The Social Hub, the pioneering hybrid hospitality concept from Amsterdam-based The Social Hub opened its first hotel in the UK in Glasgow last week. With an investment of over £90 million and employing more than 80 staff, the new four star property is located in the Merchant City. The “hybrid hospitality concept” is aimed at business travellers, students and tourists, with its properties offering a mixture of hotel rooms, student accommodation and extended-stay rooms. Along with a gym, restaurant, and bar – which includes one of the city’s largest rooftop bars – it also features 494 rooms, co ..read more

Radisson Blu Glasgow is embarking on an ambitious plan to phase out gas usage within its 247-room hotel as a participant in a wider green climate transition project, by owners Pandox AB, worth around £25m. The three-year programme aims to help reduce the venue’s impact on the environment by cutting out gas usage using science-based targets. A new heat pump system is being installed to regulate temperature within the Glasgow city centre venue, designed to be 1.5x more efficient than using gas and is estimated to result in at least a 32% reduction in CO2 emissions. Alongside seven other hotel ve ..read more

Apex City of Edinburgh hotel in Grassmarket is undergoing a £2.9 million refurbishment, as well as increasing its capacity. The project is due for completion in early May. It comes as new research reveals this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe is expected to return to pre-Covid levels, and against the back-drop of an active hotel sector in the city, with Savill’s saying earlier this year that the city is “expected to remain the highest performing hotel market outside of London in 2024.” Apex are completing a 122 bedroom and corridor refurbishment as well as converting a meeting room space into three n ..read more

Crerar Hotels CEO Chris Wayne-Wills was chosen as CEO of the Year at the first Scottish Professional Awards which aim to recognise those in professional and business services within Scotland. Chris took on the role at Crerar Hotels Group at the start of 2020, leading the Scottish hotel brand through Covid-19 and successfully reopening all seven hotels and inns following multiple lockdowns. Despite the pandemic, Chris recruited a new executive team to reposition the hotel group and secured significant investment in several of the portfolio’s hotels and inns including Isle of Mull Hotel &am ..read more

The Dakota Hotels group have opted in to a Carbon Balancing Printing Scheme in partnership with print and stationary partners Kenway, the company’s primary print supplier. The latest in the hotel’s sustainability initiatives, carbon balanced printing reduces the carbon impacts of paper and printed communications – such as menus, welcome cards, and bedroom directories – lessening the subsequent carbon footprint and impacts on climate change. Carbon balanced printing calculates the carbon footprint of each job, optimising the process where possible, and offsets the remaining unavoidable emission ..read more

Apex Hotels has won the Sustainable Business Award at last week Springboard Awards in London after demonstrating “a long term, companywide commitment to sustainable practices and policies which shone above the rest.”  The hotel group was up against The Hilton, Leonardo Hotels, Sodexo and Wilson Vale who were also on the shortlist. Apex said that the group has put in place “a comprehensive Carbon Plan designed to propel the organisation to NetZero and has committed over £1 million to reducing carbon emissions. The initiative has already yielded some impressive results including recycling 6 ..read more

Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa is has appointed Coalin Finn as the resort’s new Executive Chef. Coalin will head up all kitchen functions across the resort’s eight restaurants and bars, including 3 AA Rosette Awarded Road Hole Restaurant and golf’s most famous pub – the Jigger Inn. Coalin joins the hotel from previous experiences in Michelin starred kitchens and 5-star hotels. While he most recently worked as Exec Chef role at Claridge’s hotel in London, he has trained under chefs like Daniel Humm and Claude Bosi. Having grown up in Kilkenny, Ireland, Coalin initially trained as a pas ..read more

Trocadero’s is to be the name of the new restaurant concept at Crossbasket Castle which will open in August with Michelin star chef Michel Roux Jr overseeing the restaurant and cocktail bar. The name is a nod to the celebrated 1950s dance hall in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, of the same name. Owners Steve and Alison Timoney, who describe Crossbasket Castle as a no-expense-spared passion project, said Trocadero’s will bring a unique offering to Scotland, with live music and entertainment every night of the week. Steve Timoney said, “We took inspiration from Glasgow’s legendary live music scene ..read more

Apex Hotels have joined the charity Room to Reward and will donate breaks in unsold rooms to nominated volunteers from the charity sector and means that the Group’s properties in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee – as well as London and Bath –  will be welcoming volunteers from charities, community groups, grassroots sports clubs and other organisations across the U.K. for a well-earned break. “We are extremely proud and happy to join Room to Reward,” said Angela Vickers, CEO of Apex Hotels. “It’s a simple thing for hotels to be a part of and a great way of putting our unsold rooms to good us ..read more

Leading hotel experience curators, LA BOTTEGA have announced the acquisition of a majority stake in VANITY GROUP marking a significant milestone in the growth and expansion of both organisations. The acquisition means that, together, LA BOTTEGA and VANITY GROUP have representation in over 120 Countries, boast a combined team of over 500 people, and over 100 of the most in demand, progressive brands with a list of global luxury hospitality clients. Recognising and respecting the unique strengths that VANITY GROUP brings to the table, the acquisition sees LA BOTTEGA leveraging the team’s combine ..read more