Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has unveiled ‘Sheraton 2020’, a five-year, 10-point initiative aimed at raising the profile of Sheraton Hotels and Resorts worldwide.

The plan includes a new marketing campaign with a new logo design backed by a major advertising campaign.

The group is also planning to launch a new top tier brand: ‘Sheraton Grand’. They plan to elevate more than 100 Sheraton hotels to Sheraton Grand properties in global gateway destinations. In addition Starwood are planning to open more than 150 new hotels by 2020.

Full details: www.transformation.sheraton.com

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Published: 04 June 2015

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Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough is a new 138 bedroom hotel opening in the centre of Middlesbrough in August 2015.

The hotel is a result of a £12.4million refurbishment of the former Cook and Endeavour House in Middlesbrough city centre – and part of an overall  plan to transform a series of empty buildings and regenerate the city centre.

Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough will be operated by Redefine|BDL Hotels.

Details: www.redefinebdl.com

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Published: 03 June 2015

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Plans have been drawn up to transform a group of defence forts in the Thames estuary into a hotel complex and museum. The Redsand Forts were designed to shoot down German planes during the Second World War – particularly those attempting to drop anti-ship mines in the estuary’s busy waters. The forts are located seven miles off the Kent coast, near Whitstable.

The towers were abandoned in the 1950s and at one stage became the base for a pirate radio station. Now architects have drawn up plans to refurbish the existing structures. The concept, called ‘rubber ringing’, proposes a new central hub around the old ‘Control Tower’, with a hotel foyer, restaurant and sun terraces. This hub would be linked by glass walkways, in place of the historical bridges, to the ‘Gun Towers’ which would house around 40 standard, executive and penthouse rooms with a health spa located in another tower.

A museum dedicated to the ingenuity of civil engineer and designer of the forts, Guy Maunsell, is proposed within the ‘Searchlight Tower’, with its own separate arrival jetty.

A helicopter pad would allow guests to be flown in, while others could be ferried by catamaran to a new jetty at the base of the central tower - with departure envisaged from London Docklands, Southend- on-Sea or Whitstable.

This is not the first time that the UK's former sea defences have been converted into hotel and leisure destinations. Amazing Venues have opened both No Man's Fort and Spitbank Fort in the Solent into luxury hotel accommodation. These forts were built during the Napoleonic wars. A third Solent fort - Horse Sand Fort - is currently being renovated.

Details:  www.arosarchitects.com

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Published: 04 June 2015

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Following a five month closure and extensive refurbishment the Private Room at The Ivy has now re-opened in the heart of Covent Garden.

The refurbishment has brought a fresh new look to the Private Room with new soft furnishings and a new decor with harlequin stained glass windows and oak panelling plus a collection of contemporary art. The bar has also been restyled. The Private Room has baby grand piano in the corner and a jazz trio may also be used for events.

The Private Room will accommodate up to 60 guests for breakfast, lunch or dinner with 32 guests on one long oval table, or up to 60 guests on 6 round tables and 100 guests for a reception. There is a bar and reception area for pre- and post-dinner drinks.

Details:  www.the-ivy.co.uk

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Published: 03 June 2015

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