All news articles for April 2014

Economic growth to boost UK hotel sector

Economic growth to boost UK hotel sector

By Melodie Michel

A positive economic outlook and good performances so far are pushing optimism in the UK hotel sector, according to PwC’s latest UK hotel forecast.

Nick Vadis, Andreas Antona, Adam Smith and John Williams with the Bocuse d'Or trophy. Photograph by Frasershot

Adam Smith wins Bocuse d’Or UK final

By Lauren Houghton

Head chef at the Devonshire Arms in Yorkshire, Adam Smith, has won first place in the Bocuse d’Or National Selection cooking contest for chefs at Hotelympia on Monday (28 April).

Hotelympia catering equipment launches

Hotelympia product launches: catering equipment

By Melodie Michel

Gathering thousands of professionals from the hospitality sector, Hotelympia is the perfect occasion for manufacturers to launch their new products. Here is a round-up of the catering equipment introduced at this year’s trade show.

Whitbread financial results 2013

​Whitbread FY lfls up 4.2%

By John Harrington

Whitbread has reported a 4.2% rise in like-for-like sales in the year to 27 February, with growth accelerating in the second half.

The UK performed well in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list this year, with some strong movers on the 51-100 list

The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2014: 51-100

By Carina Perkins

UK restaurants performed strongly in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2014 – with two in the top ten for the first time ever - and there were also some impressive achievements for British restaurants on the 51-100 list.

Macdonald Hotels profits

Macdonald Hotels operating profits up 7%

By Melodie Michel

The hotel group has announced operating profits of £14.9m for the year ended March 2013, an increase of 7 per cent over the previous year.

National Restaurant Awards 2014

Date set for National Restaurant Awards 2014

By Carina Perkins

The National Restaurants Awards in association with Estrella Damm, Restaurant magazine’s annual count down of the top 100 restaurants in the UK, is marking its seventh year by becoming a summer event, and will be held on 30 June at The Hurlingham Club...

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, takes place on Monday (28 April)

World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014: Top chefs descend on London

By Luke Nicholls

Chefs and restaurateurs from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants are set to descend on London tonight (28 April) for the 12th annual World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Follow the action with BigHospitality on Facebook and Twitter for updates, photos and...

Ulrike le Roux is general manager at Sudbury House, overseeing its redecoration and refurbishment

Small Talk

Ulrike le Roux on Sudbury House and her passion for hospitality

By Lauren Houghton

Ulrike le Roux completed her studies and hospitality training in South Africa. She has spent time working in a number of different sectors of the industry including B&Bs, restaurants, boutique hotels and chains. She moved to the UK to gain some international...

TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel site, with more than 150 million reviews left in 2013

Attack of the TripAdvisors: Should review websites allow anonymity?

By Luke Nicholls

Review website TripAdvisor has reiterated that blackmail from customers is ‘strictly against guidelines’ after a Yorkshire-based restaurateur claimed reviewers were threatening to leave negative comments unless they received a free meal at one of his...

Winners of the 2014 Footprint Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on 22 May

Footprint Awards 2014 shortlist announced

By Lauren Houghton

The shortlist for the 2014 Footprint Awards has been revealed with the Spirit Pub Company, Ampersand and Enterprise Inns all being noted for their contributions to sustainability in the hospitality industry. 

The new Food For Thought menu has been rolled out across the 61-strong Holiday Inn estate

Food For Thought: Holiday Inn benefits from healthier conference menu

By Luke Nicholls

The new conference menus implemented across the Holiday Inn estate have been ‘the icing on the cake’ when it comes to the brand’s increased focus on the MICE market, with research revealing a significant increase in mental competence among delegates that...

The All Bar One site at Buckingham Gate will open in June and seat 200 people

All Bar One to open two new London sites

By Lauren Houghton

Mitchells and Butlers will open two new All Bar One sites in London this summer at Buckingham Gate in Victoria and the O2 in Greenwich.  

Wi-Fi in hospitality

Ask the Experts

How to build better customer relationships using free public Wi-Fi

By Paul Leybourne

Hospitality operators understand that offering the chance to stay connected whilst enjoying a coffee or taking a business trip can win new customers and attract repeat visits. However, many brands aren’t doing enough to maximise the potential sales revenue...

The latest Bistrot Pierre site will be located in the Abbey Sands development in Torquay

Bistrot Pierre launches new site in the South West

By Lauren Houghton

French restaurant group Bistrot Pierre is opening a new site at the sea front in Torquay within the Abbey Sands development and is recruiting up to 60 new staff members for the venture. 

The Fox and Goose in Hebden Bridge has become West Yorkshire's first co-operative pub

Community spirit: More local pubs saved from closure

By Luke Nicholls

With Community Pubs month in full swing, a number of residents’ associations across the country have stepped in to save their local from closure or conversion into commercial properties.

Hotelympia 2014 guide

Top 10 things to do and see at Hotelympia 2014

By Carina Perkins

Hotelympia is fast approaching and the hospitality industry getting ready to descend on the ExCel centre in London on 28 April - 1 May for the biennial event.

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