Date: October 2012 Circulation: 105,328 PR Value: £1,150

Title: Wallpaper Date: October 2012 Circulation: 105,328 PR Value: £1,150

Title: The Telegraph Weekly Date: 13/10/2012 Circulation: 560,398 PR Value: £2,766

Title: The Telegraph Weekly Date: 13/10/2012 Circulation: 560,398 PR Value: £2,766

Title: The Sunday Telegraph Date: 14/10/2012 Circulation: 446,526 PR Value: £1,969

Title: Preferente.com Date: 15/10/2012

Title: Telegraph.co.uk Date: 15/10/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 53,915,491

Title: Telegraph.co.uk Date: 15/10/2012 Monthly Unique Users: 53,915,491

Title: Telegraph Travel Date: 20/10/2012 Circulation: 560,398 PR Value: £2,766

Title: 4Hoteliers Date: 25/10/2012

Title: 4Hoteliers Date: 25/10/2012

Title: Style Date: 28/10/2012 Circulation: 904,548 PR Value: £16,800

Title: Style Date: 28/10/2012 Circulation: 904,548 PR Value: £16,800

Title: Travelplus Date: 29/10/2012 Monthly unique users: 21,450 21,450

Title: Travelplus Date: 29/10/2012 Monthly unique users: 21,450 21,450

Title: Square Meal Venues & Events Date: Summer 2012 Circulation: 55,000 PR Value: £13,125







Title:TotalTravel Yahoo7 Date: 27/09/2012 Circulation: 5,446,970

Title:TotalTravel Yahoo7 Date: 27/09/2012 Circulation: 5,446,970

Title: Property Magazine Date: August 2012 Unique Users: 14,600

Title: 1 League Date: 05/08/2012



Title: HotelierMiddleEast.com Date: 05/08/2012 Unique Users: 81,326 PR Value: £7,656

Title: HotelierMiddleEast.com Date: 05/08/2012 Unique Users: 81,326 PR Value: £7,656

Title: SmartBrief Date: 05/08/2012 Unique Users: 3,000,000

Title: WIDN Date: 06/08/2012 Unique Users: 50,000 PR Value: £4,650

Title: travel news Date: 07/08/2012 Unique Users: 30,000

Title: travel news Date: 07/08/2012 Unique Users: 30,000




Title: Quintessentially Magazine Date: Summer Edition Circulation: 25,000 PR Value: £8,700

Title: Quintessentially Magazine Date: Summer Edition Circulation: 25,000 PR Value: £8,700

Title: Bar Magazine Date: July 2012 PR Value: £1,125 Circulation: 12,300

1

Title: Bar Magazine Date: July 2012 PR Value: £1,125 Circulation: 12,300

2

Title: EasyJet Traveller Date: July 2012 PR Value: £14,575 Estimated Readership: 4,000,000

1

Title: EasyJet Traveller Date: July 2012 PR Value: £14,575 Estimated Readership: 4,000,000

2

Title: GQ Magazine Date: July 2012 Circulation: 125,825 PR Value: £4,325

Title: GQ Magazine Date: July 2012 Circulation: 125,825 PR Value: £4,325

Title: The Daily Meal Date: 10/07/2012 Circulation:

-1-

Title: Business Traveller Date: July/August 2012 PR Value: £6,100 Circulation: 54,976

1


2


3


4


5


6

Title: Vogue Hellas (Greece) Date: July 2012 PR Value: £3,840 Circulation: 478,000

1

Title: Vogue Hellas (Greece) Date: July 2012 PR Value: £3,840 Circulation: 478,000

2

Title: The National Ultratravel Date: Summer 2012 Circulation: 70,000 PR Value: £63,750

-1-


-2-


-3-

Title: Caterer and Hotelkeeper Date: July 17, 2012 Unique Users: 240,987 PR Value: £9,000

-1-

Title: Glam UK Date: July 17, 2012 Unique Users:20,000,000

-1-

Jolly Good! ME By Melia London Taking Reservations for September || HotelChatter

Page 1 of 3

• Log In (HotelChatter) • Register • ◦ RSS ◦ Twitter ◦ Facebook • • • • • •

CN Traveler Jaunted HotelChatter VegasChatter Concierge.com Condé Nast Traveler Network

HotelChatter

Hotel Delays / Melia Hotels / ME Hotels / Hotels News / London Hotels / London Hotel Openings / → All Tags

Jolly Good! ME By Melia London Taking Reservations for September Where: 336-337 The Strand, London, United Kingdom July 18, 2012 at 9:46 AM | by JasonD | Comments (2)

If there's one thing we know goes well with a new hotel opening, it's a hotel opening delay. So is the story for ME by Meliá London, which, like many new hotels in London, was planning to open in time to welcome the

http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/7/16/16633/5154/hotels/Jolly_Good!_ME_B... 18/07/2012


Page 2 of 3

crowds set to descend on the city for the Olympics. Crowds that could afford the expected £400 ($626) nightly rates, that is.

Walking by the hotel several times a week, the projected mid-July opening seemed aggressive to us, judging from the ongoing construction. Latest news confirms that reservations are now accepted from September 1. London will be only the fifth ME by Meliá hotel in the world, the others being in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid) and Mexico (Cancún, Cabo). These "experience-based personality hotels in global capitals of culture & cool" belong to Spanish Meliá Hotels International group, so you'll hear Spanish first when you ring global reservations. Once the hotel opens, there will be 144 rooms, including 30 with a balcony. The latter are located on floors 8 and 9, "The Level", which seems to take a slightly different approach than the usual concierge / executive floor with dedicated lounge. We're particularly intrigued by the "Aura Experience Manager" for personalized pre and post (we assume -stay) contact. In addition to a number of room categories there are 16 suites, including one duplex ME Suite. Location-wise, you couldn't be more central at the corner of Strand and Aldwych. Rooms on higher floors will have views of the Thames or Covent Garden, and neighboring hotels include One Aldwych, the Waldorf Hilton, Swissotel The Howard, and of course, Savoy. Should summer ever arrive in the UK, we'd be mostly looking forward to trying out Radio rooftop (a nod to the former BBC headquarters next door). From what we can tell on the website, the rooftop - presumably with inside seating as well - is also the location for breakfast, and then goes straight on until 3am for drinks. The lobby bar will even be open for service 24 hours a day. Despite a post-Olympics opening, rates are pretty steep: a weekend late September in an entry-level Deluxe room costs £360 ($563) a night, with a room on "The Level" close to an additional £200 ($313) more. As always, we'll have more for you once we've seen ME by Meliá London with our own eyes. [Photos: ME by Melia Hotels] • Like

• •

Send

Be the first of your friends to like this.

0

ShareThis

Hotels mentioned in this story •

Me By Melia London Check Rates ◦ Map



Page 3 of 3

Popular Stories Related Stories Hotels In: Africa | Asia | Australia | Caribbean | Europe | North America | South America Our Publications: Jaunted | HotelChatter | VegasChatter Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © 2012 Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices


Title: insiderei Date: July 18, 2012 unique users:35,000

-1-

Title: Hotel Chatter Date: July 19, 2012

-1-

Title: Hotel Chatter Date: July 19, 2012

-2-

Title: Luxury Travel Magazine Date: July 23, 2012 unique users: 69,656

-1-

Title: Hotel Yahoo Singapore Date: July 24, 2012

-1-

Title: METRO th Date: July 27 2012 Circulation: 2,020,000 PR Value: £33,600

Title: METRO th Date: July 27 2012 Circulation: 2,020,000 PR Value: £33,600

Title: Business Traveller Date: July 27, 2012 PR Value: £19,500 Unique users: 150,000

-1-


-2-


-3-

Title: Food & Travel Date: June 2012 PR Value: £3,337.50 Circulation: 25,000

-1-

Title: Food & Travel Date: June 2012 PR Value: £3,337.50 Circulation: 25,000

-2-

Title: Sunday Times Travel Magazine Date: June 2012 Editorial Value: £10,425 Circulation: 68,097

1


2


3

Title: Wallpaper* Date: June issue Circulation: 105, 328 AVE: 19,167

Title: InStyle Date: June 2012 PR Value: £10,076.50 Circulation: 176,000

-1-

Title: InStyle Date: June 2012 PR Value: £10,076.50 Circulation: 176,000

-2-

Title: ABTA Magazine Date: June 2012 Circulation: 12,799 PR Value: £3,967

Title: ABTA Magazine Date: June 2012 Circulation: 12,799 PR Value: £3,967

Title: Dove Magazine Date: June 2012 Circulation: 101,000

2

1

1. Lo skyline londinese dalla terrazza del lussuoso Me London: l’hotel, sullo Strand, disegnato dallo studio di Norman Foster, è già stato eletto tra i dieci migliori nuovi alberghi del mondo. 2. Una sala del Fashion and Textile Museum. 3. Grazie alla ruota panoramica e alla Tate Modern, il lungo Tamigi è diventato la zona più animata.

104

DOVE

i`gfii\Y`Z`Zc\kk\#Zfei`m\jk`d\ekfègXee\cc`èXZZ`X`fZ_\i`Z_`XdX$ ef ` j\[`c`$`ZfjX\[if# \ `c ]Xdfjf d\iZXkf% GfgfcXid\ek\ Z_`XdXkf E\n:Xc\[fe`XeDXib\k#f^^`[èlfmfèXl^\îXq`\Xci\Zlg\if [\` m\ZZ_` \[`ÔZ` [\` [èkfie` \ [` i`jkfiXekè` fidX` efk` XeZ_\ X` ^flidXe[ Zfd\ QlZZX nnn%qlZZXcfe[fe%Zfd # Z_\ _X mèkf `c gi\d`f9ZXVciZgGZhiVjgVci'%&&\_XleXZXekèXZ_\jì`]fie`jZ\[XccX Z\c\Y\ii`dX\efk\ZXGèZ_`fii`[`=ì\eq\% 8cd\iZXkèfZ_\fiXf]]i\d\efYXeZ_\kkì`jg\kkfXlek\dgf# leXZèhlXekèXe\ccXY\ccXjkX^`fe\ #j\dgi\[`m\e\i[#Y`jfêXXe$ [Xi\XcdXkkèfgi\jkf1efedXeZXefc\fZZXj`fe`#^c`Xi^\ek`jfefY\c$ c`jj`d`#kXek``j\im`q`[`gfjXk\èj`cm\igcXk\#Z\iXd`Z_\#jkXdg\[`è`$ q`fEfm\Z\ekf#jg`cc\m`kkfi`Xe\%Jfkkfc\*'jk\icè\j`gfikXefXZXjX [\c`q`fj`XjklZZ`[`YXjkfeZè`èXi^\ekfg\iXg\i`k`m`%KiX`jlf`_XY`$ kl#g\ijèfcXd`k`ZXC`qXDèe\cc`#hlXe[fèZ`kk~#efedXeZXdX`

3

GXn\cC`Y\iX

`ci\jkf[`Cfe[iX#Z_\_XXgg\eXZfehl`jkXkf[XccXZfddle`kp[`Ki`$ gX[m`jfi`ck`kfcf[`d`^c`fi[\jkèXq`fe\[\cI\êfLe`kf#[Ë`lY`c\f%CXjk\jjXXi\X [`9\idfe[j\p#[fm\`cgfgfcf[\ccËXik\_X]\jk\^^`XkfgfZ_`d\j`]X cËXg\ikliX[\cN_`k\:lY\#_X^f[lkf[`legif^\kkf[ì`^\e\iXq`fe\ liYXeX#fcki\+d`c`Xi[`[`jk\icè\#kiX`gì`ljZ`k`[\ccXZ`kk~%:fe9\i$ dfe[j\pJhlXi\#mèZ`ki`Z\#cfjZfijfXeef#[\cgi\d`fhlXc\d`^c`fi jgXq`fglYYc`Zfcfe[è\j\%@cclf^f[`leËXek`ZXXYYXq`XZcle`XZ\ej\Æ ì\jk`XiZ_\fcf^`Z`j`gfjjfefXddìXi\[XcgXm`d\ekfèm\kif[\ci`$ jkfiXek\d\[`fi`\ekXc\;\cË8q`q`cZfljZfljifpXc\[XgifmXi\ Æ jkXkfZfdgc\kXd\ek\kiXj]fidXkf[X^c`XiZ_`k\kk`[\ccfjkl[`f
^`lêf12

DOVE

Xgi`c\12

105

1 1. Bermondsey, un barbiere con interni da bric a brac.

3

2. Arredi minimal-chic al ristorante Zucca, tra gli indirizzi più affollati del quartiere di Bermondsey. Nel menu, taglierini al pesto e ricette italiane. 3. I piatti light di Mark Jarvis al Blueprint Café, al primo piano del Design Museum. Dalle vetrate si gode una magnifica vista dal Canary Wharf fino

@feX?f[^jfe

all’East End.

[`]XiZ`leXm`j`kX%JlccXg`XqqXj`Xgi\gli\M`kiè\>Xcc\ip#jg\Z`X$ c`qqXkXèXik`jk`\d\i^\ek`#ZfeleXgXi\k\$m\kièXZ_\c\Zfej\ek\ [`j\dYiXi\Xg\ikX)+fi\jl)+m`kiè\^Xcc\ip%Zf%lb #d\eki\Nf$ fc]jfeKXp#c`Yi\i`X\^Xcc\i`X[ËXik\Zfelei`ZZfd\elXj`Xk`Zf [X, #kfik\\Y`jZfkk`]Xkk`èZXjX#leglekf[ËèZfekif\[`YXk$ k`kf[`îXe[\jlZZ\jjf% CË\[`ÔZ`f^`f`\ccf[\ccXg`XqqXg\i`ci\Z\ek`jj`df9\idfe[j\p JhlXi\?fk\c#`cg`ki\e[p[\cI\êfLe`kf#j\Zfe[fKi`gX[m`jfi# ZfekXekf[`mXjZX`[ifdXjjX^^`fjlck\iiXqqf[\ccËlck`dfg`Xef#\clj$ jlfj`jj`d`[f^Y\[jg\iZ_`m`X^^`XXZZfdgXêXkf[Xcgifgi`fZXe\%@c i`jkfiXek\ [\ccËXcY\i^f# >i\^^Ëj KXYc\ k\c% ''++%)'%.*%./%)+%,' # [` gifgi`\k~[`>i\^^NXccXZ\#^`l[`Z\[`BVhiZg8]Z[#]i\hl\ekXkfg\i`

2

g`Xkk`kiX[`q`feXc`#Zfd\cËfkk`dXÔj_g`\#ZlZèXk`lk`c`qqXe[fèî\$ [`\ek`Z_\Xii`mXef[Xcm`Zèf9fifl^_DXib\knnn%Yfifl^_dXi$ b\k%fi^%lb %ß`cg`Xek`Zfd\iZXkfXc`d\ekXi\[`Cfe[iX#efdèXkf g\icXgi`dXmfckXe\c().-#e\ccfjk\jjfclf^f[Xfcki\),'Xee`%=i\$ hl\ekXkf[XZ_\]\èk\e[`kfi`#f]]i\`cd\^c`f[\ccX^Xjkifefd`XdX[\ èLB\jg\Z`Xc`k~gifm\e`\ek`[Xklkkf`cdfe[f%@ejfddX#led\i$ ZXkf[\Z`jXd\ek\ki\e[p1`jlf`YXeZ_\kk`[`]fidX^^`]i\jZ_`#gXe`Xi$ k`^`XeXc`\jXe[n`Z_Y`fjfefgi\j`[ËXjjXckf[X`^`fmXe`Yifb\ig\icX gXljX giXeqf% ;X efe g\i[\i\ XeZ_\ hl\ccf \d\i^\ek\ [` DXckYp Jki\\knnn%dXckYpjki\\k%Zfd #Xg\ikffê`jXYXkfdXkkèXe\`dX$ ^Xqqè`jfkkf^c`XiZ_`[\ccX]\iifm`X%M`ZèfXJ_X[K_Xd\j#cXg`kkfi\$ jZXjkiX[XXZ`fkkfc`Z_\Zfjk\^^`X`cKXd`^`#[fdèXkX[XccXgìXd`[\è

106

DOVE

1

m\kif[\ccfJ_Xi[#`cîXkkXZ`\cf[`j\êXkf[XI\eqfG`Xef#Zfel]ÔZ`# XggXikXd\ek`#leXcY\i^f[`cljjfnnn%j_Xeî`$cX%Zfd kiX`c*+²\`c ,)²g`Xef#cXZl`Xg\ikliXgi\m`jkXg\i`c)'(*#\lei`jkfiXek\Zfe^Xc$ c\i`X$Y\cm\[\i\Z_\#leXmfckXèXl^liXkX#j`gi\m\[\m\ii~m`j`kXkX[X ZìZX ) d`c`fe` [` g\ijfe\ cËXeef% @ekXekf# j` ^f[\ cË\]]\im\jZ\eqX [` 9\idfe[j\p Jki\\k# c\ Yflk`hl\ è[`g\e[\ek` Zfd\ :fZbÔ^_k\i \ Le`k\[ El[\k\c%''++%)'%.+'%.*.%,/ 2 cËXcc\îf dò [` Xii\[` Xee` :èhlXekX\Y`^`fkk\i`XZfek\dgfiXe\Xè^c\j\[`Cfm\cpXe[9i`$ k`j_#cXdf[Xi`Z\iZXkX[`(-.Xc(-.#k\c%''++%)'%.+%'.%*(%*. \leËXckX ZfeZ\ekiXq`fe\[`^Xcc\i`\\cfZXc`%;\cÔeX#èleË\o]XYYi`ZX[`Z`fZ$ ZfcXkf#hl\jkË\jkXk\fjg`kXleXdfjkiX]fkfîXÔZXjl^c`Xkc\k`XccXi`Z\iZX [`legfjkfe\`k\Xdfc`dg`Z`\gifgfe\leèk\i\jjXek\d\el]lj`fe1

^`lêf12

107

Title: The Telegraph [Online] Date: 10th June 2012 PR Value: £105,000 Unique Monthly Users: 264,000

1

Title: Urbanologie Date: 14th June 2012 Unique Monthly Users: 3,800

Title: MyDaily [Online] Date: 20th June 2012 PR Value: £1,800 Unique Monthly Users: 750,000

1

Title: MyDaily [Online] Date: 20th June 2012 PR Value: £1,800 Unique Monthly Users: 750,000

2

Title: View London [Online] Date: 20th June 2012 Unique Monthly Users: 1,323,283

1


2


3

Title: Caterer & Hotelkeeper [Online] Date: 20th June 2012 PR Value: £2,500 Unique Monthly Users: 10,932

1

封面

2012奥运别册奥运时尚英伦风奥运时尚英伦风

撰文李 _ 照�

DEPECHE MODE 时尚的传承时尚的传承

奥运开幕式，高潮将会是保罗·麦卡特尼带领全场八万人高唱《Hey Jude》。这首常常被用作聚会结尾合唱的歌曲，经过不知多少岁月，见证着英国这半个世纪以来的流行文化全球大征服。二次大战后英国多次的文化输出，一次是上世纪６０年代摇滚乐与时尚风，80年代的英伦新浪漫与朋克，再一次是90年代的Brit-pop，连同英超足球和向全球拓展的英国建筑与时装大师，早早就定义了后来才广为流行起来的一个词：国家软实力。英伦风，如何变为全球时尚，其实还得研究它的本质，它的生产，它如何通过自由放任的民间草创精神，再经系统性的政策鼓励，而后成就一整个成熟的文化产业。当欧洲正经历它的经济危机，2012年的奥运，

封二奔驰

英国人试图用一个节俭的嘉年华来让大家振作起来，并同时显示自身最新的软实力所在。正如我们的导读《英伦范儿复兴》的作者正确地指出，这届奥运会，严格上来说才是伦敦真正保罗·麦卡特尼虽然来自利物浦，但毫无疑问，对世界观众而言，他同时代表了英国的流行文化影响力。而他的女儿Stella亦为本届英国代表团制服的设计师。扎哈·哈迪德是外来文化如何成功融进英国的典范，出生在伊拉克的建筑界女王，丰富了现代建筑的视野。她同时设计了本届奥运话题场馆伦敦水上活动中心。在另一位Kate王妃出现之前，Kate Moss是时尚界的公主，通过同样影响全球的各类时装杂志（伦敦是这方面的领军城市），她让英伦时尚稳占世界时装潮流顶端。贝克汉姆完成了男性的时尚进化，改变了男性接受美的能力。显然，他已经从运动界的明星成功转型为时尚界的明星。

的“第一次”(前两次有点被动)，但经历了半个世纪，世界已然不同。当中最大改变是创意产业在这近二十年的飞跃发展，并成为检视一个国家软实力的标准。由伦敦启动的这股时尚风，聪明之处，不是教人如何时尚，而是告诉你可如何生产时尚。从时尚教育、艺术拍卖，再到老厂房改建成艺术创意园区；时尚杂志带领全球时装与生活品味革命；从设计师到建筑师主导了全球重要城市的景观，这些当今首屈一指的创意大师，最启发人心的，正是他们本身对社会发展的远大视野（我们在《与伦敦创意大师对话》中独家专访了以扎哈·哈迪德为代表的这群大师们）。然而，时尚界确实需要漂亮的面孔去吸引眼球，而这方面英伦从不或缺。戴安娜曾经定下了高贵优雅的典范，最新的姬蒂在这阴影下依然发挥自如。从绿草地到杂志封面，贝克汉姆显示了跨界的全球效应（跨文化地域、行业领域，以至性别定型）。另一位Kate我们的Moss小姐打破了1980年代super model的形象成为新世代的模特icon。众多知名设计师和时尚杂志以至圣马丁的影响力，简直令全世界的时尚追随者把伦敦视为创作人圣地。诗人Samuel Johnson说，When a man is tired of London he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford。事实如此。伦敦提供的，未必是流动盛宴，但肯定有新鲜的观念。当伦敦在二十年内成功转身变成创意之都，其他城市才醒过来纷纷跟随之时，它下一步却已走得更远。所以当走访过伦敦创意人之后，我们把目光转投到伦敦为未来而建的绿色环保建设，它的可持续城市概念如何落实成为改善环境的重要一步──要知道，伦敦的

市容与污染从来遭人诟病，狄更斯笔下的苦海孤鸿标志着伦敦追求改革的命运──那时代也成为马克思沉思社会变革的温床。所以叫人佩服的正是，纵有诸多不满，英国社会发展在本身健全的制度运作下，发挥了自我修正的正面可能。近半世纪，对多元文化的尊重，对环保的重视，对民意的关注，政府的廉洁，源自英国高效实利主义的推动（人人有追求幸福的平等机会），同时得到民众的认可，是官民之间的默契在良好互动，继承着英国17世纪以来大宪章与议会政治的传统。所以，我们其实是在创新“时尚”原有的窄义，它不是表面的时装设计，而是一个生产结构（很马克思地说），时尚是当创意人在自由开放尊重个人的社会中，美的升华。伦敦奥运开幕式是一场对古老而骄傲的英国文化的再次呈现，并让它的传奇延续至今。它最令人赞叹的不是单单在炫耀一些已属于过去的伟大发明，又或者只懂展示着先辈的光荣，而是在于展现，在800 年前，英国人已把这国家的精神奠基(大宪章限制绝对的权力)，并成为今天全球文明政府模式的先驱。没有这种文明，一切真正富有远见的创意都无法持续。在迈向文明的过程中，它曾出现一次又一次误差（殖民主义、帝国主义、阶级剥削、工业革命后遗症等），但我们看到它如何修正改善，在各个时代，由牛顿到图灵再至霍金；从莎士比亚、狄更斯到德波顿；从甲壳虫到Coldplay，不同的英国智者如何创造新境改变人类命运，这也是我们让人的面孔当上封面的原因。他们不一定来自伦敦，但伦敦这世界之都把他们的英国精神吸纳，并扩散全球。以至今天，我们游走伦敦，从书店街到SOHO剧场，从Selfridges百货到海德公园，仍时刻感受到那文明气息，回响着伦敦的奥运calling。

《周末画报》第709期奥运时尚英伦风别册出版人 _ 邵忠 Thomas Shao 编辑总监 _ 李照兴 Bono Lee 创意顾问 _ Shiraz Randeria 执行编辑 _ 罗添恩 Timm Law 设计顾问 _ 小黑 Xiao Hei 设计师 _ 周毅敏 Amychow 徐龙 XuLong

01

08

09

02

03

04

05

06

07

10

11

12

13

14

15

22

23

华斯度

川宁

16

17

18

19

20

21

2012奥运别册

mcm

24

26

25

27

28

29

30

31

36

37

38

39

44

45

46

47

百事可乐

32

33

34

35

撰文 _ Denni Hu

LONDON GREEN IDEAs 英伦绿色创意英伦绿色创意 g r e e n

l o n d o n

今年奥运是历届以来最绿色的一次。作为一个超级大都会，伦敦在推动绿化上不遗馀力，不只是政府政策上的支持，民间也积极参与低碳生活，在环保上发挥无限创意。

迪莱 1FPQMF5SFF

#JDZDMF-JCSBSZ

被时尚界看成公平贸易与可持续环保的先锋“弄潮儿”，自从2001年开始引领

在伦敦东区的一辆Leyland Olympian双层黑色巴士里排满了各色的自行车，这就

公平贸易风潮。由Safia 与James Minney创立的休闲服装品牌People Tree20多年前

是伦敦人Karta创办的流动自行车图书馆。跟许多伦敦人一样，Karta 是一位自行

始创于日本，现总部位于伦敦，设计可以说是英伦风的J.Crew, 为消费者提供了

车痴，家里收藏了几十台不同款式的自行车，把居住的空间都填满了。有一天，

desirable时装，但他们更重视的是品牌所传递的公平贸易与环境保护理念。通过

他灵机一动，想到把自己的自行车公诸同好，於是开始了这个独具一格的自行车

与公平贸易组织合作，为穷困国家的失业人士提供就业，People Tree希望能把这

推广运动。据悉，流动自行车图书馆提供折叠型的，迷你型的，电动型与环保型

个项目延续一百年，让人们购入时尚单品的同时领悟到那一针一线都是由某个小

等七种自行车任君选择，你只需要发邮件给自行车图书馆就能在家门口租到一辆

山区的贫困村民手工缝制的。在“快时尚”当道的当下，也许People Tree所提倡

自行车，运气好的话能租到最火的电动与cargo自行车。与政府推广的节能自行

的“Slow Fashion”能借着奥运的东风，引领时尚环保新风潮。

车计划相比，单车图书馆能提供更加个性化的服务，但这一切的进一步推广还需要政府的支持，令伦敦变得更环保。

%VLFPG$BNCSJEHF

4PMBS5SFF

作为英国首家有机酒吧，创办于1998年的Duke of Cambridge至今已走过13个年头。创始人Geetie Singh立志为英国的酒吧文化注入环保的理念。对于环保与餐饮业的热爱令在餐饮业工作了7年的Geetie企图改变这个行业浪费成灾的现

高达六米的太阳能街灯Solar Tree伸展出了十个“枝叶”，在伦敦的夜空下显得尤为引人注目，而附在街灯下的座椅也为游荡街头的人们提供一个歇脚的据点，甚至一个供人阅读的图书角。这个艺术杰作由“21世纪科技翻译家”的设计师

状，树立行业健康新坐标，为食客提供有良心的有机食品。餐厅会考量当季的

Ross Lovegrove引入了伦敦的街景中，也无限放大了伦敦的绿色与文化相交融的

食材，打造最为环保而美味的食物。Geetie可以说是个“环保控”，她说酒吧

环保理念。正如Lovegrove说，街道上的家具应该具备满足人们作为社会动物需

最在意的就是如何保持尽量低的碳足迹，他们会想尽办法把物资进行循环再利

要的能力。照明公司Artemide最大程度上提供了技术上的帮助，在阴天也能存储

用，并利用风能与太阳能进行烹饪。难怪Duke of Cambridge已经被TimeOut评

足够的能量，更为充分的利用自然能源，令阴晴不定的伦敦也有了新“亮”点。

为伦敦最环保餐厅。

40

41

42

43

2012奥运别册

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

川宁

56

57

58

59

60

omega

64

65

66

61

62

63

69

70

71

omega

67

68

封底 tudor

72

73

74

Title: Luxe City Guides (Online) Date: 27th June 2012 Unique Monthly Users: N/A

-1-


-2-


-3-


-4-

Title: Modern Weekly (China) Date: June 2012 Circulation: 900,000 PR Value: £11,000

Title: Modern Weekly (China) Date: June 2012 Circulation: 900,000 PR Value: £11,000

[Type a quote from the document or the summary of an interesting point. You can position the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Drawing Tools tab to change the formatting of the pull quote text box.]

Title: First Coat News [Online] Date: 2nd May 2012 Unique Monthly Users: 750,000

1

Title: IT Business Net [Online] Date: 02nd May 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 250,000

PR Value: £27,296

Title: Hotel Chatter [Online] Date: 8th May 2012

1

Title: Hospitality Net [Online] Date: 14th May 2012 Unique Users per Month: 110,000 PR Value: £1,850

London’s hotel market is booming TOPHOTELPROJECTS: 20 new top hotels have opened their doors during the past year – 37 new hotel projects with more than 8,800 rooms are in the pipeline – further 10 new hotels will open up until the 2012 Summer Olympics

No one would ever imagine, that London could not offer a sufficient number of hotel rooms or premium hotel properties. The UK capital still is the melting-pot of the British Empire and talking point in respect to its numerous hotel projects. According to TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the leading information service for international hotel construction and development projects, 20 new four and five star rated hotels with more than 4,200 rooms have opened their doors during the past year. Over the next three years further 37 new top hotels with more than 8,800 rooms will be inaugurated. Among them the 195-room Shangri-La in the new skyscraper "The Shard" (TOPHOTELPROJECTS Nr. 616), expected to open up in spring 2013. Until the start of the Summer Olympics by the end of July a total of 22 first class and luxury hotel will have opened their doors in London, including the new ME London by Mélia International (TOPHOTELPROJECTS Nr. 9182, 157 rooms) located in prime location in a former bank office building. In early July the InterContinental Westminster (TOPHOTELPROJECTS Nr. 8900, 256 rooms), nearby New Scotland Yard at St. James Park, will officially open. And close to the legendary Wembley Stadium the new Hilton Hotel (TOPHOTELPROJECTS Nr. 12670, 306 rooms) will be ready to host its first guests this summer. After the recent opening of the beautiful Grosvenor House Apartments (TOPHOTELPROJECTS Nr. 9314, 133 apartments) next to Hyde Park, Jumeirah Hotels will add another 261 rooms luxury property (TOPHOTELPROJECTS Nr. 1276), to its hotel portfolio after the official opening in August. The hotel in a glass tower will be located on the south side of the River Thames directly opposite the City of London - a very convenient location for business travelers. With the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel already operating, the Dubai-based and globally expanding hotel chain already offers a London boutique hotel in prime location in the sophisticated Belgravia district. GLOBAL DATABASE AND RESEARCH SERVICE FOR FIRST-CLASS & LUXURY HOTEL CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TOPHOTELPROJECTS is the leading online database for worldwide first-class & luxury hotel construction projects. WE constantly research hotel projects, so YOU can focus on selling your products & services! Filter projects according to development stage, region, category, opening date, keyword search and many other variables Contacts from the groupings "ownership" (investor, owner, consultant), "project execution" (contractor, interior designer, architect, developer) and "operation" (hotel company, franchise, mgmt. company, pre-opening office) Receive automatic update-notifications by e-mail View projects on Google Street View Receive hotel market analysis via our newsletter Plus plenty of further benefits. Via our daily research service you know "where-who-when-what" is happening and being planned in the global hotel construction business to initiate or complement your sales cycle. Outsource your daily hotel project research and have instant online sales lead access!

Title: Conde Nast Traveller Date: May 2012 Editorial Value: £5,249 Circulation: 80,059

1


2


3


4

Title: Buying Business Travel Date: May/June 2012 Editorial Value: £1,687.50 Circulation: 18,127

1


2


3


4

Title: Centurion Magazine Date: Spring 2012 PR Value: £4,101.30 Circulation: 33,500

1

Title: House & Garden [Hotels by Design] Date: May 2012 Circulation: 127, 311 PR Value: £6,688. 88

Title: Urbanologie [Online] Date: 10th May 2012 Unique Users per Month:250,000

THURSDAY MAY 10TH 2012

RECOMMENDED NEW DINING ROOMS

Almost every month it seems that there is a new hotel opening somewhere in London with a delectable variety of new dining options. Opening from the May 28th for reservations is Il Ristorante (at the Bulgari Hotel, Knightsbridge) with Head Chef Robin Pepin (previously at Alain Ducasse’s Italian restaurant La Trattoria, Monaco). Expect a menu of contemporary Italian food with a focus on seasonal, sustainably sourced produce. The sleek silver-themed interior seeks to evoke the ‘the glamour of the Dolce Vita era’ complete with Bulgari cutlery.

Title: Urbanologie [Online] Date: 10th May 2012 Unique Users per Month:250,000

Across town (on the corner of Aldwych and the Strand) and scheduled to open in July is the (Foster & Partners designed) ME hotel by Melia (formerly the old BBC Marconi building) featuring the first non-US outpost of New York (‘female friendly’) steakhouse STK. There is also a roof top bar and terrace with panoramic views across London (pictured).

Also opening is the Potting Shed (at the newly refurbished Dorset Square Hotel) serving up English brasserie style cuisine using (of course) locally sourced and seasonal produce. The hotel started Tim & Kit Kemp’s successful Firmdale collection (which now has seven hotels in London and The Crosby Hotel in New York City). As previously featured the opening of the Caf Royal (part of the The Set collection) will include the exquisitely restored Grill Room (restaurant) and the Domino Room and will be opening in time for the London Olympics. Missing out on the Olympics will be the anticipated opening of the London Edition, with the refurbishment of the grade ll listed former Berners Hotel in Fitzrovia by Ian Schrager and Marriott International. Andre Balazs, the owner of some of most iconic hotels (The Mercer in New York, Chateau Marmont etc.) is set to also launch a property in London to open next year. Situated on the site of the old fire station on Chiltern Street (Marylebone) and rumored to include an outpost of the popular (American bistro style) meatpacking district eaterie – The Standard Grill.

Title: Wallpaper* [Online] Date: 10th May 2012 Unique Users per Month: 680,000 PR Value: £159,600








Title: Go Timeshare [Online] Date: 14th May 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 3,644

New ME London and the Meliá Defense Hotel in Paris to open soon

Two brand new hotels, both part of the Meliá Hotels International Group, will soon be coming to London and Paris. The much-anticipated ME London Hotel opens this July at the site of the historic Marconi House building on the corner of Strand and Aldwych, and the Paris property, Meliá Defense Hotel, will begin welcoming guests in 2014. The Meliá portfolio includes hotels all over the world and the leading hotel group operates a very successful shared-vacation membership division, Club Meliá by Meliá Hotels International www.clubmelia.com. One of the top names in the global shared membership industry, Club Meliá offers members flexible vacation stays at its branded hotels and resorts. The ME London Hotel has been designed by legendary architects Foster and Partners. The hotel will feature a unique pyramid shaped lobby area, fitness and business centres, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout, a rooftop bar with impressive views of Somerset House and the Thames, and a food and beverage offering from the fashionable New York restaurant, STK House. ME London joins the ranks of British architect Sir Norman Foster's signature projects which include the British Museum, Beijing Airport, and New York’s Hearst Headquarters. The property will also have "Biosphere Hotel" certification, like its sister properties the ME Madrid, ME Barcelona and ME Cancun. The hotel will feature a signature VIP floor, “The Level”, which has been designed as an exclusive retreat where guests can enjoy complimentary cocktails, petit dejeuner, a separate check-in area and access to a private lounge. Meliá’s other London property is the Meliá White House, next to one of London’s largest green spaces Regents Park, making ME London the second Meliá -branded property in the capital. Meliá Defense Hotel in Paris, which is set to open in 2014, will be located in a new 20-storey building next to the Esplanade de la Defense metro station. Guests will be able to take in the wonderful views of the Arc de Triomphe and enjoy all the modern comforts and facilities the brand is famous for. Meliá currently has six properties in the French capital, under its Tryp and Meliá Hotels and Resorts brands.

About Melia’s Vacation Membership Division: Club Meliá Meliá Hotels International is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. As a result of 56 years of experience, Meliá Hotels International is considered the leader in Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 350 hotels in 30 countries on 5 continents. They are considered the largest hotel company in Spain and Latin America, as well as the 6th largest in Europe and the 17th largest in the world. Club Meliá offers its members the best of luxury vacation membership as well as access to one of the world’s premiere hotel brands like: Gran Melia, Paradisius, ME by Melia, Meliá Hotels & Resort, Innside by Meliá, Tryp by Wyndham and Sol Hotels. Club Meliá’s vacation club membership is a points-based (or Option) membership plan, providing maximum flexibility so that its members can enjoy any of Melia’s home resorts or other destinations through the Club Meliá Network. Members can save, borrow, combine, accelerate or convert/bank their Options as desired and increase their buying power to incorporate additional locations, destinations and days when they plan ahead. For more information please visit www.melia.com and www.clubmelia.com

Title: Caterer Date: 15th May 2012

1

Title: Hotel News Now Date: 15th May 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 130,000

Meliá Hotels reports 7.2% RevPAR growth in Q1

Palma de Mallorca—Meliá Hotels International presented financial results for the first quarter 2012, with the following highlights: • Hotels saw revenue growth of 7.6%, offsetting lower capital gains over the same period in 2011 • Revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 7.2%, strongly supported by the positive evolution of average room rates which grew by 10.2% • Market diversification meant that the dynamism of North and South America and major European capitals offset the slowdown in Italy and Spain • Management fees for hotels in Cuba, Brazil and Asia increased by 17.8% to €13.3 million • The company is committed to reducing net debt below €900 million by year end • The first quarter results exceeded market expectations and the company is confident of meeting growth targets for 2012 • Excluding capital gains, EBITDA margin improved 65 basis points • Despite the crisis in some markets, quality and customer satisfaction levels improved from 2011 to 81.1% Differing hotel business trends depending on markets: The intense market diversification the company has pursued for decades now allows it to be present in 35 countries and with an increasing focus on emerging markets, considered both as tourism destinations and increasingly as feeder markets. Meliá Hotels International has thus avoided over-dependence on any one country or region, and thus presents its results by region for the Americas, EMEA, Premium Brands Europe and Spanish cities and resorts: 1) Americas: all together, the market in the Americas reported a RevPAR increase of 20%. The healthy development of the U.S. economy (especially noticeable in the MICE segment) and the rise in the number of travellers from Latin American countries such as Brazil or Argentina, coincided with an increase in arrivals to the Caribbean from Europe due to adjustments in flight schedules by Tour Operators. In Latin America, one of the highlights was the performance of the resorts in the Dominican Republic, particularly Paradisus Palma Real, thanks to the growth in business groups and incentives and the success of the "Royal Service" after the improvements made to this superior quality product. The positive performance of the Gran Meliá Cancun and ME Cancun, together with the new Paradisus Playa del Carmen which has exceeded expectations in its first months of operation, also meant that Mexico contributed to the positive results. The company expects Paradisus Playa del Carmen to become one of the major contributors to company profits in the coming years. The company's second hotel in the USA, the Meliá Orlando has also seen excellent results, helping to lay the groundwork for future expansion. 2) EMEA: the EMEA region, excluding Spain, also saw RevPAR increase by 3.1%. By country, France recorded the highest rise in revenue per available room (+15.6%) partly due to efforts made by the company to reduce exposure to price-sensitive segments and simultaneously strengthen the more profitable business travel segment, allowing for an increase in average rate. Germany, a country in which Meliá Hotels International currently operates 25 hotels, improved its revenue per available room by 3.3%, affected by the momentum of major biennial exhibitions and events held in the country which are expected to drive growth during the second quarter. Meanwhile, the UK contributed positively thanks to the good performance of the Meliá White House and the effect of exchange rate differences. A strong third quarter is also expected due to the hosting of the Olympics and the opening of the new ME London hotel, a flagship property that will add to our successful presence in London. Less brilliant was the performance in markets such as Greece and Italy which have suffered from the effects of the political and debt crisis, and also the pressure of demand due to increased hotel supply in Italy. Meliá believes that the recent opening of the magnificent Gran Meliá Rome, thanks to its location, characteristics and target segment, is a very safe bet to make a positive contribution to the results of the company in Italy.

3) Spain: first quarter results in Spain suffered from the rise in unemployment in the first quarter due to stagnation in consumption and also the impact of Easter being held 15 days later than in 2011, added in the resort business to a certain normalization of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. Reservations to date point towards a positive summer season given that future sales to the Spanish resorts in markets like UK and Central Europe, as well as in melia.com, are above the results for the same period in 2011. RevPAR in city hotels declined in the period, as the positive evolution of Madrid and Barcelona combined (+2.6%) failed to offset the drop in MICE activity in second-tier cities (- 8%).

Financial Management: In the financial area, Meliá is not encountering any difficulties in refinancing maturing debt or the limits of its credit facilities, all of which have been fully renewed thanks to the confidence that the business model and solid balance sheet provide to financial institutions, even in the current context. The company's debt stood at EUR 1,085 million, up 2% over the same period last year due to the completion of the two Paradisus Playa del Carmen resorts (Mexico). No new investments are foreseen for expansion in 2012, given that company strategy expects strong growth through low capital-intensive formulas. This strategy and the objective of reducing the debt below EUR 900 million by the end of 2012, means that Meliá will consider the possibility of new asset sales in the current year amounting to at least EUR 100 million. To conclude this section, Meliá is currently analysing several alternatives to address the issue of preference shares in 2012.

1

Title: Hotel News Now Date: 15th May 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 130,000

International growth: The Meliá commitment to international development will continue in 2012, a year in which emerging economies will continue to lead growth, and in which the hotel industry will benefit from the continued growth in international travel. In the first quarter of 2012, the company added 6 new hotels to a pipeline of 34 hotels with 10,959 rooms, 87% of them outside Spain and 56% in emerging markets. 87% of the hotels in the process of incorporation belong to the upscale hotel segment. The Meliá focus on a business model based on management agreements is apparent in the latest deals. 100% of the hotels in the pipeline will be added under management or franchise contracts (80%) or variable leases (20%). Meliá does not foresee any new Capex investments for expansion in 2012 after completion of the Paradisus Resorts in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The growing importance of hotels under management is also seen un the almost 18% growth in management fees.

Contingency Plan in Spain: The strong rate of growth Meliá will continue to seek in markets such as America (north and south) or Asia Pacific, and the implementation of a new Strategic Plan in these and other dynamic markets such as European capitals and the Middle East, will maximise growth and profitability through initiatives in revenue management, customer relationship management, asset management, and optimizing added value for owners and investors. This drive will contrast, however, with a contingency approach to the Spanish market, which will focus in 2012 on generating savings and efficiencies at the corporate level. The growing proportion of international hotels - which in 2011 accounted for almost 80% of operating income – will be accompanied by a more decentralized corporate structure, employing resources where they are most needed and seeking greater proximity between support services and business units.

Outlook 2012: The company expects an average one digit percentage growth in RevPAR for 2012, based more on increasing prices than on improvements in occupancy. This estimate is based on the demand in major source markets and in improving flight availability from Europe and Canada to destinations in the Caribbean. It is also based on the current situation of reservations for the future mentioned above, and the growth trend in markets such as Russia, with double digit growth, or Asia, which is particularly benefiting European hotels included in the Meliá alliance with the leading hotel group in China, Jin Jiang, now reaching its first anniversary. It is still too early to predict the outcome of domestic demand for Spanish holiday destinations, but the company points out in its report that the third quarter represents 50% of total revenues for the year. 2012 will see the inauguration of strategic projects that will contribute not only to the future performance of the company but also to its prestige and the international positioning of its brands, such as the ME London, the hotel designed by Foster & Partners in the heart of the "City". The portfolio of projects currently under consideration and negotiation will also bear fruit over the year with new agreements and hotel additions in cities and key markets. Finally, the company is proud to announce the imminent opening of the first phase of the Calvia Beach Resort project, an initiative to reform an area with enormous potential and beauty on the southwest coast of Mallorca, whose decline in recent years threatened the profitability of the company's numerous hotels in the region and the sustainability of the destination. In early June the company will open two totally refurbished hotels, the Hotel Beach House and the Sol Wave House, which, along with other already renovated hotels and the incorporation of the most prestigious international beach club (Nikki Beach) and the first artificial surf centre in Europe (Wave House), will drive a total repositioning of the resort as well as economic recovery and employment in the area. The project has been declared of Autonomous Interest by the Balearic Government which has given priority and maximum support at all levels of government.

2

Title: ABTN [Online] Date: 19th May 2012 PR Value: £7,000 Circulation: 170,000

1


2


3

Title: Telegraph Ultratravel Date: Summer 2012 PR Value: £12,807.45 Circulation: 576,790

1


2


1


2

Title: Arabian Business (Online) Date: 30th May 2012 Unique Users: 1,500,000

Title: BA Highlife Date: April 2012 Circulation: 117,258 PR Value: £5,126.25

Title: BA Highlife Date: April 2012 Circulation: 117,258 PR Value: £5,126.25



Title: New style Date: April 2012 Circulation: 20,000 PR Value: £3,750.00



Title: Square meal Date: April 2012 Circulation: 55, 000 PR Value: £1, 875. 00



Title: France 3 Date: 11th April 2012 Market Share: 9.5%

ME London included in a London Roundup news feature

1

Title: The Irish Times [Saturday magazine] Date: 14th April 2012 Circulation: 100, 951 PR Value: £4, 177. 00

Title: London Evening Standard Date: 12th April 2012 Circulation: 702,022 PR Value: £ 48,195

Title: The Irish Times [Saturday magazine] Date: 14th April 2012 Circulation: 100, 951 PR Value: £4, 177. 00

Title: The Handbook [Online] Date: 18th April 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 200,000

This summer ME London is set to shake up London’s high-end hotel scene when it opens on The Strand in July overlooking Somerset House. Having taken over the historic BBC Marconi building, ME will be the UK flagship hotel for the ME by Meliá brand and will be designed by Foster + Partners.

We’re talking 157 rooms and suites plus a luxurious two floor suite that opens onto the roof terrace in the turret of the building. There will be two restaurants and a bar on the ground floor - including the first British incarnation of Steakhouse concept STK and there’s also a partially-covered rooftop terrace bar boasting fantastic 180 degree panoramic views of the capital.

Each guest's stay will be orchestrated by a dedicated Aura Experience Manager (AEM). The name of the game, we suspect, is tapping into your inner psyche so ME knows what you want before you do. And yes that includes securing you the hottest tickets in town and knowing you like a salted caramel choccie on your pillow.

ME has just finished the first stage in an X-Factor style ME.N.U. challenge for a full time position in the kitchen beginning with a fully-paid two-week training programme in North America. Contestants submitted a short video of themselves explaining their passion for food. Eight hopefuls will be chosen to prepare dishes live before a panel of judges. There will also be recruitment events for front-of-house, supervisor and management roles with successful applicants invited to attend a ME Factor talent day 23-27 April.

Meliá Hotels International was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca and is one of the world’s largest resort hotel chains. There are currently ME Hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, Cancun, Cabo with and a ME Vienna set to open in 2013.

Launching July

Title: Big Hospitality [Online] Date: 25th April 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 69,531 PR Value: £2,150

Recruiting and retaining staff: How and where to advertise hospitality jobs

What do Gumtree, Twitter, viral web videos and local newspapers have in common? The answer is they have all served as promotional mechanisms for advertisements for hospitality jobs recently. If you have vacancies to fill, what are your options in advertising them? The hospitality industry is notorious for having a high turnover of staff, which means that employers are often on the look-out for new talent and as a result are increasingly trying out new ways of letting potential employees know about their vacancies. With the emergence of the internet and the rise in the popularity of social networks it has never been easier to reach a wider, or even global, audience with your job ad, but is telling your followers on Twitter about a vacancy or using a site where users are more likely to be searching for a flat or a second-hand guitar as effective as posting it on a dedicated channel for job-seekers? In the first installment of our three-part special on recruitment, we look at the options available and examine their effectiveness for your business's needs.

Targeting the right people Where you decide to advertise your position and start the search for staff will mainly depend, as with many things, on how much time and money you have to spare, but it is also worth thinking about the kind of candidate you are trying to attract. “We used to rely on our own website and industry jobs boards to advertise our jobs, but now we also use a lot of social media, particularly Linkedin and Twitter, to tell people about what we have on our books,” says Nick Claypole, operations manager London and South East at hospitality recruitment company Berkeley Scott. “The market is saturated with lots of average level candidates who are actively seeking employment, but they often don’t have the skills employers are looking for, so we try and find the passive job seeker who might be more suitable for our clients, which is where social media is useful,” he adds. “We’ve found Linkedin works well to tell people about permanent management positions while Twitter works well to advertise for temporary staff.” Of course, Claypole works for a recruitment consultancy, which works on your behalf to advertise roles and find suitable candidates for them - one option for employers who can afford to outsource the job of writing the job ad, advertising it and then sifting through all the applications. However, if you do lack the funds to get external help, or want control over the process yourself, it is worth returning again to the question of what kind of candidates you want to reach.

Innovation When the HR team at Meliá hotels was thinking about advertising vacancies for new hotel ME London, due to open this summer, it decided to use some innovative methods to recruit staff for certain posts. Instead of posting a job advertisement in the traditional way for a commis chef role, the hotel's HR team decided to launch a competition to find one , inviting candidates to submit a Masterchef-style video of themselves in place of a CV to give them the chance of landing a dream job with training. The quality and quantity of entries has been high so far, according to ME London, evidently striking a chord with media-savvy, emerging chefs who favour the web and social media over more traditional forms of job-seeking. "The brand is one that very much engages with the city in which it is located, so we wanted to open the posts up to London ’s talented, culturally-connected individuals, who might not hear about this exciting opportunity through traditional hospitality recruitment methods," explains Robert Dunning, head of HR at ME London. "Given that social media is now a key channel of communication, we feel that this is the most effective way to find the right candidates. Our model is all about psychographics not demographics, so this personal, fun aspect of the process is just what was needed to find the individuals to match our brand."

Local search While innovative use of technology to reach potential candidates might be preferred by some, for others it is simply not necessary. The owners of the soon-to-reopen Talbot Hotel in Malton, North Yorkshire, decided they only wanted to employ people who lived close to the business when starting the recruitment drive, so only used the local Yorkshire press to advertise vacancies. "We wanted to give first opportunity to local people - this is good for the local community and also our guests who benefit from being looked after by people who know the area well, particularly as many of our guests will be tourists," says a hotel spokesperson. "We held an open day in the function room and were inundated with responses - and very able people. The difficulty was choosing from such a large number of good quality applicants. We were also in the fortunate position that many people had already applied to us direct once they heard the hotel was being restored and re-opened."

Location and level Local press is also used by Carluccio's to advertise posts at restaurants due to open in towns across the country, but it is just one of many ways the Italian restaurant group aims to find staff. Marcus Weedon, senior recruitment manager at Carluccio's, says his team takes many aspects into account when choosing where to advertise vacancies, citing location of branches and the type of role on offer as the deciding factors. "For managerial and head chef vacancies we tend to use our own website and jobs boards, but when searching for team members (ie commis chefs, waiting staff) we tend to use Gumtree because they like using that website and we have more chance of reaching that level there. "We use Twitter now and again - it's a way of telling people that we are currently recruiting and we hope that our followers might know someone who is looking for a job and will let them know about a position." One route which Weedon is increasingly taking to find staff is by holding open days. The day is advertised in the press, on jobs boards and its own website. A recent open day in London attracted 400 people and led to the hiring of 12 people while a management and chef open day attracted about 80 and led to 15 people being invited for trials and second interviews. The open day route is suited to larger organisations and as Weedon says it can take work, but has the benefit of being able to reduce the time taken to sift through CVs. "It takes organising and it means our recruitment team is out of the business for a day, but it is worthwhile because you see a CV and the person behind it. As we hire a lot on personality it helps us to recruit the right people."

Where should you place your job ad?: -

Social networks - Use Twitter to reach passive job seekers, temporary and junior staff and Linkedin for managerial positions, passive and active. Free websites - Gumtree, Friday Ad etc. Suitable for advertising junior roles and have the benefit of costing little or nothing at all. Hospitality jobs boards/trade press - Use to target those serious about careers in the hospitality industry. Higher level, managerial roles work well, but they can be effective for most levels. Local press - Use local and regional newspapers and websites to recruit for businesses based outside large cities and where knowledge of the local area is needed for the role. Open days - Will need to be promoted before the event, but can cut down admin in the long-run as candidates can be vetted before the interview stage. Your own window/community noticeboard - The local social network. Catch passers-by, your regulars or active 'pounding-the-street' type jobseekers.

Title: MyDaily.co.uk Date: 13th April 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 750,000

The hot list: A new wave of hotels hits London

Thanks to two rather big events taking place in London this year, 2012 is definitely the capital's time to shine. While the city is already jam-packed with world-famous hotels, the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics have sparked a rapid increase in new developments all over the place, from Regent's Street to the East End. Take a look below to find out more about the newest names in London.

Hotel: The Wellesley, opening November 2012 Where: Knightsbridge USP: 1920s art deco meets city sleek decor. Sip on cocktails in the Jazz Bar or light up in The Cigar Room before heading to one of the 36 decadent bedrooms - or perhaps even the Penthouse Suite - for a good night's sleep. We're talking six star luxury here. What's the damage: No word yet but our guess is this Hyde Park Corner location will put it in the pricey bracket.

Hotel: ME London, opening July 2012 Where: The Strand USP: Designed by Foster + Partners, this contemporary hotel is the latest project from the Spanish hotel group, Melia Hotels International. It's 157 bedrooms will make it a popular stop off for tourists this Summer, but we'll be heading to the rooftop bar for some of the best views of the city. What's the damage: The prices haven't yet been released but we're expecting reasonable rates for a central location.

The hotel: Belgraves, now open Where: Belgravia - a stone's throw away from Sloane Square USP: The Thompson group have recently opened their latest hotel, aimed to be "a second home for guests and glitterati alike" and with its SW1 location, there's a chance you'll bump into some of the most glamorous guests in London. It boasts a chic, sleek style with subtle hints of cosiness (roaring fires, patterned rugs, comfy sofas) and foodies will be happy with the in-house restaurant - Hix Belgravia. What's the damage: King Deluxe Rooms are around £260 a night.

The hotel: The Ampersand, now open Where: South Kensington USP: There are 111 bedrooms here, but it has retained a boutique hotel feel with quirky, colourful decor and luxe rooms inspired by the local area - from the Royal Albert Hall to Chelsea Gardens. Our favourite feature? The cellar-turned-restaurant, Apero, which serves up Mediterranean treats daily. What's the damge: Double rooms start at £125 a night and range up to £245 for a Deluxe Studio.

Title: Viajeros [Spain] Date: 25th April 2012 Circulation: 45,000 PR Value: £ 1,624

Title: Viajeros [Spain] Date: 25th April 2012 Circulation: 45,000 PR Value: £ 1,624

   

   









London hotels

london hotels

great expectations As London gears up for this summer’s Olympics, existing hotels are fluffing their feathers while glossy new properties fling open their doors. Make the most of the new and improved event spaces Words: Suzanne Wateridge

I

n case you hadn’t noticed, the world’s biggest sporting event is coming to London this summer. By the time the Olympics arrive, over £11bn will have been invested in making the city sparkle, and among the biggest spenders are its hotels, who are vying for the attentions of an estimated 450,000 staying visitors. The London hotel scene has never looked more vibrant. But what does this mean for event organisers? For a start, there’s a crop of new hotels springing up, from established luxury chains such as Four Seasons and InterContinental, to upscale operators Thompson Hotels and ME by Melia, who are dipping their boutique toes into London’s waters for the first time. Then there’s the refurbished meeting rooms and new and improved event spaces in existing properties, such as Lancaster London >>

88 venues&events

For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk


venues&events 89

London hotels

and The Grosvenor Hotel. ‘Though we would have refurbished with or without the Olympics, it was definitely the catalyst in making the project start and finish on time,’ says Michael Parker, general manager at the Grosvenor. It’s a sentiment that’s echoed throughout the industry. And, with a halo effect that will reverberate for years to come, the London hotel industry is positively booming. Here’s our round-up of the latest developments and what lies in store.

ahead of the game In a year when all eyes are on London, it’s no surprise that some of the capital’s top hotels timed their latest refurbishment plans very carefully, ensuring the paint was dry long before the Olympic flame was lit. Park Lane princess The Dorchester put the finishing touches to its Ballroom Suite last October. The space now packs the latest technology (an integrated audio system, remote-controlled spotlighting on any table configuration) but also recalls the hotel’s glittering past (three large crystal chandeliers restored to the ceiling domes, marble floors in the entrance hall). The Ballroom seats up to 500 and now also offers à la carte banqueting, a crowd-pleasing offering you’ll also find at the Lancaster London, Marriott Grosvenor Square

london hotels

OUT with: WI-FI CHARGEs IN with: FREE SURFING It’s becoming increasingly difficult for hotels to justify exorbitant Wi-Fi fees. Though many properties claim it is the price and logistics of setting up a network that keeps costs at a premium, free internet access is now as essential a commodity as heating and water for corporate customers. But no naming and shaming. Instead, let’s credit some of those hotel groups who do provide free surfing for delegates and hotel guests alike, such as Radisson Edwardian, Soho House Group, Red Carnation Hotels, COMO Hotels and Resorts, as well as standalones One Aldwych and The Athenaeum. and The Savoy (see Silver Service, overleaf). The eco-friendly Lancaster London has been almost as busy as its half a million rooftop honey bees, with a £11.5m refurbishment that has ramped up the hotel’s vast kitchens and given the Nine Kings Suite and Westbourne Suite a dramatic makeover. The hotel has also introduced the innovative Senses Room, which creates a ‘test-drive’ of an event, replicating not just the menu but the lighting, decor and colour

schemes, for up to 10 people in a glass-fronted room overlooking the kitchen. Across Hyde Park, another events heavyweight has just had a makeover. At the Royal Garden Hotel, the refurbished Palace Suites now form a dedicated conference floor with a pillar-free principle event space holding up to 550. It’s complemented by a large pre-function area and four syndicate rooms. The exclusivity element, together with rooms that have a multitude of uses and set-ups – as well as some top-notch catering – is already proving popular with event bookers. The beginning of the year also marked the end of Guoman’s 18-month refurbishment of The Grosvenor Hotel. What was a rather dilapidated railway hotel has now been restored (in consultation with English Heritage) to its former Victorian glory, resplendent with gold leaf and original marble pillars. Nine new meeting rooms have been created, with the jewel-in-the-crown Orient Suite holding up to 150 under its elegantly restored ceilings. Restored Victoriana also abounds at the four-star St Ermin’s Hotel which has just completed a £30m renovation project, with Grade II-listed interiors positively groaning with original rococo plasterwork and art nouveau styling. There are 15 meeting rooms, and the grandest of these is the Crystal Ballroom, >>

The Grosvenor has been restored to its former Victorian glory, resplendent with gold leaf and original marble pillars

Opening page, clockwise from top left: Bulgari; Four Seasons at Heron Plaza; Hilton London Wembley; South Place, ME London This page: Cloisters Suite, St Ermin’s Hotel Opposite: The Grosvenor Hotel

WHERE TO FIND THEM The Dorchester Park Lane, W1, tel: 020 7319 7071, squaremeal.co.uk/dorchester Lancaster London Lancaster Terrace, W2, tel: 020 7262 6737 Royal Garden Hotel 2-24 Kensington High Street, W8, tel: 020 7937 8000, squaremeal.co.uk/royalgarden The Grosvenor 101 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1, tel: 0871 376 9038 St Ermin’s Hotel Caxton Street, SW1, tel: 020 7227 7718 Marriott Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, W1 tel: 020 7493 1232, squaremeal. co.uk/m-grosvenor

90 venues&events



venues&events 91

London hotels

holding dinners for 120. The smaller Cloisters Suite, seating 39 guests at one table, is a more subdued alternative.

right here, right now No less than five new hotels are launching themselves onto the market before the Olympics circus rolls into town. Thompson Hotels’ Belgraves has already stolen a march by opening in February. Its rooftop Cigarden, attached to Mark’s Bar and accommodating 25, is a stylish backdrop for cocktails and canapés (and with an extensive cigar menu, smokers feel right at home). Hotels have certainly cottoned onto the fact that alfresco space is fast becoming a soughtafter commodity in the corporate entertainment market. Hence, ME London, opening in July courtesy of the trend-setting Spanish hotel chain ME by Melia, will boast an impressive wraparound roof terrace designed by Foster & Partners, holding up to 140. Also on offer for groups of up to 20 will be a stunning two-storey suite that will have its own entrance to the terrace. Further east, near Liverpool Street station, a convenient transport hub for the Olympic park, D&D London is launching South Place Hotel in the same month, with an enticing rooftop >>

DISTINCTIVE SERVICE OUT with: silver service IN with: a la carte dining ‘Chefs need to be in control of the plate – not waiting staff – in order to produce restaurant-quality food,’ says Stephen Kyjak-Lane, general manager of Lancaster London. As the hovering spoon and fork have fallen further out of favour – and staff trained in silver service are becoming a rarer breed – à la carte dining is becoming the default option for events at several of London’s top hotels. This means more

creative menus, more efficient service and a less stuffy, old-fashioned feel to proceedings. Functions at the Lancaster London, The Dorchester and The Savoy can now feature à la carte dining for hundreds of guests. Maze at the Marriott Grosvenor Square beat them all to it however, back in 2010, by launching the first Michelin-starred banqueting menu to guests holding functions in the hotel, whether small (12 people in the private dining room) or large (550 in the Westminster Ballroom).

THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL IN LEAFY KENSINGTON, ONE OF THE FRIENDLIEST 5-STAR HOTELS LONDON HAS TO OFFER. WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRESTIGIOUS LONDON MEETING VENUE OR A LUXURY ESCAPE, AT THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL YOU’LL FIND 5-STAR SERVICE WITHOUT THE STUFFINESS.

HEATHROW

KENSINGTON

KENSINGTON PALACE & GARDENS

HYDE PARK

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

WEST END

Above: roof terrace, ME London Right: Sky Bar, Hilton London Wembley 2-24 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET LONDON W8 4PT TEL +44 (0)20 7937 8000 FAX +44 (0)20 7361 1991

92 venues&events

WWW.ROYALGARDENHOTEL.CO.UK For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk


venues&events 93

Choose a London venue that has got the space. You would never guess that 45 park Lane started life as a 1960s office block

London is crammed with venues, but space in many of them is a little tight. The Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, however, can easily accommodate up to 500 people and most requirements. From corporate hospitality to summer balls, our West End location and dedicated events team make any event a real showstopper.

0207 208 6000

www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-london [email protected] restaurant and terrace on the seventh floor. And at the new Hilton London Wembley, directly opposite the stadium, guests can look down on the hustle and bustle of Olympic football-goers from the comfort of the Sky Bar and Roof Terrace every afternoon. There’s no shortage of private screening rooms dotted about either. ME London will even have a 3D one, while the Bulgari Hotel, which opened in May, has one with disabled access, seating 47. Both boast cinema-quality sound.

Back to the Future The recent trend for retro styling in bars and restaurants has started to infiltrate the hotel market too. The fifth hotel to open this summer, The Ampersand, takes a refreshingly quirky approach, with curiosity cabinets inspired by the local South Ken museums flanking the walls of two private dining rooms, The Wine Room (seating 10) and The Games Room (seating 16). The hotel even employs a Victorian coffee press to make its brews. In hotel design as in fashion, the art deco era is proving particularly popular. The Savoy recently turned its Beaufort Bar into a

94 venues&events

Above: 45 Park Lane Left: Prohibiton nights at The Savoy

Where to find them Belgraves 20 Chesham Place, SW1 tel: 020 7858 0100 ME London 336-337 Strand, WC2 tel: 0808 234 1953 South Place Hotel 3 South Place, EC2 tel: 020 3503 0000 Hilton London Wembley Lakeside Way, HA9, tel: 020 7616 6556

Prohibition speakeasy, with cocktails poured from teapots and Champagne bottles hidden in paper bags. Coco Chanel’s 1920s Parisian apartment was the inspiration behind the glossy decor in the Sofitel St James bar and restaurant The Balcon, where a snug private dining room seats 16. And thanks to über-designer Thierry Despont, you would never guess that The Dorchester Collection’s 45 Park Lane started life as a 1960s office block, so authentic is the art deco styling (even the 10-seater media room, for private screenings, oozes 1930s glamour). Finally, one of the hotels that’s closest to the Olympic Park, the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, has masterfully combined art deco with Edwardian elements throughout its idiosyncratic meeting spaces and bedrooms. Hotel guests also enjoy a visit from the Town Hall Tea Lady, who wheels her drinks trolley from room to room mixing bespoke pre-dinner martinis. >>

Bulgari Hotel 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 tel: 020 7151 1010 The Ampersand 10 Harrington Rd, SW7 tel: 020 7589 5895 The Savoy Strand, WC2 tel: 020 7836 4343 squaremeal.co.uk/savoy Sofitel St James 6 Waterloo Place, SW1 tel: 020 7747 2200 squaremeal.co.uk/sofitel-stjames 45 Park Lane 45 Park Lane, W1 tel: 020 7493 4545 squaremeal.co.uk/45pl Town Hall Hotel Patriot Square, E2 tel: 020 7871 0460 squaremeal.co.uk/townhall For more hotel venue ideas, click on ‘London Hotels’ under ‘Square Meal Selections’ in the left-hand column at squaremeal.co.uk/vande



venues&events 95

london hotels

2012 Cafe Royal

StyliSh, hiStoric & cultured in the heart of london An impressive, luxury 5-star hotel, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall boasts a wealth of original period features. A quiet oasis away from the clamour of the city, the hotel offers spacious guest rooms, intimate private dining, Gillray’s Steakhouse and bar celebrating the finest English produce, a luxurious Spa, a leading-edge fitness studio and attentive service in a discreet riverside setting.

Former haunt of bohemians and intellectuals, the Regent Street stalwart will relaunch as a 159-bedroom luxury hotel, with a big name chef presiding over the Grill Room and the neo-classical Pompadour Suite holding up to 110 for cocktails, plus four other meeting rooms. tel: 020 8253 6513

...on the horizon Park Inn by Radisson Wembley The hotel’s location on Olympic Way will prove somewhat obsolete come October (it had planned to open pre-Games) but it is forging ahead nevertheless, with 140sq m of conference space. tel: 0844 847 6747

The Wellesley The Jazz Room at this 36-suite Knightsbridge hotel will hold up to 40 for parties and the penthouse will have a boardroom for eight. tel: 020 7235 3535

InterContinental London Westminster With a New Scotland Yard location, this former hospital will have a grand ballroom, divisible into three spaces, eight state-of-the-art meeting rooms and a PDR in the main restaurant. tel: 020 3301 8080

london Marriott hotel county hall Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7PB 020 7928 5200 LondonMarriottCountyHall.co.uk

2013 Edition Hotel 8894 CH Venues & Events ad.indd 1

14/06/2012 14:54

The Montcalm

The Montcalm

At The Brewery

...Luxury Lifestyle, Redefined

Classic Serenity....

Excellent events in the square mile just got exciting! Come explore an exquisite venue that brings grandeur , enhanced with technology that surpasses time itself. Completed by succinct fine dining and opulent luxury stay options here is a new world of exhilarating opportunities. The Montcalm London City at the Brewery presents an ideal venue for day and evening events for 10 – 80 guests, and residential conferences hosting up to 100 bedrooms. Explore exciting events in a need dimension.

42 – 46 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4SB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 207 614 0123 / +44 (0) 207 614 0100 Fax: +44 (0) 207 628 4511 [email protected] www.themontcalmlondoncity.co.uk

96 venues&events

Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group will be moving into the Shard in the second quarter of next year, touted as London’s first new-build five-star in over a decade. Occupying floors 34 to 52, lofty meeting space will include function rooms seating up to 200. tel: 020 8747 8484

London Marble Arch

London City

CENTRAL RESERVATIONS OFFICE

Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London

The first London hotel in Ian Schrager and Marriott International’s boutique chain opens in 2013, in the former Berners Hotel. No details of the event space as yet, but it’s sure to be hip.

Where Luxury comes to life

In the heart of London’s West End, the extravaganza of the day sets, for the night to come to life. This is the epicentre of all the happening, where celebration and joys converge. The Montcalm London Marble Arch presents an experience like never before. Enjoy an evening of razzle and dazzle, rising into climax of celebration of mirthful joy, wrapped in a suave panache and grace! Welcome to The Grand Ballroom at The Montcalm, where every event is an exquisite expression of excellence and joy. 34 - 40 Great Cumberland Place, London, W1H 7TW, United Kingdom Tel: + 44 (0) 207 479 2244 / +44 (0) 20 7479 2233 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7745 1459 [email protected] www.montcalm.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7479 2233

Fax: +44 (0) 20 7745 1459


art’otel Hoxton

Ham Yard

The new hotel from the creative German chain will have a gallery, 350 bedrooms and a spa, housed over 18 storeys. tel: 0800 169 6128

Firmdale will transform a derelict Soho site into one of their largest properties to date, with a cinema and a bowling alley. tel: 020 7287 4434

2014 10 Trinity Square Opening late in 2014, the eagerly anticipated 10 Trinity Square will occupy a mighty Grade II-listed site just by Tower Hill. David Collins Studio, in consultation with English Heritage, is designing the interiors.


Mondrian London London gets the first Mondrian launch in Europe in former Sea Containers House on the Southbank. The rooftop bar, designed by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio, will be inspired by the top deck of a cruise liner.

venues&events 97

Title: A Luxury Travel Blog Date: March 7th 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 50.000 PR Value: £2,760.00

Title: Country and Town House Date: March 2012 Circulation: 60,000 PR Value: £1,125



Title: Blue Tomato (Online) Date: March 28th 2012 Unique Users: 85,000 PR Value: £10,500

New ME Hotel to Host Masterchef-esque Comp

ME London, a new five star, design-led hotel will be opening in July in Central London’s historic BBC Marconi building. This contemporary hotel has been designed by Foster + Partners, who are known for their work on the Stansted Airport, the Reichstag dome in Berlin, and London’s City Hall. ME London will feature 2 ground-floor restaurants, a ground-floor bar, as well as a Rooftop Club bar. In order to stick with their cutting-edge theme, the hotel has decided to take an extremely unconventional approach to hiring for one of the restaurants. Instead of bringing in some well-known celebrity chef, ME London has decided to host their own version of MasterChef to find a new culinary superstar; the challenge is called ME.N.U. While this competition will be nowhere near as intense as the show, it will be just as exciting. What’s at stake? A full-time position in the kitchen of a new, high-profile restaurant. The winner of the competition will be sent to North America for a fully-paid two-week training programme. In order to qualify, contestants must simply submit a short video explaining their passion for food. It must be submitted anytime between March 12th and April 12th. From those videos, it will be narrowed down to a group of eight final contestants, who will be asked to prepare dishes, live, for a panel of experienced and influential judges. The most talented three will be invited for interviews and additional skills tests in order to help the judges pick a winner. So readers; if you feel like you have what it takes to be a full-time chef at a new, innovative restaurant, don’t let this opportunity slip by. Get those camcorders out, and send your videos in. You can submit them and find more information here https://www.challengemelondon.com/index.html. Good luck! And may the best chef win.

Title: Sphere Date: Spring 2012 Circulation: 70, 235 PR Value: £12, 299






Title: London Hotel Insight Date: March 12th 2012 Unique Users: 33,069 PR Value: £1,238

Anticipation builds for London’s first “personality hotel”. by Jules on March 12, 2012

The lounge design reflects the hotel's stylish atmosphere and "exclusive" attention devoted to each guest - perhaps explaining the "ME" in the hotel's name The ME by Melia has announced it will officially open its doors on 6th July and we’ve already spotlighted it as one of our top 10 new London hotels in 2012. Located on the Strand in the old BBC Marconi building, the luxury hotel will have 157 rooms and suites, including the Suite ME – a luxury two floor suite with its own roof terrace, screening room and an event space.

The hotel's rooftop bar will offer gorgeous skyline views of the city The hotel will also boast two restaurants and two bars – including one on the half-covered rooftop terrace with 180 degree panoramic views over London. If the image above is anything to go by, it looks like it will be pretty swish! Another highlight is the adult-only floor which offers complimentary late checkout, 3 pieces of clothing ironed and an iPod. Free WiFi is also included for all guests throughout the hotel. To set itself further apart, ME by Melia is promising first-class service through its ”Aura Managers” – whose job is to get to know each guest personally and know London back-to-front to offer totally bespoke advice. Melia describes its Aura Managers as a combination of concierge, DJ, stylist, tour operator, personal confidant and private secretary. That reminds us a bit of the butlers at The Lanesborough. We just hope they are good with names because with 157 rooms that is potentially 314 different guest names to learn every night!

If this image is anything like the hotel, ME by Melia will be blinging! The hotel was originally set to open in the spring but the opening was delayed – we’re crossing our fingers they won’t delay the opening again so that the hotel can welcome guests in time for the Olympics and we can add it to our expanding list of free WiFi London hotels.

Title: Stylist (Online) Date: March 21st 2012 Unique users: 355,000

Madrid mini break Take a break in Spain’s foodie capital Barcelona is Spain’s epicentre of culture, nightlife and cool, right? Well, after seeing what Madrid has to offer, I beg to differ. The Spanish capital is the perfect minibreak – easily manageable on foot, very friendly, and a foodie’s dream. And a warm, clear spring weekend is a great time to visit. Words: Natasha Tomalin We stayed at the majestic ME Madrid hotel, which dominates picturesque Plaza de Santa Ana. It’s an early 19th-century building, but the interiors ooze modern sophistication from every wooden panel and leather sofa, and the bedrooms are sleek and up to date. The hotel’s Midnight Rose bar is the perfect starting point for an evening of bar hopping. An easy feat to pull off with it’s central location, just a stone’s throw from some of the best tapas joints around (there are over 20,000 of them in the city). Why it's hot Most visitors head for the historic Prado museum, or the shopping boulevards of upmarket Salamanca, but it’s areas TriBall, Chueca and Malasaña (Penélope Cruz owns an apartment there) that are really buzzing. A hive of designers, musicians and artists, you could stroll around all day, people watching and checking out the indie boutiques and cafes. Among the best in Malasaña is Lolina’s (lolinacafe.com), which makes great coffee and sells one-off retro furniture and cute cupcake bakery Happy Day (happydaybakery.es) next door. Lotta in Chueca (lottavintage.com) is the perfect place to pick up exquisite clothing from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, while around the corner must-try modern tapas bar Olé Lola (olelola.com), serves Croquetas Jamón Jamón (the Almodóvar pun is deliberate). Eating and drinking If you’re a foodie, head straight to San Miguel market. In an art deco building, the best suppliers in Spain serve wine, beer and every form of tapas imaginable. For an afternoon treat, sample them Spanish speciality of churros (long, thin doughnuts) with chocolate at Chocolateria San Gines. For dinner, head to the Gastro Bar Le Cabrera (lecabrera.com). We sat at the bar and watched the chefs prepare fusion-style tapas including passionfruit sardines, scallop tartar served in a gem lettuce leaf and bombones de carnes (mini hamburgers). If you prefer more traditional tapas but are too scared to approach the bar and ask for pinchos (bread with everything from jamon to cheese) then take a tour with Adventurous Appetites (adventurousappetites.com), where you’ll be led around a selection of the best places to sample the specialties. One tip: the dirtier the floor, the better the bar – it’s traditional to throw anything you can’t eat (prawn shells, olive stones, napkins and toothpicks) at your feet. If you want to go it alone, the kitsch Los Gatos on Calle de Jesús has the best Boquerones en vinagre (anchovies) in the city. While sherry bar La Venecia, just off Plaza Santa Ana, has a welcoming ambience, which is relatively unchanged since the Fifties. Photo opportunity Head to a spot right in between the Cathedral de la Almudena and the Royal Palace and you will find the most breathtaking panoramic views over the west outskirts of the city, but if you don’t fancy the walk and want a cocktail to accompany your view, then the rooftop bar at ME Madrid provides the perfect solution. There’s nothing more relaxing than watching the sun go down over the city withthe speciality black mojito in hand. Doubles at ME Madrid start at £220 (memadrid.com). Easyjet flies to Madrid International Airport Barajas

Title: Travel Pulse (Online) Date: March 25th 2012 Unique Users per Month: 101,000 PR Value: £15,551

Melia Hotels’ ME London to Open in Holborn District

The ME London, a sub-brand of Spanish company Meliá Hotels International, is a cutting-edge, cool and contemporary hotel designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster. ME London is located next to Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, in the district of Holborn. Upon opening, the hotel will comprise of 157 rooms and suites, including 17 suites and one ME Suite, a ground-floor bar and a roof-top terrace club/bar with views across London. The hotel will have two restaurants including an offering from American Steakhouse STK. The property will combine the historic facade of Marconi House with a new Portland Stone building and will feature a rooftop bar with views of Somerset House and the Thames.

Title: Big Hospitality (Online) Date: March 29th 2012 Unique Users: 69,531

ME London asks chefs to submit Masterchef-style video to land commis role

Spanish hotel brand Melia is hoping to find a commis chef for its new ME London hotel by asking potential candidates to submit a Masterchef-style video of themselves in which they can demonstrate their passion for food.

A commis chef who wows judges in their video could work in the kitchen for the new restaurant at Melia's ME London hotel The 173-bedroom hotel, which will open on The Strand this July, has started a major recruitment drive for staff with the unusual method of a video CV being used to find one new member of the kitchen team. To enter the ME.N.U challenge, chefs will need to submit a short video of themselves explaining their passion for food by 12 April 2012. From the submitted entries, eight hopefuls will be chosen to prepare dishes live for a panel of judges that will include ME London's new general manager Fabio Gallo, the hotel's head of HR Robert Dunning, Jon Yanti of recruitment company The One Group and Springboard chief executive Ann Pierce. Judges will shortlist three candidates who will be invited for an official interview and final skills tests before a winner is chosen. The finalist will not only win a full-time job in the kitchen at ME London but will also be sent to the US to take part in a two-week training programme. Gallo said: “Core to the ME brand is the notion that each hotel should engage with the unique character of its surrounding city. What better way to ensure that our hotel is infused with a vibe that is truly London than to throw open this opportunity to ambitious and talented locals?” To enter the ME.N.U challenge and submit a video click here

Title: Blue Tomato (Online) Date: March 28th 2012 Unique Users: 85,000 PR Value: £10,500

New ME Hotel to Host Masterchef-esque Comp

ME London, a new five star, design-led hotel will be opening in July in Central London’s historic BBC Marconi building. This contemporary hotel has been designed by Foster + Partners, who are known for their work on the Stansted Airport, the Reichstag dome in Berlin, and London’s City Hall. ME London will feature 2 ground-floor restaurants, a ground-floor bar, as well as a Rooftop Club bar. In order to stick with their cutting-edge theme, the hotel has decided to take an extremely unconventional approach to hiring for one of the restaurants. Instead of bringing in some well-known celebrity chef, ME London has decided to host their own version of MasterChef to find a new culinary superstar; the challenge is called ME.N.U. While this competition will be nowhere near as intense as the show, it will be just as exciting. What’s at stake? A full-time position in the kitchen of a new, high-profile restaurant. The winner of the competition will be sent to North America for a fully-paid two-week training programme. In order to qualify, contestants must simply submit a short video explaining their passion for food. It must be submitted anytime between March 12th and April 12th. From those videos, it will be narrowed down to a group of eight final contestants, who will be asked to prepare dishes, live, for a panel of experienced and influential judges. The most talented three will be invited for interviews and additional skills tests in order to help the judges pick a winner. So readers; if you feel like you have what it takes to be a full-time chef at a new, innovative restaurant, don’t let this opportunity slip by. Get those camcorders out, and send your videos in. You can submit them and find more information here https://www.challengemelondon.com/index.html. Good luck! And may the best chef win.

Title: ES Magazine Date: 30th March 2012 Circulation: 702,806 PR Value: £12,600

Title: ES Magazine Date: 30th March 2012 Circulation: 702,806 PR Value: £12,600

Title: Fluid London (Online) Date: March 30th 2012 Unique Users: 178,000

Win A Job As A Chef For A New London Restaurant With all of the high ratings attached with cookery shows and Masterchef-style cook-offs, it's hardly surprising that the catering world is looking to create its own competition to capitalise on this type of recruitment trend. First up is ME. No, not me-me, Alwynne Gwilt, but luxury hotel chain, ME by Meliá, the flagship ME London hotel by Meliá, opening on the Strand in the West End this summer, with spectacular views across the River Thames (as seen in the artist's impression above). Meliá already reside in London at The Meliá White House near Regent's Park - home to Spanish restaurant, L'Albufera, as well as The Place restaurant - but this Thames-side venture will be the first under the ME by Meliá banner. ME by Meliá hope to find one chef for its new restaurant from the general public, based purely on the candidate's vociferous appetite for all things culinary and competition.

How to win a job as a chef at the new Thames-side London restaurant Between now and 12th April, anyone - read: you, me, even your Nan - can submit a video to the ME website explaining why you should be shortlisted and why you're passionate about food. Eight lucky people will be chosen to go onto the next round during which you'll cook for a panel of judges, including Fabio Gallo, the ME London GM, and Jon Yantin of the The One Group. The winner gets a full time position in the kitchens of the restaurant at ME along with a fully-paid two-week training course in North America. So, the question is: do you have what it takes to become the next star of the culinary world? If so, head to www.challenge-melondon.com You may want to investigate the standard of cuisine that you'll be expected to cook for the judges, so be smart and take a visit to the Meliá Spanish restaurant, L'Albufera. Book a table simply by using the booking form below. Research has never been this fun. Good luck!

Title: CODE Date: Spring 2012 Circulation: 6,412 PR Value: £2,397






TOP TEN

|

97

LONDON

SUITE DREAMS Meze’s choice of Europe’s greatest hotel suites

themayfairsuites.com/schiaparelli From £2,500 per night The May Fair’s Schiaparelli Suite recently won ‘Most Excellent Bedroom’ at the Condé Nast Johansen’s Awards. It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling – and boy, does this place have bling. It comes in shocking pink and is P Diddyesque luxury, with CCTV entry controls, a limestone egg bath with bath-side LCD TV and illuminated rain shower, a 42in Bang & Olufsen plasma TV and Bang & Olufsen CD player, a lounge with integrated fireplace, curtain and lighting system and a dining area with a full-size eight-seat dining table. Though we’re guessing you don’t come here to cook…

VENICE hotelcipriani.com From £6,033 per night The Palladio Suite at the Hotel Cipriani is the one for visiting showbiz royalty – Elton favours it, as do many of the A-listers in town for the Film Festival. It has a 180° view over the Venetian lagoon through floor-toceiling windows from the bedrooms, living room and dining area. The living room can be transformed into a cinema, and there are three (count ‘em) bathrooms, each crafted from Carrara and Verona marble. It comes with a secluded private garden for your brood of adopted children to play safely in, and has a wooden terrace shaded by shrubs and lemon trees and an outdoor heated Jacuzzi. And don’t feel you are in a gilded cage – a short walk leads you to a private jetty, where a motor launch with driver is at your disposal so you can explore the various islands. Whatever floats your boat... w w w. m e z e m a g a z i n e . c o . u k •

ISSUE 13

TOP TEN

|

99

PARIS

lebristolparis.com From £7,410 per night Honeymoon Suite, Le Bristol. There is only one place to stay in Paris. Well, actually, that’s patently untrue – there are lots of places to stay in Paris. But only one if you are Woody Allen. The quirky, neurotic director so loves Le Bristol that he took over the two top floors for his cast and crew when filming Midnight in Paris. The best thing here? The fabulous three-star Epicure restaurant, run by affable and tranquil genius Eric Frechon. All ship-shape and Le Bristol-fashion.

LONDON lanesborough.com From £14,000 per night The Lanesborough Suite at the Lanesborough is famous for two things, which we feel may be linked. Its price. And its luxury. The specs speak for themselves – some 4,000 sq ft (380 sq m) of ineffable luxury, four bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms (just what is half a bathroom, though?), two living rooms, a kitchen and a dining room. Not enough? How about floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Wellington Arch and Green Park, plus a restored Queen Anne partner’s writing table and George III mirrors. Lovely.

LONDON wlondon.co.uk From £5,000 per night The W London’s E-WOW Suite does Funky with a capital FU. This penthouse includes a circular sofa centrepiece under a mirror ball sculpture, a dining-room area, a bedroom that is lavishly adorned with plush pillow-top mattress, 300-thread-count sheets and goose down comforter and pillows, a bathroom with Jacuzzi and four-person shower (wahey!) and a 62in TV screen in the bathroom. Having friends over? No problemo – the hotel can close off a corridor for you and add more rooms. It’s certainly got the wow factor. Rock ’n’ roll.

GREECE romanoscostanavarino.com £POA (that’s how posh it is...)

Royal Villa Koroni, The Romanos, Costa Navarino. They might be rioting in Athens but in Messinia there ain’t a cloud in sight. It’s easy to see why... They have the fabulous Romano Hotel & Resort. And the Romanos’ crown is the 660 sq m. Royal Villa Koroni – four bedrooms, a private infinity pool, a secluded barbeque area, a spa treatment suite with steam room, private fitness facilities, amazing views, 24-hour dedicated butler service. Don’t just take our word for it – this place won ‘Favourite Overseas Leisure Hotel: Europe, Asia Minor and the Russian Federation’ at the 2011 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards and is on the magazine’s Gold List of the world’s best hotels. Greece is the word... w w w. m e z e m a g a z i n e . c o . u k •

ISSUE 13

100

|

TOP TEN

MADRID memadrid.com

PORTUGAL theyeatman.com

From £2,303 per night

From £442 per night

ME Madrid’s Tower Suite – ay caramba. In the historic Plaza de Santa Ana in the heart of the city, Tower Suite’s two spacious roof-terraces mean you can look out over the city like you own the place. Which you may well do. This is no ordinary suite – it’s a two-storey affair, taking up 1,615 sq ft. They say: “The suite offers an airy oasis of calm in a bustling area where space is a premium.” We say: “This place rocks!” In what was once the Grand Hotel Reina Victoria, the suite is essentially the tower of one of the most significant and beautiful buildings in town. Jacuzzi, spa stuff, butler, you get the picture – siesta to fiesta. Buenissimo!

LONDON

hilton.co.uk/londonparklane From £2,800 per night The Penthouse Suite on the 26th floor of the London Hilton at Park Lane has just had a £500,000 facelift. The end result is a superb apartment – suite doesn’t cut it – that comprises a double master bedroom, a dining room for eight people, a lounge with private balcony that gives London’s best views of Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace bar none and a connecting room that turns the whole shooting gallery into a two-bedroom affair. A hop and a skip up the stairs to the 28th floor brings you to the eighth wonder, Galvin at Windows, the iconic piano bar and restaurant where you imagine Harrison Ford sips malts.

SARDINIA justsardinia.co.uk £POA As Vanessa Williams so memorably sang, we’ve gone and saved the best till last. For 14 years Forte Village Resort has held the title of World’s Leading Resort. It stands in a 55 hectare tropical park-like setting on Sardinia’s beautiful south coast. The Royal Suite is on the top floor of Hotel Castello, reached only by private lift. It has a huge open-plan lounge and floor-to-ceiling windows, a bedroom area with king size bed, large bathroom with separate Jacuzzi and glass shower cubicle, all surrounded by a vast terrace with private pool and sunken solarium.

ISSUE 13

• w w w. m e z e m a g a z i n e . c o . u k

In trendy Oporto, the Bacchus Suite at luxury wine hotel The Yeatman is the only way to see the city. With a high vaulted wooden ceiling, the suite extends onto a furnished conservatory with fireplace and a private exterior terrace from which to marvel at the splendid panoramic views of Porto and the River Douro while necking – sorry, sipping – port. A round copper Jacuzzi has a freestanding fireplace to one side and city views to the other. On the deck is a second fireplace that opens onto a large sun-terrace with a small fountain and deck beds. It’s basically a flat disguised as a crow’s nest – as well as the large bedroom, there is a double shower and dressing room, lounge area with plasma TV and an office space. Not just any port in a storm...

Title: London Hotel Insight (online) Date: February 15th 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 33,560

Top 10 new London hotels in 2012. by Timea on February 15, 2012

New hotels are trying to outdo each other in luxury and value: the upcoming Me by Melia for example will apparently offer breathtaking views and free WiFi To say that 2012 is a big year for London is perhaps an understatement. The Olympic Games are of course at the forefront of many people’s minds, but that’s not the only event which will make 2012 a special vintage for the UK capital. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations will bring an influx of extra visitors for the extended bank holiday weekend at the start of June and then of course there are the “usual suspects”…Wimbledon, the London Marathon, RHS Chelsea Flower Show – the list could go on and on. The prospect of the Games has sent the hotel industry into overdrive over the past few years and this year will see the culmination, with many a new hotel opening in the UK capital in 2012. London Hotels Insight looks ahead to 10 of the most exciting hotel openings on the calendar…

10 Trinity Square Situated by the Thames, this opening should interest anyone who believes hotels should have a touch of the grandiose to them and a dash of history. 10 Trinity Square is the former HQ of the Port of London Authority and was designed by Sir Edwin Cooper early in the 20th century. A central location right by the Tower of London will surely see this hotel become one of the city’s most sought after stays (though opening has now been delayed to well beyond 2012 - the best things in life come to those who wait!). Predicted opening: Now scheduled for 2014

There is a lot of pre-opening buzz surrounding 10 Trinity Square

Apex Temple Court London Hotels Insight has been closely monitoring Apex Hotels’ forthcoming addition to their growing portfolio located just off Fleet Street at 1-2 Sergeants’ Inn, in a historic building formerly owned by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. The hotel was due to open 1 April but will in fact open a month early. 184 luxury rooms will be accompanied by a spacious gym, the Chambers Restaurant & Bar and a stylish modern lounge. Free Wi-Fi (and cute ducks!) will be included as standard – hurrah! Predicted opening: 1 March 2012

We're excited to see another free WiFi luxury hotel in the shape of Apex Temple Court Tune Hotel Kings Cross Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes not only has his own airline (Air Asia), F1 team (Team Lotus/ Caterham F1) and football club (QPR) but is also founder of a budget hotel chain - Tune Hotels, with a reputation for some of the best-run and cheapest hotels in London. Tune Kings Cross will open just a few months after Tune Liverpool Street and will no doubt prove a big hit among the hordes of cost-conscious travellers who transit through St Pancras station. The group will also open a Paddington hotel earlier in 2012. Tune Hotels established itself in the UK with one of the top-rated cheap Westminster hotels, as reviewed on this blog. Predicted opening: July 2012

Tune has a strong focus on customer satisfaction: guests are encouraged to fill out a feedback form in all hotels and improvements are quickly fed into new properties. Bulgari Hotel and Residences Currently under construction in Knightsbridge, Bulgari Hotel and Residences is the latest venture from luxury jewellery and fashion brand Bulgari. Early signs suggest that the hotel will also be the epitome of Italian style and class, with a touch of exclusivity and decadent indulgence. Expect Italian furniture and impeccable interiors, with luxurious comfort provided by a large spa, plush Italian restaurant and a cigar shop. Predicted opening: April 2012

The Bulgari Hotel is set to offer Designer style with a capital D

Me by Melia Me by Melia is a chain with a growing number of ‘experience-based personality hotels’ in world-class cities, and soon London will become the latest destination to experience the brand’s unique personality. Located on the Strand, the hotel is designed by Norman Foster and promises 157 rooms, 18 suites, two restaurants and a rooftop bar with enviable views over the Thames and landmarks such as the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. It will also be one of a growing number of new hotels to offer free WiFi to guests – and we hope a great Spanish restaurant too! Predicted opening: 4 June 2012

Me by Melia will have a rooftop bar with gorgeous views South Place Hotel South Place Hotel is the first foray into the hotel industry by restaurant operators D & D. In a central location close to Liverpool Street, the hotel is shaping up to be an ideal stay for business visitors, and of course for anyone with tickets to the Olympic Games. One of its main draws is likely to be its rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor, complete with outdoor terrace and some breathtaking views. Predicted opening: Summer 2012

The South Place Hotel's location makes it ideal for business travellers Belgraves Located in classy Belgravia, US group Thompson Hotels say their new hotel addition on this side of the pond is a blend of “traditional British hospitality with an American Bohemian attitude” but disappointingly WiFi is not complimentary. A definite plus, however, is that the hotel’s 85 rooms are serviced by the Hix Belgravia restaurant from talented chef Mark Hix, with a mouthwatering menu inspired by flavours from around the world. Has opened on: 1 February 2012 Check the best rate for Belgraves London from 30+ hotel booking sites

The Belgraves promises traditional British hospitality with an American feel.

Ampersand Hotel The Ampersand is situated on Harrington Road in South Kensington on premises originally built in 1888. According to its independent operators, the hotel is “one of London’s original Victorian Boutique hotels.” It will apparently take a large dash of design inspiration from the area’s many museums and will have 110 rooms, a bar, restaurant and patisserie. Read more about the Ampersand Hotel on the LondonOnTheInside blog. Predicted opening: Summer 2012

The Ampersand Hotel will be an authentic "Victorian boutique" hotel - intriguing Art’otel Hoxton South Shoreditch will soon have a new landmark, in the form of the latest hotel opening from concept brand Art’otel. Original artwork by an as yet unnamed artist will be displayed throughout guest rooms and public areas of the hotel. 18 storeys tall, with 350 bedrooms, the hotel has been somewhat controversial amongst local residents due to its location on the old site of the beloved gallery and pub, The Foundry, but will no doubt make a significant mark on London’s hotel scene. Predicted opening: Late 2012 / early 2013

The Art'otel Hoxton will also feature an arts centre accessible to the public. Cafe Royal Hotel Located on Regent Street, the Cafe Royal has no shortage of history and was once a favourite dining venue of Oscar Wilde. Cafe Royal is now in being turned into an ultra-luxurious 5 star hotel. With 160 rooms, an indoor swimming pool, spa and other features, the hotel promises to be a firm favourite with the more well-heeled spectators of the 2012 Olympics. Predicted opening: Summer 2012

The famous site of the Cafe Royale is currently being turned into a luxury hotel that is very keenly anticipated thanks to the building's rich past and amazing location. Is it merely coincidence that so many of the above hotels are due to open on an unspecified date just before the Olympics? We see some stressful times ahead for the builders, architects, project managers and interior designers involved…watch this space to stay fully informed! We also hope that we can add many of these new hotels throughout the year to our Squidoo lens listing free WiFi London hotels.

Title: Caterer and Hotelkeeper [Online] Date: February 21st 2012 Unique Users: 240,987

ME London appoint Fabio Gallo as GM Janet Harmer Tuesday 21 February 2012 16:07

ME London - set to launch in June 2012 - has appointed Fabio Gallo as general manager. Gallo has arrived at the 157-bedroom hotel from the Cadogan London, where he was general manager for five years. He has also worked as general manager at the Baglioni, director of sales and marketing at Grosvenor House and director of business development at the London Hilton on Park Lane. ME London will sit alongside the 581-bedroom Melia White House as the second hotel in London for the family-owned Spanish hotel group, Melia Hotels International. It is the fifth hotel to be launched worldwide to be branded under the contemporary, luxury ME banner. Situated on the Strand, the ME London has been designed by Foster + Partners and will feature two restaurants - including one to be run by a yet-to-be-announced outside operator, two bars, a 360-degree roof-top bar and a screening room. Gallo, who speaks four languages including Spanish, described ME London as the group's flagship hotel and an exciting new offering for the capital. "ME London and the building is firmly rooted in the cultural world - it was formally the Gaiety Theatre and then the first home of the BBC, Marconi House," he said. "Being passionate about photography and the arts, I am looking forward to realising a number of exciting collaborations to preserve ME London's rich heritage, whilst embracing the future'. Meliá to open four star Innside Manchester Hotel this year >> Meliá Hotels International to expand into the UK >> Sol Meliá becomes Meliá Hotels International >> By Janet Harmer

Title: 4 Hoteliers (online) Date: February 21st 2012 Unique Users: 13,600

Top 10 new London hotels in 2012. Tuesday, 21st February 2012 Source : Timea

To say that 2012 is a big year for London is perhaps an understatement The Olympic Games are of course at the forefront of many people’s minds, but that’s not the only event which will make 2012 a special vintage for the UK capital.

New hotels are trying to outdo each other in luxury and value: the upcoming Me by Melia for example will apparently offer breathtaking views and free WiFi

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations will bring an influx of extra visitors for the extended bank holiday weekend at the start of June and then of course there are the “usual suspects”…Wimbledon, the London Marathon, RHS Chelsea Flower Show – the list could go on and on. The prospect of the Games has sent the hotel industry into overdrive over the past few years and this year will see the culmination, with many a new hotel opening in the UK capital in 2012. London Hotels Insight looks ahead to 10 of the most exciting hotel openings on the calendar…

10 Trinity Square

Situated by the Thames, this opening should interest anyone who believes hotels should have a touch of the grandiose to them and a dash of history. 10 Trinity Square is the former HQ of the Port of London Authority and was designed by Sir Edwin Cooper early in the 20th century. A central location right by the Tower of London will surely see this hotel become one of the city’s most sought after stays (though opening has now been delayed to well beyond 2012 - the best things in life come to those who wait!). Predicted opening: First Summer 2012 , Now scheduled for 2014

There is a lot of pre-opening buzz surrounding 10 Trinity Square

Apex Temple Court

London Hotels Insight has been closely monitoring Apex Hotels’ forthcoming addition to their growing portfolio located just off Fleet Street at 1-2 Sergeants’ Inn, in a historic building formerly owned by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. The hotel was due to open 1 April but will in fact open a month early. 184 luxury rooms will be accompanied by a spacious gym, the Chambers Restaurant & Bar and a stylish modern lounge. Free Wi-Fi (and cute ducks!) will be included as standard – hurrah! Predicted opening: 1 March 2012

We're excited to see another free WiFi luxury hotel in the shape of Apex Temple Court

Tune Hotel Kings Cross

Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes not only has his own airline (Air Asia), F1 team (Team Lotus/ Caterham F1) and football club (QPR) but is also founder of a budget hotel chain - Tune Hotels, with a reputation for some of the best-run and cheapest hotels in London. Tune Kings Cross will open just a few months after Tune Liverpool Street and will no doubt prove a big hit among the hordes of cost-conscious travellers who transit through St Pancras station. The group will also open a Paddington hotel earlier in 2012. Tune Hotels established itself in the UK with one of the top-rated cheap Westminster hotels, as reviewed on this blog. Predicted opening: July 2012

Tune has a strong focus on customer satisfaction: guests are encouraged to fill out a feedback form in all hotels and improvements are quickly fed into new properties.

Bulgari Hotel and Residences

Currently under construction in Knightsbridge, Bulgari Hotel and Residences is the latest venture from luxury jewellery and fashion brand Bulgari. Early signs suggest that the hotel will also be the epitome of Italian style and class, with a touch of exclusivity and decadent indulgence. Expect Italian furniture and impeccable interiors, with luxurious comfort provided by a large spa, plush Italian restaurant and a cigar shop. Predicted opening: April 2012

The Bulgari Hotel is set to offer Designer style with a capital D

Me by Melia

Me by Melia is a chain with a growing number of ‘experience-based personality hotels’ in world-class cities, and soon London will become the latest destination to experience the brand’s unique personality. Located on the Strand, the hotel is designed by Norman Foster and promises 157 rooms, 18 suites, two restaurants and a rooftop bar with enviable views over the Thames and landmarks such as the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. It will also be one of a growing number of new hotels to offer free WiFi to guests – and we hope a great Spanish restaurant too! Predicted opening: 4 June 2012

Me by Melia will have a rooftop bar with gorgeous views

South Place Hotel

South Place Hotel is the first foray into the hotel industry by restaurant operators D & D. In a central location close to Liverpool Street, the hotel is shaping up to be an ideal stay for business visitors, and of course for anyone with tickets to the Olympic Games. One of its main draws is likely to be its rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor, complete with outdoor terrace and some breathtaking views. Predicted opening: Summer 2012

The South Place Hotel's location makes it ideal for business travelers

Belgraves

Located in classy Belgravia, US group Thompson Hotels say their new hotel addition on this side of the pond is a blend of “traditional British hospitality with an American Bohemian attitude” but disappointingly WiFi is not complimentary. A definite plus, however, is that the hotel’s 85 rooms are serviced by the Hix Belgravia restaurant from talented chef Mark Hix, with a mouthwatering menu inspired by flavours from around the world. Has opened on: 1 February 2012

The Belgraves promises traditional British hospitality with an American feel.

Ampersand Hotel

The Ampersand is situated on Harrington Road in South Kensington on premises originally built in 1888. According to its independent operators, the hotel is “one of London’s original Victorian Boutique hotels.” It will apparently take a large dash of design inspiration from the area’s many museums and will have 110 rooms, a bar, restaurant and patisserie. Read more about the Ampersand Hotel on the LondonOnTheInside blog. Predicted opening: Summer 2012

The Ampersand Hotel will be an authentic "Victorian boutique" hotel – intriguing

Art’otel Hoxton

South Shoreditch will soon have a new landmark, in the form of the latest hotel opening from concept brand Art’otel. Original artwork by an as yet unnamed artist will be displayed throughout guest rooms and public areas of the hotel. 18 storeys tall, with 350 bedrooms, the hotel has been somewhat controversial amongst local residents due to its location on the old site of the beloved gallery and pub, The Foundry, but will no doubt make a significant mark on London’s hotel scene. Predicted opening: Late 2012 / early 2013

The Art'otel Hoxton will also feature an arts centre accessible to the public.

Cafe Royal Hotel

Located on Regent Street, the Cafe Royal has no shortage of history and was once a favourite dining venue of Oscar Wilde. Cafe Royal is now in being turned into an ultra-luxurious 5 star hotel. With 160 rooms, an indoor swimming pool, spa and other features, the hotel promises to be a firm favourite with the more well-heeled spectators of the 2012 Olympics. Predicted opening: Summer 2012

The famous site of the Cafe Royale is currently being turned into a luxury hotel that is very keenly anticipated thanks to the building's rich past and amazing location.

Is it merely coincidence that so many of the above hotels are due to open on an unspecified date just before the Olympics? We see some stressful times ahead for the builders, architects, project managers and interior designers involved…watch this space to stay fully informed! We also hope that we can add many of these new hotels throughout the year to our Squidoo lens listing free WiFi London hotels. Photo credits: Me by Melia, 10 Trinity Square, Apex Temple Court Hotel, London Hotels Insight blogger Timea (Tune Hotels photo), Bulgari Hotel and Residences, Me by Melia, South Place Hotel, Belgraves, Ampersand Hotel, Art’otel Hoxton, Christine Matthews. www.londonhotelsinsight.com

Title: CATERER AND HOTELKEEPER (ONLINE) Date: February 21st 2012 Unique Users: 240,987

ME London appoint Fabio Gallo as GM Janet Harmer Tuesday 21 February 2012 16:07

ME London - set to launch in June 2012 - has appointed Fabio Gallo as general manager. Gallo has arrived at the 157-bedroom hotel from the Cadogan London, where he was general manager for five years. He has also worked as general manager at the Baglioni, director of sales and marketing at Grosvenor House and director of business development at the London Hilton on Park Lane. ME London will sit alongside the 581-bedroom Melia White House as the second hotel in London for the family-owned Spanish hotel group, Melia Hotels International. It is the fifth hotel to be launched worldwide to be branded under the contemporary, luxury ME banner. Situated on the Strand, the ME London has been designed by Foster + Partners and will feature two restaurants - including one to be run by a yet-to-be-announced outside operator, two bars, a 360-degree roof-top bar and a screening room. Gallo, who speaks four languages including Spanish, described ME London as the group's flagship hotel and an exciting new offering for the capital. "ME London and the building is firmly rooted in the cultural world - it was formally the Gaiety Theatre and then the first home of the BBC, Marconi House," he said. "Being passionate about photography and the arts, I am looking forward to realising a number of exciting collaborations to preserve ME London's rich heritage, whilst embracing the future'. Meliá to open four star Innside Manchester Hotel this year >> Meliá Hotels International to expand into the UK >> Sol Meliá becomes Meliá Hotels International >> By Janet Harmer


Title: London Evening Standard Date: January 4th 2012 Circulation: 701,868 PR Value: £21,420

Title: London Evening Stan Date: January 4th 2012 Circulation: 701,868 PR Value: £21,420

Title: London Evening Stan Date: January 4th 2012 Circulation: 701,868 PR Value: £21,420

Title: Forbes (online) Date: January 5th 2011 Unique Users: n/a

The 10 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings Of 2012 This new year will usher in a fleet of luxury hotels slated to open in locations that range from the familiar (New York City) to the exotic (hello, Mauritius). We’ve chosen a short list of 10 hotels to watch in 2012. With unique amenities and vastly different vibes, these hotels all have one thing in common — we can’t wait to check in.

1. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. The luxury chain’s newest location will open its doors on Jan. 19 in the exclusive enclave of Bal Harbour, just outside Miami. The newly constructed beachfront hotel has three sleek, glass-encased towers that deliver ocean views from each of the 27 floors. Look for Art Deco-influenced design with a heavy dose of glam — common areas feature unusual accents such as the graffiti-style mural that anchors the bar and the massive crystal chandelier in the hotel’s Grand Hall. The Jean-Georges Vongerichten-created J&G Grill and Remède Spa provide diversions, as do the private oceanfront cabanas and outdoor pool.

2. Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto. In typical Trump fashion, this hotel will own the skyline when it opens in downtown Toronto on Jan. 31 — the tower will be Canada’s tallest residential building and its secondtallest structure (the unique articulated spire puts a fine point on the building’s size). Each room — 261 in all — will deliver views of the city and Lake Ontario, along with a “champagne and caviar” color scheme (think dark gray walls, crystal wall sconces and aubergine-hued silk drapes). Trump Toronto’s amenities include an 18,000-squarefoot spa located on the 65-story building’s 31st floor, with dedicated spa concierges to create personalized treatments and experiences.

3. Conrad New York. Opening early this year, Conrad New York will bring 463 sleek rooms to Manhattan’s Battery Park neighborhood. The light-filled hotel will feature a dramatic 15-story atrium and a green rooftop, complete with a bar and an herb garden. With more than 32,000 square feet of event space and catering by restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events, the Conrad is positioning itself as the place to host parties in the Financial District.

4. Park Hyatt Sydney. The results of a months-long renovation will be unveiled when the waterfront hotel reopens its doors on Feb. 1. Expect an expanded spa and three rooftop suites on the brand-new fourth floor. The hotel’s 155 guestrooms have been refreshed with custom-designed lighting; contemporary, earthy fabrics and furnishings; and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto private balconies.

5. W Paris – Opéra. The W brand makes its debut in France on Valentine’s Day with this chic new outpost across the street from the city’s famed Opéra Garnier opera house. A highlight of the décor (a departure from Paris’ more traditional hotels) is a backlit digital wall, which will project abstract patterns throughout the space, creating different moods to match different seasons or events. The public areas will feel classic — thanks to stained glass windows, mosaic flooring and marble staircases — but the 91 guestrooms will have more of an edge. Local artists are responsible for the innovative accents in the rooms, including sculptural faucets and original light fixtures designed for the hotel.

6. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort. Africa’s first St. Regis hotel will open in the sleepy island nation of Mauritius, known for its white sand beaches, turquoise lagoon and tropical climate. The hotel’s 173 guestrooms — each outfitted with spacious private balconies with ocean and mountain views — include spa suites and villas decorated in a traditional colonial style. Personal butlers, a nightly champagne ritual, six restaurants (including a beachside eatery and bar) and a spa surrounded by tropical gardens complete the offerings. It’s all slated to open May 15.

7. Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg. How’s this for a glamorous location? Opening in May, the first Four Seasons outpost in Russia will be inside a 19th-century royal palace. Two marble lions guard the entrance of the restored building, which will house a grand staircase, two signature restaurants, and a glasstopped spa with Russian-style saunas and a relaxation pool.

8. Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. This newly constructed hotel promises to bring contemporary and spacious guestrooms (along with serviced apartments) to the southern Chinese city in mid-2012. Its Financial District location will be ideal for the mainly business travel crowd that comes to Guangzhou; but those checking in for leisure can scope out the six restaurants and bars (including an outpost of the hotel group’s signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop), or the hotel’s spa, which will offer Mandarin Oriental’s well-known holistic treatments.

9. ME London. ME — from the Spanish brand Meliá — is just one of the many hotels opening in London ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Though ME will be in the historic Marconi House in the Aldwych neighborhood, this fashion-forward hotel will be thoroughly modern. Guests can book one of the 157 trendy rooms, including those in the hotel’s VIP area, or a penthouse suite that covers two floors. Between athletic events, take advantage of the 3-D-equipped screening room and the 180-degree rooftop terrace with a bar and views of the Thames.

10. The James Royal Palm. Taking over Miami’s historic Royal Palm hotel when it opens at the end of 2012, this new property plans to pay homage to the building’s roots (the rolling lawn, outdoor fountain and signature palm trees aren’t going anywhere), but it will revitalize the space with a topiary living room on the front lawn and clean and bright guestrooms that emphasize the hotel’s ocean views. Other highlights will include two swimming pools, a full-service spa and a top location that’s steps from the beach and trend-setting Ocean Drive.

Title: CIT Magazine (online) Date: January 6th 2012 Unique Users: n/a

BMW boosts Melia with contract for Olympics Tom Hall , 06 January 2012 BMW has chosen Melia Hotels International's ME London for its Olympics activity, as the hotel chain reports an 80% boost in UK C&I turnover over two years. C&IT has learned that the automotive giant, an Olympics sponsor, will hold events at the hotel near Trafalgar Square, which opens in June 2012. Melia's UK C&I turnover has grown by more than 80% since 2009, up around 44% in 2011 compared to the previous year. Melia director of global sales - meetings and events John Kelly said that 2012 bookings (as of December 2011) are ahead of where 2011 bookings were in December 2010. "We have a much greater amount in the pipeline than in late 2010. Nobody knows what the Olympics will bring. We are hoping that those clients who want to stay away from London will look to the continent where they can get more for their spend, particularly in Barcelona or Madrid," he added. Profitability also remains strong, according to Kelly, who said making Melia's sales and marketing work closer together has helped the company emerge from its problems during the recession. "A big factor was the rebrand from Sol Melia to Melia Hotels International," he added. "The opening of the new ME in London in 2012 is helping that and people are seeing what we are really about as opposed to having a perception of us which has not always been accurate."

Title: CIT Magazine (online) Date: January 6th 2012 Unique Users: n/a

BMW boosts Melia with contract for Olympics Tom Hall , 06 January 2012 BMW has chosen Melia Hotels International's ME London for its Olympics activity, as the hotel chain reports an 80% boost in UK C&I turnover over two years. C&IT has learned that the automotive giant, an Olympics sponsor, will hold events at the hotel near Trafalgar Square, which opens in June 2012. Melia's UK C&I turnover has grown by more than 80% since 2009, up around 44% in 2011 compared to the previous year. Melia director of global sales - meetings and events John Kelly said that 2012 bookings (as of December 2011) are ahead of where 2011 bookings were in December 2010. "We have a much greater amount in the pipeline than in late 2010. Nobody knows what the Olympics will bring. We are hoping that those clients who want to stay away from London will look to the continent where they can get more for their spend, particularly in Barcelona or Madrid," he added. Profitability also remains strong, according to Kelly, who said making Melia's sales and marketing work closer together has helped the company emerge from its problems during the recession. "A big factor was the rebrand from Sol Melia to Melia Hotels International," he added. "The opening of the new ME in London in 2012 is helping that and people are seeing what we are really about as opposed to having a perception of us which has not always been accurate."

Title: The Telegraph (online) Date: January 6th 2012 Unique Users: 4,660,000

New hotels for 2012 in London, Paris and New York Natalie Paris looks ahead to some of the biggest new hotel openings scheduled for 2012, in London, Paris and New York.

Image 2 of 5 Melia will be the first hotel to be solely designed by Foster + Partners

By Natalie Paris 11:26AM GMT 06 Jan 2012

As the 2012 Olympics draws near, hoteliers in London are planning a raft of new openings designed to capitalise on the anticipated influx of tourists to the city. Visitors to Paris and New York can also look forward to some bold new accommodation options. We preview some of the best below. London Bulgari www.bulgarihotels.com Knightsbridge is where fine jewellery merchant Bulgari will open its new five-star Hotel and Residences later this year. We are promised sleek and elegantly-styled accommodation in silver tones equipped with the latest technology. Exclusive furnishings in the 85 rooms and suites will be crafted by Italian manufacturers, there will be two solid silver chandeliers in the ballroom and the patterns on silk curtains will replicate classic Bulgari jewellery designs. There will be a cigar shop and bar with a sweeping, silver, staircase down to the restaurant which will serve Italian cuisine. The spa will have 11 treatment rooms and a 25m swimming pool. Unusually, there is also a 47-seat cinema underway, accompanied by a library of more than 500 hand-picked films for guests to enjoy. The hotel will be eco-friendly too, incorporating the generation of geothermal energy into its design – the first of its kind in the UK. Opening in April ME by Meliá www.me-by-melia.com

Housed in what was once the BBC Marconi building, this hotel will be the first to be solely designed by Foster + Partners, the firm founded by Sir Norman Foster, the lauded British architect. The best of the 157 rooms and suites will be a two-floor suite within a turret that leads onto the roof terrace. The city views from the club up here look impressive and will be worth checking out should you be passing through Holborn one evening. Staff are hoping to provide as close to a bespoke service as they can - rather fantastic-sounding "aura managers" will be on hand to gauge guests' moods and provide appropriate assistance and advice. Opening June 4 London Belgraves www.thompsonhotels.com Located near Sloane Square in smart Belgravia, this 85-room hotel from American company Thompson Hotels, hopes to envoke the spirit of "new Britannia" for city bohemians, with an eclectic but chic lobby, an outdoor terrace with a retractable roof and rooms that look equal parts comfy and stylish. Popular chef Mark Hix will open another London restaurant on the premises HIX Belgravia - and the bar will open out onto a cigar garden, decorated with contemporary art. Opening February 1 The Ampersand Hotel www.ampersandhotel.com A boutique property that hopes to open in time for the Olympics, The Ampersand has taken over a Victorian building, near to South Kensington tube and will comprise 110 rooms. Designers are taking inspiration from the great museums surrounding the hotel and the interiors find inspiration from botany, music, geometry, ornithology and astronomy. The hotel will also offer west Londoners and guests a patisserie, vaulted restaurant and Bellini bar. Opening in spring South Place www.southplacehotel.com South Place is a 80-bedroom, design-focused property, due to open in the summer. The hotel's rooftop terrace will offer 7th-floor views of the City of London. Handy for Liverpool Street commuters will be the two restaurants, including a brasserie on the ground floor, plus bars from hotel owner the D&D London group, which owns restaurants including London's Bluebird and Coq d'Argent. Opening in summer

Paris W Hotel www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/index.html W Hotels will make its debut in France on February 14 with a Parisian hotel set inside a 1870s Haussman-era building close to Opéra Garnier and the department store Galeries Lafayette. W Paris – Opera is attempting to bring New York dynamism to the historic building, playing on the theme of Paris as the “city of light”. The hotel’s central walls will be illuminated with a digital "spark", that forms patterns of dots at various tempos depending on the time of day. Red elevators are supposed to give a womb-like sense of energy, while elsewhere historic features such as stained glass windows are being preserved to sit alongside contemporary additions. There will be a bar, restaurant, fitness centre, and 91 rooms - including 22 suites some with ceilings up to 3.5m high. Opening February 14 New York Conrad New York conradhotels3.hilton.com

This super-stylish, 463-suite hotel, the first Conrad in the city, will be opening in lower Manhattan's financial district and is currently taking bookings from early February. It has a rooftop bar overlooking the Hudson River and two restaurants, Atrio for Mediterranean food and Blue Smoke, an already existing restaurant offering regional American barbecue specialities. Each contemporary room is actually a two-room suite, giving you at least 430sq-ft of space. They include wifi and espresso machines. Opening early February NoMad www.thenomadhotel.com Occupying a grand building in the up-and-coming area north of Madison Square, NoMad will provide Parisian-inspired accommodation incorporating 168 guestrooms that overlook the Empire State and Flatiron buildings. Guests will be able to dine throughout the day in a glass-roof atrium, operated by the people behind celebrated restaurant Eleven Madison Park. Opening early 2012

Title: The Times Date: January 7th 2012 Circulation: 413,233

       



                              

  



 

    Title: URBANLOGIE Date: January 11th 2012 Circulation: 250,000

   

 

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 11TH 2012

TRAVEL + DESTINATIONS CHECKING‐IN

With the countdown to the Olympics, London is witnessing the opening of several much anticipated hotel openings, including the opening of the Shangri-La in the Shard (occupying floors 34-52), with 202 rooms featuring panoramic views of the   London skyline and the opening of the ME by Meli hotel designed by Foster + Partners, previously the site of the famous Marconi House and City Bank building in Aldwych and the opening of the Edition London (Berners Street). However, opening earlier (this month), is Belgraves – the first transatlantic opening by Thompson Hotels and will feature a restaurant and bar by English chef Mark Hix. Housed within the former Sheraton Belgravia on Chesham Place, and is with 85 guestrooms featuring interior architecture and stylish design by Tara Bernerd “blending traditional British hospitality with Thompson’s American bohemian attitude”. The hotel will include an 80-seat signature restaurant by celebrated Chef and food writer Mark Hix; with an ‘off-piste’ menu inspired by his travels from around the world whilst Mark’s Bar will pay homage to his famous Soho bar as well as boasting a stylish cigar garden with commissioned artwork by British artist Mat Collishaw. Thompson Hotels is a portfolio of small, boutique urban hotels including the famed 60 Thompson in New York City, Hotel Sax in Chicago and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. The company has expanded extensively including: New York City including Gild Hall in the Financial District, Six Columbus in Midtown Manhattan, Thompson LES on the Lower East Side, Smyth in Tribeca, as well as Thompson Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and Donovan House in Washington, and Thompson Toronto. Starting bedroom rate at the Belgraves hotel will be from 336.

 

Title: Irish Independent - Weekend Magazine Date: January 14th 2012 Circulation: 600,000 PR Value: £7,632.75

Title: Stylist Date: January 18th 2012 Circulation: 426,396

Title: The Guardian Date: January 21st 2012 Circulation: 230,108 PR Value: £10,800.00

Title: The Sunday Times Date: January 22nd 2012 Circulation: 935,442 PR Value: £48,824.00

Title: Conde Nast Traveller Online Date: January 30th 2012 Monthly Unique Users: 270,000 PR Value: £28,800

London's new luxury hotels

Barely a week goes past in the capital these days without a fabulous new hotel opening up. Construction is at full tilt as London's year in the spotlight gets underway; and opening this season, in time for the Olympics, are three fabulous new hotels. First up is Belgraves, which opens in February in one of the world's most exclusive neighbourhoods. It's the first Thompson property in the country that, ironically, inspired the group's original New York venture. 'Our first hotel, 60 Thompson, was based on the intimacy of British hotels,' said Jason Pomeranc, co-owner of Thompson Hotels, who describes Belgraves as 'blending traditional British hospitality with an American bohemian attitude'. EPR Architects have overhauled the former Sheraton Belgravia, given it a facelift and added living walls to its exterior. Inside, Tara Bernerd's decoration is bold, with rich colours and eclectic furniture and art. There are 85 rooms, a library bar and, best of all, Mark Hix's 80-seater restaurant and Mark's Bar. In neighbouring South Kensington - and conveniently placed just around the corner from Boujis - The Ampersand Hotel has reinvented its 1888 self. Going for a vintage, boutique look, it has 110 bedrooms, a new patisserie, an in-house gym and the Bellini cocktail bar; the birdthemed lobby/lounge displays a mix of modern art and vintage ornaments. Over on the Strand, the Savoy and Somerset House have a cool new five-star neighbour. ME by Meliá will open in Marconi House, the Grade II-listed building where the first BBC broadcast took place in 1922. Foster + Partners has added a contemporary Portland stone and glass extension and designed the interiors, which include 157 rooms and suites, two restaurants (including the first British outpost of American steakhouse STK) and a rooftop bar (pictured). The view from the bar stretches along the Thames in both directions, all the way from the Houses of Parliament in the west to Canary Wharf in the east. There's also a two-storey suite with a private terrace at the top of the building's glass turret that has a 360-degree view. Rather than a concierge, an 'Aura Manager' can fix everything from providing insider information for the design-savvy and booking tables at underground restaurants to offering guests styling tips. If ME London is half as cool as its sister hotel in Barcelona, then you can expect to see a host of beautiful people partying here. Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel, 20 Chesham Place, London SW1 (www.thompsonhotels.com). Doubles from £336 The Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, London SW7 (www.ampersandhotel.com) ME London, 336-337 Strand, London WC2 (0808 234 1953; www.me-by-melia.com). Doubles from £340

2012 Coverage

Recommend Documents