Business & Legislation

Effective procurement can help you ensure that your hotel construction project is not plagued by delays

Ask the Experts

How to avoid hotel construction delays

By Rob Alexander

2015 is predicted to be an exciting year for the hospitality industry, with 10 major hotel projects set to open in London alone. However, these projects are increasingly facing delays due to a shortage of construction companies. With the buyers’ market...

Elysium will open its first London venue in Chelsea next month

Elysium Group reveals plans for first London venue

By Carina Perkins

Essex-based bar and restaurant operator Elysium Group will open a Japanese fusion venture in the heart of Chelsea next month, with plans to roll the concept out across further sites.

Broadgate Circle will reopen in spring 2015

Five restaurants confirmed for new Broadgate Circle

By Melodie Michel

Hakkasan Group’s Yauatcha, ETM Group’s The Botanist, Aubaine, Shoryu Ramen and Comptoir Libanais have all secured a space at Broadgate Circle, which is due to re-open in spring 2015.

The government is conducting a review of the sharing economy in order to regulate it

Government urged to regulate sharing economy

By Melodie Michel

Pop-up marketplace Grub Club is urging the government to better regulate ‘sharing economy’ businesses like itself in order to ensure their protection.

Simmons Fitzrovia will serve cocktails in teacups

Simmons opens third London bar

By Lauren Houghton

Simmons bar group will open its new cocktail bar Simmons Fitzrovia in central London on 20 November. 

The service is being trialled at Thistle Euston

Thistle launches free ‘Choose Your Own Room’ service

By Melodie Michel

Thistle Hotels is trialling a service allowing all guests to take a virtual tour of their room at the time of booking after finding out that almost half of Brits have requested to change their room upon arrival.

Hotel RevPAR increased by 20 per cent across the UK in the third quarter of the year

Hotel RevPAR boosted by sports in Q3

By Lauren Houghton

Hotel RevPAR increased by 20 per cent across the UK in the third quarter of the year, according to the Zolfo Cooper, AM:PM and HVS Q3 2014 Hotel Bulletin.

Taylor St Baristas has already raised a quarter of its target

Taylor St Baristas to double business size

By Melodie Michel

Taylor St Baristas is hoping to raise between £1.5m and £3m through a mini-bond on Crowdcube to double the number of its venues in the next two years.

VQ diner in Bloomsbury

VQ 24-hour diner plans roll-out

By Lauren Houghton

24-hour café and diner VQ will expand throughout London and the rest of the UK since securing new funding after its rebrand.  

Hotels can turn to contractual agreements with OTAs to control search engine advertising

Hotels losing out on search engine advertising

By Melodie Michel

Hotels could be missing out on direct bookings as a significant portion of trademark brand advertising on search engines is taken by online travel agencies (OTAs), according to research by BrandVerity.

London topped the European hotel investment survey

London top in Europe for hotel investment

By Lauren Houghton

Senior figures in hospitality ranked London as the preferred European city for hotel investment, according to a new survey by Deloitte. 

Pizza Rossa broke a European record with the success of its crowdfunding campaign earlier this year

Pizza Rossa to open permanent site

By Melodie Michel

Pizza Rossa is opening its first permanent venue in London on 20 November, after the success of its long-term pop-up.

The UK restaurant landscape is undergoing significant change, with consumers seeking an informal dining experience

Comment: Talking about a generational shift

By Mark Wingett, editor M&C Report

Over the last few years there has been a generational shift in food awareness, a move that the New York Times recently referred to this phenomenon as a ‘gastronomic youthquake’. Food is the new rock ’n’ roll and chefs are the new rock stars.

UK managing director John Eckbert and director of operations Marcel Khan

Business profile: Five Guys

By Mark Wingett

A year or so on from landing on British soil, US burger phenomenon Five Guys is on the cusp of becoming a national player. UK managing director John Eckbert and director of operations Marcel Khan discuss the past 12 months and the group’s future.

Burger King has launched its mobile app in the UK, offering personalised digital coupons to users

Burger King launches mobile app in UK

By Carina Perkins

Burger King has launched its mobile app in the UK just days after it emerged the fast food chain will offer mobile payment in US restaurants as early as next year.

Domino's and Pizza Hut were among the restaurant brands on this year's Youth 100 list

Domino's and PizzaExpress lead Youth100 list

By Mark Wingett

Domino’s Pizza has topped the fast food and restaurant category in this year’s Youth 100 List: which highlights the UK’s top brands according to 18-24 year olds.

Angela Hartnett, Nathan Outlaw, Simon Rogan and Gizzi Erskine have created a four-course meal for Action Against Hunger's annual fine wine auction and dinner

Chefs join forces for Action Against Hunger

By Carina Perkins

Chefs Angela Hartnett, Nathan Outlaw, Simon Rogan and Gizzi Erskine will join forces with artist Tracy Emin in support of Action Against Hunger’s annual fine wine auction and dinner next weekend.