Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group, has reported strong trading performance for the 13 weeks to 29 May 2014, across hotels, restaurants and coffee. Andy Harrison, Chief Executive comments: Total sales up 12.7%, like for likes up 6.9% “Whitbread has started the year well, with total sales growth for the first quarter of 12.7% and strong like for … [Read more...]
VISA improvements for Chinese visitors
The Home Office has announced key VISA changes for Chinese visitors to the UK – designed to address the time and delays that are at present still discouraging significant potential visitors. Highlights: · A new streamlined visa service is to be offered to all Chinese visitors to the UK. · A more efficient system cutting down on paperwork and red tape will … [Read more...]
Hospitality News programme premieres at BHA Summit
Leading hoteliers, product manufacturers and hospitality specialists worked alongside other industry leaders to produce a one-off news programme, pioneered by ITN Productions and the British Hospitality Association, which made its debut at the Hospitality & Tourism Summit. The programme showcases the success of the sector in creating new jobs and the value contributed to … [Read more...]
Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2014
The Queen’s mid-year Honours List is not as extensive as that for the New Year, but nonetheless contains names from the hospitality sector, and sectors related to it such as tourism and design. Amongst those recognised this year are: Commander, OBE - Penelope, Viscountess Cobham – Chairman, VisitEngland – services to tourism OBE – Vanessa Brady, interior designer and … [Read more...]
2014 World Barista Champion, Brewers Cup, and Coffee Roasting
World Coffee Events (WCE) has announced the 2014 World Barista Champion, 2014 World Brewers Cup Champion and 2014 World Coffee Roasting Champion at World of Coffee (WoC) in Rimini, Italy. The 2014 World Barista Champion is Hidenori Izaki from Japan, the 2014 World Brewers Cup Champion is Stefanos Domatiotis from Greece, and the 2014 World Coffee Roasting Champion is Yu-Chuan … [Read more...]