Sir Rocco Forte enjoys record pay day after hotels empire deal August 13, 2025 The hotels group founded by Sir Rocco Forte has issued a record dividend for the first full year after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) became a major shareholder. Rocco Forte Hotels has paid out dividends totalling £8.9m for the year to 30 April, 2025, to its shareholders. The international hotels group, which is headquartered in [...]
Artist residences: why wealthy travellers pay to be around good art August 10, 2025 Hotel groups have caught onto the idea that corporate types like hanging around with artists. The rise of ‘artist residences’ across the capital and further afield proves artists have clout that bankers will buy their way closer to, if only for the night. Properties often house artists for free or cheap in return for them [...]
The fabulously old school Bangkok hotel with proper Thai hospitality August 9, 2025 Amari Bangkok hotel review: impressively fresh thinking from this Bangkok hotel entering its fifth decade Walking into the Amari Bangkok, you enter into a spectacular atrium where there is dozens of storey’s worth of space above your head. Here in the lobby, there are five staff to every guest and check-in – this is Thailand, [...]
Tourists help boost luxury London hotels despite widening losses July 23, 2025 Losses have widened at a luxury London hotels group despite international tourism helping to boost its sales to a new record. Firmdale Hotels, which was founded by Tim and Kit Kemp, has fallen to a pre-tax loss of £30.4m for its year to 31 January, 2025, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The total [...]
London hotel rates quintuple amid supersonic Oasis demand July 22, 2025 London hotel rates have soared as Oasis fans pour into the capital for a string of shows at Wembley. The average cost of room rates in Wembley jumped to £560 for Friday, 25 July, compared to £114.83 for the following week, according to consulting firm RSM UK. “The impact of this iconic band reforming brings [...]
Bill Shankly’s grandson opens Liverpool hotel in Titanic landmark July 3, 2025 The grandson of legendary Liverpool football manager Bill Shankly has opened a hotel in Liverpool based in the former headquarters of White Star Line – the company which owned the Titanic. Christopher Carline and his business partner Brian Gamble have launched the White Star Line Hotel in Albion House, a grade II*-listed building which has [...]
Labour warned that hospitality ‘is being taxed out of existence’ July 2, 2025 The government faced serious warnings from MPs about the state of the hospitality sector during an afternoon debate in the Commons on July 1. Representatives from across the UK warned the government that high taxes were suffocating the sector – particularly for small businesses – putting ‘insurmountable burdens’ on businesses. “Hospitality is being taxed out [...]
Village Hotels in the red after takeover by Blackstone June 30, 2025 Village Hotels fell into the red in the year it was taken over by US private equity giant Blackstone, it has been revealed. The Warrington-headquartered chain slumped to a pre-tax loss of £23.5m for 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The firm has said the loss was mainly due to exceptional costs. [...]
PPHE unveils £90m plan to turn lap dancing club into luxury London hotel June 23, 2025 Hotel giant PPHE has unveiled plans to turn an east London lap dancing club into a huge new hotel as it continues its expansion in the capital. The London-listed firm today unveiled a £90m proposal to construct a 21-story tower on Leman Street in Whitechapel, which will feature 182 rooms, a restaurant, bar, gym and [...]
Thwaites ‘extremely nervous’ Rachel Reeves will raise taxes in Autumn Budget June 17, 2025 Beer brewer Thwaites is “extremely nervous” about the possibility of Chancellor Rachel Reeves raising taxes further in her Autumn Budget. The Lancashire-headquartered group, which also owns pubs and hotels, added its industry is “under tremendous pressure” from Reeves’ first Autumn Budget due to the increases in the National Minimum Wage and the employer’s National Insurance [...]