Charlotte Gill – Page 28 – Business Destinations

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel: continental convenience and London luxury | Video

Posted on May 1, 2014October 23, 2017 by Charlotte Gill

After a £200m renovation project, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel has become a spectacular place to stay – and visit – for anyone looking to make the most out of London. Business Destinations visits the hotel to explore its Victorian architecture, stunning facilities and famous grand staircase.

Business Destinations: It’s nearly a century on from the Midland Grand Hotel – arguably London’s most iconic building of the Victorian era – flourished; half a century since it was slated for demolition, and three years since an 11 year and £200m renovation project brought the luxury – now named St Pancras Renaissance Hotel – back to its former glory.

Now the hotel is once again open for business, overlooking the Eurostar – London’s Gateway to Paris. It’s the perfect destination for modern business travellers, while still offering the old world charm of England’s capital city.

Matthew Rowlette: The hotel opened in 1873. It obviously went through a period where it was the flagship hotel of London. It was built as a positioning piece for the railway company to announce to the greater London and UK audience: here we are, look at how great we are.

It’s the perfect destination for modern business travellers, while still offering the old world charm of England’s capital

Business Destinations: It’s not hard to imagine the hotel’s heritage. The lobby retains the grand basilican vision of architect and designer Gilbert Scott. Once a road for handsome cabs to drop travellers outside the station’s bustling ticket office, today it’s the hotel’s reception, and a venue for a very decadent afternoon tea.

The highlight of staying at any hotel for the business traveller would probably have to be the cuisine – and The Gilbert Scott bar and restaurant where I am now certainly doesn’t disappoint.

It offers à la carte English dining with a twist from the team of restaurateur Marcus Wareing.

Business Destinations: What do you think makes the Gilbert Scott restaurant different?

Chantelle Nicholson: The setting itself is quite unique. Very British. A big sense of history in the building, which we try to slightly emulate in the menu as well: taking British classics, putting a modern twist on them, and also using the best of British produce that’s in season at the current time.

Business Destinations: For something even more unusual there’s also the Booking Office, housed inside the original ticket office. A great place to grab a bite before you travel, or a quirky venue for an informal meeting.

Ed White: The Booking Office is a bar and restaurant, situated in the old ticket hall. Today it gives people a trip down memory lane – a slice of Victoriana. It engulfs the culture of that era. So today you’ve got Victorian punches, you’ve got fabulous champagnes. We’ve even got our own St Pancras beer, which is brewed in partnership with a brewery up in the Midlands. It welcomes travellers from across the world, and it really gives them a flavour for London and what we have to offer at St Pancras.

Business Destinations: St Pancras Renaissance effuses luxury and glamour. One of the hotel’s event spaces – the Ladies’ Smoking Room – was the first room in Europe where women could smoke publicly. And the extravagantly wide corridors were originally designed so that bustled Victorian ladies could pass one another without any embarrassing collisions. Now, although hosting 21st century events, it still maintains an a-list status.

Matthew Rowlette: We have a variety of events hosted here in the hotel. Obviously of course weddings, private boardroom meetings, all day seminars. Some of the more exciting things are fashion events; so we had a William Vintage dinner here on the eve of the Baftas, and equally for London Fashion Week, which was exciting. So we had a list of who’s who that were attending there, but equally we are a bit of a celebrity haunt.

Business Destinations: Perhaps the pièce de résistance of the hotel is the grand staircase – as the set of certain scenes in Downton Abbey and Harry Potter films; and of course the backdrop to the Spice Girls Wannabe music video – it will certainly take the mundane out of any business trip, and perhaps even transport you to a bygone era.

Matthew Rowlette: We’ve stayed obviously very true to what would have been here back when the hotel first opened in the 1870s. So a lot of the colours for example would have been Victorian colours, equally listed with English Heritage. You look up, and obviously here we are in the grand staircase. You look up, the colours of the ceiling and some of the work that’s been done, the fleur de lys along the walls, very much to create a resemblance to what the hotel would have been back in its pre-opening days and during the height of prosperity as well.

It offers à la carte English dining with a twist from the team of restaurateur Marcus Wareing

Business Destinations: There are more than 200 rooms in the hotel, ranging from £295 a night in the newly built Barlow House extension, to up to £7,500 for the Royal suite.

This is the one of the rooms in the old part of the hotel. And as you can see it has a really dramatic view of St Pancras station below, proving it really is the end of the line when it comes to luxury rail transport. But despite the room’s historic feel, it has all the modern amenities the business traveller has come to expect, from coffee making facilities, minibar, tv, and of course most importantly wifi!

A night in one of the originally restored Chambers suites comes with some unique services: including a Eurostar VIP valet service, a complimentary wet shave, a bath butler to draw you a relaxing scented bath of your choice, and admission to the exclusive Chambers Club.

Matthew Rowlette: The Chambers Club is a very unique aspect of the hotel. It’s obviously in the original Chambers part of the hotel. It’s a private club which is effectively set up for guests who are staying in this part of the hotel. So for the business traveller it’s great for pop-up meetings. There’s tailored services there, whether it be for drinks or for afternoon refreshments. It’s very private and exclusive to guests of this part of the hotel, and members of the club itself.

Business Destinations: And when it comes to overall relaxation, the hotel’s elegantly appointed spa is just the place: with its Victorian tiled relaxation pool, sauna, steam room, and extensive range of available treatments. There’s also the well-equipped gym for travellers who want to get energised, and the Gentlemen’s Tonic Express just next door – an exclusively male refuge for businessmen seeking a shave and a haircut.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel has always been part of the furniture of London, and its future looks just as promising. Situated on the busy Euston Road, it’s in the heart of King’s Cross, which in itself is seeing a business revival. Fifty new buildings are being constructed, and a new tech cluster is forming: Google and Facebook are just two big names moving into the area.

In the centre of London’s latest investment hub, and the most connected hotel to the continent, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is the perfect coupling of business convenience and romantic splendour.

Five factors to consider when buying overseas property

Posted on April 28, 2014April 28, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

Overseas property agents, in particular those in Spain and France, are reporting a rise interest and a steady flow of clients from the UK visiting to view potential properties. UK buyers searching for a dream holiday home in the sun should expect nothing short of excellent service from overseas estate agents, especially when it comes to post-purchase services.

UK buyers searching for a dream holiday home in the sun should expect nothing short of excellent service from overseas estate agents

Ideally, anyone buying abroad for the first time should check that their estate agent can assist with service connections, home improvements and other requirements after the sale has gone through, if help is required.

“As buyers flood back to Spain, it’s important they start out on the right foot as a new homeowner somewhere foreign – some simple things done from the outset, ideally before flying back home, can save hassle in the long run,” said Kieran Byrne, MD of HomeEspaña, an agency based in Spain’s Costa Blanca.

“Our after sales department is expecting a busy year. Recent statistics show that foreigners accounted for a record 21 per cent of property purchases in Spain last year, with the Valencian Community – home to the Costa Blanca – being the region that saw the highest rise in sales to overseas buyers.”

HomeEspaña has identified five key areas that new owners of property often require assistance with after signing along the dotted line.

Insurance
Buildings and contents insurance is a must for all property owners, but especially overseas buyers. If the property is left vacant for long periods or let to holidaymakers, owners must ensure they have adequate cover.

A good estate agent can assist with insuring properties through an English speaking UK based insurer or a local insurer. It is not unheard of for agents to deal with insurance claims on behalf of absent clients, for example a property flooded by a broken boiler, and help with arranging motor and moped insurance.

Changing locks
It is not uncommon for security conscious foreign owners to change the locks of their new foreign property. Your estate agent should be able to assist with arranging a locksmith to visit a property or purchasing replacement locks. They can also help with having an alarm fitted or key-holding, both of which non-residents typically choose to do.

TV, phone and internet connections
Buyers should not take it for granted that all properties in a foreign country are sold with telephone or broadband connections, or Satellite TV. Again, a decent estate agent will help you get connected and suggest suitable service providers, if need be.

A recent HomeEspaña client, Tim Dehaney from Bristol, said in March: “HomeEspaña were great, right down to getting a Satellite dish put up at my new apartment in Villamartín and organising for a charity to take away the furniture I didn’t want.”

Air conditioning
Stinking hot summers mean air conditioning is a common requirement for most homeowners in Mediterranean countries. If a property is without it or the existing units need replacing or repairing, ask your estate agent to suggest reliable local firms. Buyers of property on a new development may be able to choose whether or not to have it installed before completion.

Property improvements
Redecorating, replacing a kitchen, retiling the patio or having a swimming pool put in – it’s common for new owners to have improvement plans for their overseas property. An estate agent’s contact book should include local building firms, and they should also be able to suggest suitable places to purchase white goods and furniture.

Richard Way is the Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

Top 5 Indian cities for entrepreneurs

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

With more than a billion of its citizens set to vote in a general election that could determine how business friendly the country becomes, India is somewhere that entrepreneurs the world see great potential in. Last year a study conducted by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) looked at the challenges and potential of doing business in India.

Business Destinations has compiled the five cities that all budding entrepreneurs should head to for the best opportunities in a country notorious for placing bureaucratic hurdles in front of people trying to do business.

1. New Delhi

Population: 17.8m citizens
Key industries: Services/retail

Sunrise at India Gate. New Delhi — Sunrise at India Gate, New Delhi

India’s capital and the heart of the country’s political scene, New Delhi’s sprawling borders have seen a number of businesses set up shop over the last decade. A startling array of shiny, expensive new shopping malls have also sprouted up, highlighting the city’s reputation as a retail hub. The World Bank says it is the easiest city to start a business in India.

2. Patna

Population: 1.7m citizens
Key industry: Agriculture

The most populous city in the eastern state of Bihar, Patna is emerging as one of the country’s most promising economic hubs. A leading agricultural centre, Patna is where huge quantities of sugarcane, sesame, grain and race are trading. The World Bank believes Patna to be second only to Delhi as a place to start a business.

3. Mumbai

Population: 12.7m citizens
Key industries: Financial services/commerce

Boats in Mumbai harbor, with Taj Mahal hotel in the background

The country’s second largest city and commercial hub, Mumbai is where international businesses flock when first entering India. Primarily the country’s financial centre, it is home to many of India’s leading conglomerates, such as the Tata Group, Reliance, and the State Bank of India, and much of the country’s financial capital.

4. Jaipur

Population: 3.4m citizens
Key industries: Tourism/IT

The capital of the north-western state of Rajasthan, Jaipur has traditionally been known for its many tourist attractions. Jaipur has in recent years begun to act as a hub of technological innovation. The Mahindra Special Economic Zone is one of the largest in the country, and IT groups Infosys and Genpact are based there.

5. Hyderabad

Population: 9.1m citizens
Key industry: Manufacturing

A view of the Charminar Mosque in Hyderabad, India

The southern city of Hyderabad has long been the most important manufacturing centre of the country. In recent years it has seen a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies emerge within its borders, and it has set up infrastructure to support these industries. Hyderabad has also been known as the ‘City of Pearls’, on account of its rich history in the pearl trade.

Tips for renting out a holiday home

Posted on April 11, 2014April 11, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

New rules governing holiday lets in some countries mean homeowners who do not prepare in advance may not have their property ready in time for high season, particularly in popular European destinations such as Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Greece.

Anyone who recently purchased a holiday home they intend to let is likely to have paperwork to sort out, as well as kitting out the property and arranging the practical things like organising changeovers. Leave these things too late and you’ll miss out on the most profitable time of the year – the summer. Here are eight tips to help get owners started.

1. Register your property for tourist rentals
Spain, Greece and Portugal, amongst other countries, all require properties to have a licence or authorisation from the local council in order to be let legally to holidaymakers. Being caught in breach of this rule could lead to a hefty fine – in Spain this can range from €3,000 to €30,000.

Depending on the location, you may also be required to give passport details of paying guests to the local police station, just as hotels must record these details. You may also need to collect a tourist tax from your guests, which you pass on to the local government.

2. Declare your rental income
Remember, the authorities are looking at international rental websites to track down tax dodgers. The UK has double tax treaties with most European countries, so you won’t pay the same tax twice on earnings.

Think of small things you would like to find if you were staying in your home

3. Use a managing agent if you live in the UK
They can take much of the hassle of rentals, so look for one that has a good reputation locally. Normally they will charge 15 to 20 percent of the rent received and although this can seem a lot of money, good managing agents are worth every penny.

They will ensure that your property is well maintained, supply cleaners, meet and greet visitors and be on call if there are problems.

4. If you manage it yourself, be prepared to work
You will need to answer all enquiries from prospective renters, keep a calendar of arrivals and departures, maintain the premises to a high standard, welcome your guests and check everything when they depart and be on 24-hour call for emergencies.

5. Present your property well
Take really good photos for your advertisement, not only of the interior but also of the surroundings. Cleanliness is paramount and tourists from all over the world expect high standards.

Think of small things you would like to find if you were staying in your home – little extras count for a lot and earn good reviews. TV, Satellite, Wi-Fi and DVDs are often expected these days!

6. Offer a welcome pack
Sometimes visitors arrive late, the shops are closed and they don’t want to go to out to eat. A basket of essentials is always welcome – eggs, butter, bread, tomatoes, salad, water, beer and/or wine.

7. Provide information about the local area
Leave the district’s calendar of events, leaflets about local attractions, music festivals, sports and pretty beaches. Mention all these in your advert. Direct guests to local tourist offices for more options. Don’t forget to mention local markets of all descriptions. Holidaymakers love markets!

8. Get suitable insurance
Your household and contents insurance policy should be provide adequate cover for holiday rentals, including the necessary third party liability and cover for vacant periods. There are UK insurers that specialise in these types of policy, or look locally.

Richard Way is the Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

More travellers visit Central America as Nicaragua tourism safety grows

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

Recent stability in the Central American nation of Nicaragua leaves it poised to become one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions. Although it would have seemed inconceivable thirty years ago, Nicaragua has turned itself around, and a growing influx of expatriates seeking a different lifestyle have made tourism one of the country’s biggest, and most important industries.

Stressing this newfound importance, Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega has repeatedly underlined his desire to promote tourism in the country, especially to help tackle poverty.

From agritourism to ash-boarding
This could not be more true than for agritourism. A relatively new phenomenon, agritourism capitalises on those who are interested in how the food they consume makes its way to their plate. This type of holiday allows tourists to visit a farm and get involved or gain an understanding in tasks related to farming like picking produce. Many coffee plantations across Nicaragua have been quick to pick this up, with wild success.

Nicaragua is opening its doors to the rest of
the world

Agritourism is good both for visitors and for the farmers, as it provides a secondary stream of income that sustains local farming communities. Proponents of agritourism extol its virtues as a more ethical means of seeing the world – not only do visitors receive a more accurate depiction of a country, but the places they visit have not been built at the expense of local citizens or environment.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Nicaragua is ash-boarding, a new sport where participants sit on a skateboard-like contraption and slide precariously and extremely quickly down the sides of some of the country’s biggest (and still active) volcanoes.

Although dangerous, the country is trying to appeal to backpackers and younger travellers as much as it is trying to cater to older, luxury tourists.

Low-impact ecotourism is also on the rise in the country, with travellers keen to explore some of the country’s pristine jungle and volcanic regions. This small-scale tourism directly benefits the country in a number of ways, not least in helping it to maintain and preserve these fragile areas.

Nature can’t be tamed
Referred to as the ‘land of lakes and volcanos’, visitors often cite the ‘off-the-beaten-track’ feel to Nicaragua as being a big motivator for their visit. While tourism is growing at an unprecedented rate, the country is still the least visited in the region, perhaps because of historic problems and lack of exposure to a wider audience.

The country is teeming with interesting locales; from volcanoes to some of the best surfing in the world, Nicaragua is nothing if not diverse. Granada, commonly regarded as the country’s tourism capital, is quite possibly the oldest European city in the Americas.

Concepción is one of two volcanoes (along with Maderas) that form the island of Ometepe, which is situated in Lake Nicaragua

Founded in 1524, the city has a distinctly Andalusian feel, and it is now distinctly dependent on the influx of tourists. Nestled at the shores of Lake Nicaragua, the world’s twentieth largest, the city’s narrow streets are reminiscent of many European cities, as alleyways and cubbyholes give way to important historical monuments.

Fishing is also important here: Lake Nicaragua is rich with marine and aquatic life, even boasting freshwater sharks that make the journey upstream from the Caribbean. Granada was previously the country’s capital. A conflict of ideals between liberal parties, who preferred Granada, and conservative ones who preferred León, forced a compromise that selected Managua as Nicaragua’s prime city in the 1850s.

Vying for capital
León is widely considered to be Nicaragua’s intellectual capital because of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua which has been based there for over 200 years. With a vibrant atmosphere the town is most popular with younger travellers, who stay for the cheap living costs and growing bar scene. Visitors repeatedly say that these cities are the highlight of the country because of their history, cost and atmosphere.

Both Granada and León are only an hour or so drive from the capital, Managua.
Nicaragua’s capital is one of Central America’s largest cities. Originally a small fishing village, a sizeable proportion of the country’s population now live in this bustling urban centre.

Granada cathedral. Granada is considered by many to be the capital of Nicaragua, a title officially held by Léon — Granada cathedral. Granada is considered by many to be the tourism capital of Nicaragua

The influence of US visitors is clear here; the city has many chains that are commonplace in other countries but still relatively rare in Central America, including McDonalds and Pizza Hut. These are recent developments, but ones that prove that Nicaragua is opening its doors to the rest of the world, both for business and tourism.

Now, Nicaragua has burgeoning expatriate presence, particularly from the US. The reasons for a growing American community in Nicaragua are not hard to understand. Many choose to live in Nicaragua because of the cheap cost of living, friendly atmosphere and the safety of the country.

Like neighbour Costa Rica, which has itself experienced a tourism boom in the past few years, Nicaragua is once again proving that Central America has plenty to offer to an international traveller.

Learn a language online: from French to Finnish, there’s an app for all

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

As business travel becomes progressively more exotic with emerging and frontier markets opening up to development and major corporations, the demand for savvy business travellers with good language skills is increasing.

Countries such as Angola, Myanmar and Venezuela have opened up to key industries like oil production, telecommunications and manufacturing, bringing in global corporations and their employees. However, as economic growth in these countries begins to take off, business travellers can’t rely on English or similar dominant global languages when reaching a new destination.

Global language learning industry

$38.9bn

Forecasted revenue in 2014

In this respect, language learning is booming more than ever as globetrotters and linguistic lovers are looking to improve their means of communicating in an increasingly globalised world.

When it comes to language learning, it’s also all about ease. So while classic choices such as language schools, evening classes, textbooks and audio options are all good, technological innovations are making it possible to learn on the go and have quickly revolutionised the global language learning industry, which is set to reach $38.9bn in revenues in 2014.

The first option sweeping the language learning industry is language apps. A slew of developers have joined forces with linguistic and cognitive scientists in order to come up with apps that can make you fluent in no time.

One of the more popular apps of the moment is CatAcademy, which was started by Ed Cooke, a co-founder of Memrise, another popular language learning app. The apps use techniques such as spaced repetition, multiple test modes, and adaptation to your learning progress.

What makes CatAcademy different is that it uses pictures of cute cats to help people learn. This follows Japanese research, which found an interesting link between humorous photos and people being able to recall phrases, with photos of cats being the most effective when it comes to language learning. As such, the app shows photos of cats in unusual poses and displays a corresponding phrase in Spanish.

“We looked at what would be the best visual mnemonics we could take to put in this language-learning app, and overwhelmingly that was cute pictures, and specifically cats,” Ben Whately, COO of Memrise, told Wired.co.uk.

“We’ve arranged a course based on the best principles of how to arrange a language learning course based on phrases, utility and frequency lists, and the technology of how to know when to test you at the right time,” Whately added.

[M]obile and online technology is not only making it easier to learn a language, but also helping keep languages alive

The app suggests that a total of 1,000 phrases can be learned with the tool, which the creators say will result in 2,000-3,000 words being added to your brain. Other apps such as Anki and Busuu use similar flash card technology and memes, where one little click on your phone will help you remember key words and phrases – and not just for the day.

In this respect, learning a language needn’t just be a pastime. More and more recruiters are pointing out that multi-language skills are a key capability required in candidates across industries and that this can increase your salary significantly.

New research from The Economist suggests that an average starting salary of almost $45,000, could receive a two percent “language bonus” over 40 years, and also a one percent raise annually, giving employees an extra $67,000 by the time they retire.

The surge in language learning has also lead to the development of interesting online features and websites. One key phenomenon, which has proved to be particularly effective, is Skyping or video chatting with foreigners in a different language. Italki.com is one of the more popular sites, which sets up language learners with native speakers and teachers.

Similarly, blogs such as Talk To Me In Korean produce high quality content about South Korea and the Korean language, including posts about Korean instant food and setting up one-to-one video chats with native speakers.

Other sites, such as SpeakTalkChat, focus on group and video chats in endangered languages, which may prove useful when travelling to particularly remote destinations. In this respect, mobile and online technology is not only making it easier to learn a language, but also helping keep languages alive.

According to polyglots across the globe, video chatting is one of the most effective tools in language learning because these lessons can be tailored to the individual student and can happen in the comfort of your own home or anywhere with an internet connection. In addition, when learning Spanish from a local Argentinian for example, students learn cultural innuendos and slang, which can prove to be crucial knowledge when doing business abroad.

Montserrat developments give the island a new lease of life

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

Called the Emerald Island for its resemblance to the Irish coast, Montserrat is something of a tropical paradise. Lush, rolling vistas and small villages give way to the biggest hill of them all – Soufriére, dominating the southern half of the island – a hill under which much of the island’s population lived until the events of nearly twenty years ago.

For weeks, a series of eruptions had reverberated from the Soufriére Hills volcano, and when the ash began to pelt the town and its 4,000 citizens, they had no other choice but to leave. Within weeks, the town of Plymouth was buried and nearly two thirds of the island was placed within an exclusion zone that exists to this day.

The promise of a new capital town at Little Bay on the northwest coast of the island could revive the island

One would be forgiven for thinking that this would have a catastrophic effect on the tiny British Overseas Territory. Official estimates say that nearly 9,000 Montserratians left and are now living abroad – nearly twice the population left on the tiny Caribbean territory.

The loss of the island’s biggest settlement and, moreover, everything that a society needs to function, took a huge toll. The village of Brades has become the de facto base of operations for the island’s government, but now Montserrat is finally thinking about a permanent capital to replace Plymouth.

The promise of a new capital town at Little Bay on the northwest coast of Montserrat could revive the island. The plan is ambitious, with new government buildings, businesses and a new dock for passenger ferries. A new dock will allow for more regular connection with the island’s nearest neighbours, but it will also strengthen the island’s tourism industry. In the past the island had strong tourist appeal, but Hurricane Hugo in 1989 destroyed much of the island’s infrastructure and the tourists had all but dried up when Soufriére finally erupted.

The 225-acre project could bring a new lease of life to Montserrat. The new hub presents a unique opportunity – just as Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, so too do the residents of Montserrat hope that their modern-day equivalent can bring people to the island.

According to the development’s website, Montserrat would seek to cater to “low volume, luxury cruises” – something they claim is different from other Caribbean islands. The medium-term goal for the island is budgetary self-sufficiency; at the moment the island relies on the British Government to finance it, but when the Little Bay development is complete this will hopefully change.

Ivan Browne, CEO of the Montserrat Development Corporation, said at a recent media forum that the development was about showing people that Montserrat is “more than the volcano… a vibrant economy of 5,000 people on a lovely island that has overcome these natural disasters and are looking to welcome people back.”

All the development has had a magnetic effect for the island. Sensing this renewed optimism, many former residents have returned to Montserrat. The latest census on the island showed a slight upswing in population, mainly from repatriation, as more citizens see a more concrete future for the island.

The volcano remains under the watchful eye of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO). The reality for Montserrat is that despite its best efforts to build and carry on, it is are nevertheless at the mercy of the Soufriére Hills. The volcano seems to have calmed significantly since 2010, with only the merest of seismic activity taking place.

New hotel projects do little to dampen New York occupancy rate

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

New York’s popularity with visitors has not diminished in recent years, and even led to a swathe of newly constructed hotels. However, despite the increase in capacity, the city’s high occupancy rates are seeing little decline. According to real estate investment management firm Jones Lang LaSalle, New York was last year “the most active hotel investment market” in the world.

New York City, according to data by analysts Smith Travel Research (STR), has over 11,000 rooms currently being constructed. Marriott International recently opened its 68-floor hotel near Broadway, which is reportedly the tallest hotel in the US. However, despite these new offerings, the city has such a high demand that they will quickly be filled up, says, analyst John Fox, a senior vice president at PKF Consulting.

“It’s almost a bottomless pit, there is so much unsatisfied demand. If it’s sold out in Manhattan, there’s somebody staying out in Newark,” he told Business Travel News.

According to PKF president Mark Woodworth, visitors to New York are particularly looking for lower-cost developments, and are willing to forgo the typical luxuries for a simple room. This, he says, is where there is the greatest demand.

“Fundamentally, we need more rooms in this market, and people like those products – they like the Hamptons Inns and the Holiday Inn Expresses. They say, ‘Give me a room, and I don’t need a lot of space, as I’m in New York to do something outside or somewhere else.”

Occupancy rates have been on the rise throughout the country in the early part of this year. Despite cold weather, hotels in the US have seen an influx of visitors, says STR. While the country as a whole enjoyed a sharp rise in visitors during February – an average increase of 3.3 percent to 60.3 percent occupancy – regions towards the east enjoyed the biggest rise.

In particular the city of St Louis, in both Missouri and Illinois, saw a double digit occupancy increase of 10.1 percent during February. The rest of the country enjoyed healthy rises, according to STR, and this is perhaps reflected in prices being slashed.

“February results were healthy. RevPAR (revenue per available room) increased 7.3 percent, driven primarily by a 3.9 percent increase in ADR (average daily rate). Last year in February ADR increased 4.5 percent.

“This year growth was lower, but nonetheless stronger than in January, up 3.2 percent. Occupancy for the month was just over 60 percent, so hotels are reporting stronger occupancies again, and this goes hand in hand with some pricing power.”

Retiring abroad just got a whole lot easier thanks to spring budget 2014

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

Most people approaching retirement will have welcomed the spring budget 2014, including those on the verge of retiring abroad who would benefit from a lump sum to help them purchase or settle in their new country.

Osborne’s easing of regulation governing pension pots – including the freedom not to buy an annuity, the reduction in the tax rate levied on pensions taken below the age of 55, and the ability to release a higher value lump sum – will bring flexibility in what you can and can’t do with your pension, including putting it towards a foreign property purchase or overseas retirement. We’re all working for our perfect retirement – enjoying it somewhere sunny has just got a bit easier.

We’re all working for our perfect retirement – enjoying it somewhere sunny has just got a
bit easier

Having better access to a pension fund might mean less of us consider the option of equity release from our homes. According to the Equity Release Council, Brits are releasing equity from their homes at levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crash.

The over-55s in the UK borrowed more than £1bn against their homes in 2013, accounting for 19,000 borrowers, said the Council. This compares to 30,000 borrowers in 2007 – when equity release peaked – and 16,000 in 2011, when the UK was suffering economic hardship.

Figures show that the upper amounts of cash being borrowed against homes has reached one of the highest averages ever, namely £60,000 – the cost of a two-bedroom beach apartment in the southern Costa Blanca!

While today there are more opportunities to use UK equity to fund an overseas property purchase compared to within the past five years, Brits are strongly advised to do their sums, take professional advice and not over-stretch themselves – especially given buying abroad could leave them exposed to currency markets.

All that said, careful planning and some serious saving is needed if we want to move abroad for a long retirement. Why? Today’s working population will need to wait longer than their European neighbours before having the opportunity to retire to the sun, on account of a lack of savings and poor pensions, according to a recent report by global research firm Nielsen.

The report showed that one in five Brits now don’t expect to retire before they are 70, compared to just 12 percent in Europe. Meanwhile, 44 percent of people said they expect to work beyond the current UK pension age of 65 – whether into their late 60s or into their 70s, which again compares significantly with 25 percent for the rest of the world.

Retirees constitute a significant portion of British expats in popular European destinations, including Spain and France.

The evidence suggests that upping sticks and moving somewhere sunny for your retirement might not be as easy for younger generations as it has been for current pensioners, or those in other countries.

And with prices in most of Europe remaining depressed and sterling holding its value agains the euro at around £1/€1.20, conditions really are favourable to British retirees.

We recently came across a maternity nurse Julia Lannaman, a Jamaican living in London, who found her dream retirement home in Spain’s Costa Blanca, following a fruitless house-hunt in England.

Julia visited the southern Costa Blanca where local estate agency HomeEspaña showed her a selection of properties. She found what she was looking for on the second day of her trip – a three-bedroom townhouse in Villamartín – and returned to complete the purchase in July, paying the purchase price of €80,000, plus fees and taxes of €9,000.

With deals like that around, there’s not a lot to lose!

Richard Way is the Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

For further information visit www.spainbuyingguide.com

Top 5: flower markets

Posted on March 28, 2014March 25, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

1. Aalsmeer, Netherlands

The world’s largest flower auction, selling 20 million flowers per day, is mere minutes from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Guests can get guided tours around the auction halls and historic gardens.

2. Mong Kok, Hong Kong

Originally a wholesale market for the city’s florists, this street, which has been renamed Flower Market Road, is a top tourist attraction and a great place to pick up affordable orchid hybrids. Over 50 plant stores provide plenty to look at.

3. London, UK

Every Sunday Columbia Road – a street built in the 1860s, now lined with independent shops – is taken over by a flower market selling everything from herbs and shrubs to home-grown British bedding plants and giant amaryllis.

4. Malik Ghat, India

This 125-year-old wholesale flower market welcomes 200 traders every day. Among the bustle, visitors can pick up decorative strings of marigolds, carnations and hibiscus heads, as well as fragile bracelets made from tiny, fragrant buds.

5. Cuenca, Ecuador

High in the Andes, this pretty little town has gained recent popularity thanks to the traditional flower market in its historic cathedral square. All of the plants are locally grown, including a great selection from the mountain rose farms.

Stockholm

Posted on March 26, 2014March 27, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

Where to stay

The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm boasts remarkable sea views and a Michelin-starred restaurant - what more could you want? — The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm boasts remarkable sea views and a Michelin-starred restaurant – what more could you want?

Stockholm, a city built across 14 islands in the wider Stockholm archipelago, makes the most of its abundance of waterfront. Take advantage of this by staying at the Grand Hôtel Stockholm. It’s located on Norrmalm – with views across the water to Gamla Stan, the city’s historic centre – and has been providing luxurious accommodation since 1874. The five-star hotel boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, one of the city’s hottest bars, and a selection of opulently decorated rooms.

What to eat

Located in the heart of the Royal Game Park, Rose's Garden is the perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat. All meals are prepared with fresh produce grown on site — Located in the heart of the Royal Game Park, Rose’s Garden is the perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat. All meals are prepared with fresh produce grown on site

Take a stroll through the Royal Game Park – the Djurgården if your Swedish pronunciation is better than ours – and seek out Rose’s Garden (Rosendals Trädgård). Comprising a plant shop, general shop and café, Rose’s Garden cooks simple dishes with ingredients grown on site. Food is served in a selection of ramshackle greenhouses that are well heated against the chill. It is the perfect location for an afternoon fika – a sort of coffee-and-cake break, which is a Swedish institution.

Places to drink

In Stockholm you will be spoiled for choice for bars, so why not try something a little bit different? Head to the Chokladkoppen café on Gamla Stan and enjoy a speciality hot chocolate

Stockholm doesn’t lack bars, although travellers may baulk at paying over £5 for one beer. The city’s trendier youth tend to congregate on the southern island, Södermalm, at the bars off Götgatan. The Cadier bar at the Grand Hôtel enjoys views over the harbour and Royal Palace is perfect if you like sunsets with your champagne. For a non-alcoholic winter warmer try the Chokladkoppen café on Gamla Stan. Their specialities are bowls of delicious hot chocolate and they’re open ’til 11 most nights.

Things to see

The famous Vasa warship is located at the Moderna Museet - a museum so big it is on its own island! — The famous Vasa warship is located at the Moderna Museet – a museum so big it is on its own island

The Moderna Museet – Stockholm’s modern art museum – is situated on its own island and houses an impressive permanent collection and well-curated temporary exhibitions. From the modern to the historical: the Vasa, a huge warship built in the seventeenth century, sank a kilometre into its maiden voyage by virtue of an overloaded deck and insufficient ballast. It’s now housed in the spectacular Vasa Museum, after being raised from the harbour in wonderful condition in the 1960s.

Hope in the form of polo

Posted on March 25, 2014March 25, 2014 by Charlotte Gill

Set in the foothills of the spectacular Maluti Mountains in the Eastern Free State – one of the most beautiful yet poorest parts of South Africa – is Uitgedacht Farm, home to the Poloafrica Development Trust. The original mission of the Trust, now in its ninth year of operation, was to use the love of ponies, riding and the sport of polo to transform the lives of underprivileged adults and children. This mission remains the cornerstone of the Trust’s endeavours, but the programme has evolved beyond this, becoming a powerful force for good in a rural, disadvantaged community.

Poloafrica’s sport development programme is unique in Africa

Poloafrica’s sport development programme is unique in Africa. It gives underprivileged adults the opportunity to participate in polo, allowing them to flourish as well-respected polo professionals, whether through pony care, farrier work, schooling ponies, or coaching other players in the sport. All of these adults have little education, some having grown up during the apartheid regime, and all having faced the challenges that still exist in rural education in South Africa. None of the adults in the programme have a matric certificate; some did not make it beyond primary school.

Poloafrica fills the gap by teaching them vocational skills that can be translated into employment in any area of the country, or overseas. The coaching they receive as Poloafrica professionals in pony schooling and pony care is among the best in the world.

These adults, with a strong sense of pride, play a key role in aiding the children participating in the programme; there are over 40 at present. These boys and girls have earned the chance to care for the ponies, learn to ride, and play the game, knowing they must demonstrate discipline and commitment to the animal and the sport, register at school, and work hard there and at the academic and practical life-skills lessons provided for them in the holidays.

Unlocking potential
The Transformation Charter for South African Sport encourages change in sport through broader community involvement, and the creation of development programmes at grassroots levels to deliver facilities and infrastructure to previously deprived communities, with the goal of unlocking the potential of South Africa’s black youth. Poloafrica’s strategy delivers these objectives.

The programme provides beautiful, first-class riding and polo facilities in an under-served area, with extensive community involvement. It has already developed a robust pipeline of promising young players from one of the most disadvantaged parts of the country. By changing perception of the sport, Poloafrica aims to make polo more inclusive and encourage wealthy black South Africans to join the game. In 2011 Poloafrica gained increased credibility when it was accepted as a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation project.

Although the overall objective of Poloafrica is to arm disadvantaged children with general life skills for the future, a few participants have gone on to pursue professional polo careers

The ponies and the polo, both beloved by the children, are only a means to an end. The point of this programme is not to create future polo players (although this does happen) but to foster academic and vocational inspiration, and a sense of self-discipline and purpose, which will serve the Poloafrica boys and girls well in years to come.

The programme gives children hope and confidence in themselves. As they experience collective success, such as the Poloafrica team winning a tournament, one of their fellows being singled out for the Laureus youth leadership programme, or a cohort of Poloafrica scholars making it to grade 10 (grade nine is the point at which many children drop out of school in South Africa), they all begin to believe that they can succeed. A sense of hope is a powerful force which drives individuals to strive for success in life and which sadly is in short supply in communities such as the one from which these children come.

Learning life skills
The Poloafrica programme gives scholars the opportunity to learn life skills, such as art, beekeeping, carpentry, computer skills, gardening, needlework, spoken self-expression and welding. They also receive extra tuition in maths and English, two areas that present a challenge to rural underprivileged children in South Africa. The children come to the farm on Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays, during the school term, and five days a week in the holidays. They spend all day on the farm having riding lessons, pony care tuition and polo practice. Four days a week during the holidays they receive life-skills lessons. It is an all-absorbing programme, keeping the children busy and inspired.

One of the social barriers Poloafrica hopes to help break down is the gender divide, and so it has been very rewarding to see girls eager to learn practical skills, such as welding and carpentry, traditionally only done by men. Equally, some of the boy scholars enjoy needlework and cooking.

A sense of hope is a powerful force which drives individuals to strive for success in life

The extreme poverty in parts of rural South Africa means children living on farms often drop out of school as the logistics and cost are too much for the family to manage, especially when it’s time for the child to leave farm school and attend school in town. All children are given transport and homework help for school attendance, and some receive additional financial support.

Scholarships are granted on merit, with one or two bursaries granted on the basis of severe need. The focus on education helps the village communities; studies show that as education improves teenage pregnancies fall, and the health of families increases.

The opportunities reach beyond the Poloafrica children who directly benefit from the programme. Poloafrica is widely known in the local community, affecting many families, and is seen as an important force for good. A family receiving educational support for one child is better able to help other family members attend school. The labour requirements of the programme are intensive, given that over 70 ponies and extensive infrastructure are vital.

Positive economy
The employment Poloafrica offers has a significant economic impact in an area of high unemployment. More than 70 percent of households in the seven villages within a 15km radius of the farm have a family member participating in the programme – be it an existing or former Poloafrica scholar, an existing or former employee, contract worker or volunteer. The economic influence spreads further than this, as Poloafrica draws on the local community for teaching help during holidays.

Poloafrica is branching into other areas of social development. Currently under construction is a schoolyard complex, to improve the educational support available at weekends and during holidays. This complex is being built out of traditional materials to give an opportunity to people with traditional skills in the community to pass these on to the next generation.

There is an expert thatcher in the community, who cannot read or write, but who is a master craftsman. He has attempted to teach his skill to younger people, but as yet in no coordinated way. He is building Poloafrica’s new schoolhouse complex, while teaching members of the community his beautiful and sustainable craft.

Poloafrica has installed electricity at the schoolhouse complex, with the goal of expanding the programme’s educational efforts. The aim is to provide e-learning opportunities for the Poloafrica scholars, to support and augment their schoolwork. A focused programme of e-learning, with particular focus on maths, science and English, could result in step change for these children’s educational prospects.

A second important focus is vocational training, not only equestrian-related but involving a range of practical skills used in a farming community. Take beekeeping – this is a skill in short supply in South Africa, particularly so in the Free State. There are not enough beekeepers in the country, yet bees are an essential contributor to the health of the countryside and the success of farms. Beekeeping is a vocation that people who live in rural areas can embrace with little capital outlay, and which can provide a viable source of income for a family.

From gardening to caring for chickens, the children at Poloafrica help out around the property

Poloafrica’s also believes that beekeeping teaches empathy towards nature and animals. It cultivates personal commitment and self-discipline – qualities Poloafrica fosters in its scholars. Poloafrica has a beekeeping project, running for two years now, as part of the children’s life-skills programme. So far twelve children have passed the introductory beekeeping course, two have progressed to intermediate practicals, and three more to advanced practicals – meaning they are now beekeepers in their own right.

The scholars at the intermediate and advanced level look after their own hives on the farm. The children are also encouraged to learn gardening, and pig and chicken care on the farm. All the Poloafrica scholars who are currently in grade 10 or above have elected to study agriculture for their Matric and the programme’s mentors are exploring opportunities specifically for females in farming.

Driving change
The curious juxtaposition of ponies, polo and a disadvantaged community is driving change for good in a beautiful corner of South Africa. Above all, quite apart from the education, sport and social development opportunities the programme provides, Poloafrica gives underprivileged boys and girls a chance for childhood happiness. The Poloafrica scholars spend much of their free time in a beautiful safe place, with lots of books, ponies, and mentors that cherish and care for them. They can read, ride, fish, play polo, and garden – having lots of fun as well as feeling proud to be part of Poloafrica. It is a childhood dream.

Catherine Cairns, a British businesswoman, is the founder and main sponsor of the Poloafrica Development Trust. Catherine, a graduate of the Wharton School and a Fellow of the Lauder Institute there, has an investment banking and management consulting background and broad operational experience in a variety of sectors across the world. Catherine currently works as a company turnaround agent on the African continent and further afield for an international group with interests inter alia in telecommunications, fibre optics, liquid filtration and solar solutions.