From five star hotels to country pubs, catering colleges to restaurants, hospitality industry workers across the country will be showing their commitment to the fantastic industry they work in by taking part in Hospitality Action’s annual fundraising week from 14-20 May. With HA Week fast approaching, the ideas are coming in for different ways to raise money. The great thing about HA Week is it’s simple, flexible and most importantly – fun! So whether you think you can raise £5 or £5,000, your contribution will make an enormous difference to those in need. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

• Restaurateurs: Have you thought about auctioning off your chef’s skills for a night to give customers the opportunity to host the ultimate dinner party?
• Contract caterers: Has all that hard work left you in need of a holiday? Big Prize Draw tickets are just £1 each for the chance to win an amazing trip to Florida, as well as other fantastic prizes.
• Publicans: Why not host a quiz night or fancy dress party (or both!)
• Hotels: Have you considered taking part in our ‘At your discretion’ restaurant appeal or donating a percentage of any spa treatment, meal or room service charge to HA Week?
• Bargain Hunters: Get those fingers ready to click from May 14 as the Hospitality Action Week online auction goes live. Prizes include an overnight stay at the five star Penny Hill Park in Surrey and a tasting menu for two at the Michelin star Sienna Dorset.

A number of businesses and colleges have already pledged their support, including: Red Carnation Hotels, Park Plaza Hotels, Unilever Food Solutions, The Cavendish, Bunzl, York College, Nottingham College and The London Linen Group, to name just a few. To view some of the messages of support we have received please click on the HA Week video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bla18EltHkE

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join in the fun! Click on the link below to register your interest and to receive your free fundraising pack: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/haweek
Looking for a quick and easy way to show your support? Simply text 70070 with the code HAWK12 £5, to donate £5 to HA Week.

Moore and Smalley’s annual Hotel Benchmarking Review, which examines the accounting data of over 50 hotels across the region, recorded a marginal increase in average net profit for hotels in spite of an average drop in turnover of five per cent.

According to the report, which compares figures for 2011 with the same period in 2010, hotels have managed to achieve this slight upturn in profit even with increased staff costs, suggesting significant cuts are being made elsewhere.

Judith Dugdale, head of the leisure and tourism team at Moore and Smalley, said while it was good to see hoteliers being prudent, hotel businesses had to guard against cutting costs too deeply, especially in areas such a marketing and investment in product quality.

The headline findings of Moore and Smalley’s Hotel Benchmarking Survey included:

• A small average increase in net profit for all hotels

• A drop in turnover of around nine per cent for hotels in seaside resorts

• An increase in turnover of under one per cent for hotels in rural locations, including the Lake District

• Wage costs have increased to 37 per cent as a percentage of turnover

• Investment in hotels (as a percentage of turnover) has dropped considerably from 2010.

• Seaside hotels have seen a bigger fall in sales than their countryside counterparts.

Judith, who advises hotel businesses across the region, said: “Income is hard to come by and room rates are being challenged across the sector. Turnover is down on average and seaside locations have suffered the most with an average drop in turnover of 9 per cent on the same period the previous year.

“As turnover has reduced and wages have risen this suggests that hoteliers must have been cutting other costs in order to report an increase in net profit. We have seen a reduction in marketing spend from hotel businesses, but this has to be done with caution.

“Cutting back too much in these areas can lead to reductions in sales for years to come and hoteliers need to ascertain which areas of marketing are not working and concentrate on more effective marketing techniques to find ways of attracting customers.”

According to the survey, employee costs remain the largest cost for a traditional hotel with average wage costs being 37 per cent of turnover, compared to 35 per cent the previous year.

Countryside hoteliers appear to be able to keep their payroll costs down (33.8 per cent) compared to their seaside rivals (40 per cent).

The main reason for this, according to Judith is that countryside hotels tend to have higher number of wedding functions than their seaside counterparts, and these functions return a better margin on wage costs than standard accommodation, bar and restaurant income.

Judith also stressed the importance of hotel businesses investing in the product offering.

She added: “Investment in hotels as a percentage of turnover has dropped considerably on 2010 levels. This will be because many hotels have made significant investments in previous years, but hoteliers need to ensure they are constantly investing in product quality.”

The Linen Group is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a patriotic table range based on the Union Jack design.

A special pack has been created due to increased demand for red, white and blue table linens. The range is aimed at those customers organising community events and parties in celebration of the 60th anniversary.

The set consists of a white tablecloth with four red runners and eight blue napkins. Matching table skirts, chair covers, bows and sashes are available. For real royalists and young princesses, attractive crown-shaped napkins can also be made up on request.

Tarik Saleem, managing director of The Linen Group, said: “The Union Jack-themed table set allows hotels, restaurants and event organisers to really push the boat out and celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in style.

“Our ability to quickly respond to this trend is testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver the highest standard of service, as well as products that meet the individual needs of our customers.”

The Linen Group’s table range has been created using Polyvant Linen, which features qualities such as improved colour retention and a heavier weight composition, ensuring the linens stay looking new for longer.

The Manchester-based business, which has been operating since 1987, successfully services the most demanding linen requirements of the hospitality and leisure industries across the UK.

The Linen Group’s extensive range of textiles and in-house laundry services has enabled the company to work with a variety of businesses over the years. These range from high profile clients, such as Manchester City Football Club, to smaller independent companies and event organisers.

An elite line up of judges has whittled down a record number of entries for the 2012 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards to reveal the nominees for 15 categories.

They will now have to wait until the special awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 13, at Wembley Stadium to find out which of them has won these coveted prizes.

There are 16 awards in total, 14 open to nominations, and two in the hands of a special team of Craft Guild member judges. The latter includes the Special Award, chosen by the committee of the Craft Guild of Chefs, which is presented to the person who above all has made an enormous contribution to the industry. The Craft Guild’s committee also judges the New Restaurant of the Year Award.

The nominees for each award category are:
Apprentice Chef Award
Conor McLean, The Savoy
Lyndsay Michie, La Gavroche
April Partridge, The Ivy

Armed Services Chef Award
Alun Davies, Royal Air Force
Mark Sweeney, Royal Air Force
Laura Willison, Royal Navy

Banqueting & Event Chef Award
Darren Deadman, Leiths
Phil Herd, Levy Restaurant
Tom Parry, Sodexo Prestige

Competition Chef Award
Mark Hill, House of Commons
Javier Mercado, Westminster Kingsway College
Adam Smith, The Ritz London

Contract Catering Chef Award
Mark Crowe, Elior UK
Glynn Lawrence, Sodexo Prestige
Danny Leung, Lexington

Cost Sector Chef Award
Mark Hancock, University of West Sussex
Sheila Mingay Sales, Crocus Fields (Nottingham City Council)
Ryan Wilson, Harper Adams University College

Development Chef Award
Antony Bennett, La Tasca
Robin Turner, Sodexo
Andy Twells, Marks & Spencer

Education Chef Award
Ian Baillie, South Downs College
John Crowe, North West Regional College
Gary Hunter, Westminster Kingsway College

Ethnic Chef Award
Mehernosh Mody, La Porte des Indes
Rakesh Ravindran Nair, The Cinnamon Club
Sudha Shankar Saha, Saffron

New Restaurant of the Year Award
Pollen Street Social, London – Jason Atherton
Rocksalt, Folkestone – Mark Sargeant
Roganics, London – Simon Rogan

Pastry Chef Award
Cherish Finden, The Langham
Martin Powell, RAC Club
Yolande Stanley, Westminster Kingsway College

People’s Choice Award
Geoff Acott, Craft Guild of Chefs
Paul Gayler, The Lanesborough
Peter Hazzard, Chaddlewood Consultancy
Michael Kitts, Emirates Culinary Academy of Hospitality Management

Pub Chef Award
Jean-Philippe Bidart, The Millbrook Inn
Rob Hartwell, The Peach Pub Company
Gary Witchalls, The Mole Inn

Restaurant Chef Award
Richard Allen, Grand Jersey Hotel and Spa
Morgan Meunier, Morgan M Ltd
Paul Shields, The Covent Garden Hotel

Young Chef Award
Rosa Fothergill, The Rhinehouse Hotel
Ben Murphy, Pierre Koffmann at The Berkeley
Andrew Tomkinson, The Dorchester

To share in this amazing experience, book now for the Craft Guild Awards by visiting http://www.craftguildofchefs.org/competitions/craft-guild-of-chefs-awards-2010/3

For further information, please log onto www.craftguildofchefs.org

The Manchester Office of Christie + Co have sold Altrincham Lodge Hotel, which is situated on the busy A56 Manchester Road in West Timperley, just one mile from Altrincham town centre and seven-and-a-half miles south of Manchester city centre.

The hotel, which will continue to trade as a budget hotel, benefits from 48 well-presented en suite letting bedrooms and 53 car parking spaces.

Contracts were exchanged four weeks after the deal was agreed with the national, multiple hotel operator, Metro Inns, which has other hotels in Newcastle, Liverpool, Teeside and Falkirk.

Martin Davis of Christie + Co commented: “Altrincham Lodge Hotel provided an excellent opportunity for Metro Inns to acquire another premium budget hotel. It is in an excellent location serving both leisure and commercial guests.”

The Linen Group – one of the most experienced companies operating in the speciality linen hire and laundry sectors – celebrates 25 years in the industry with the launch of its new website.

The Manchester-based business has been operating since 1987, successfully servicing the most demanding linen requirements of the hospitality and leisure industries across the UK.

The launch of the new website signals The Linen Group’s commitment to its valued clients, emphasising the pride it takes in the services it provides.

The Linen Group’s extensive range of textiles and in-house laundry services has seen it working with a variety of businesses over the years, these range from high profile clients, such as Manchester City football club, to smaller independent companies and event organisers.

Tarik Saleem, managing director of The Linen Group, commented: “We always aim to keep the heritage and the success of the business at our core, while embracing the ever-changing demands of the industries we service.

“The launch of the new site signifies our ongoing dedication to the industry and also celebrates the outstanding achievements of the business over the past 25 years. We also have some exciting plans and announcements coming up over the next 12 months.

“We look forward to another 25, thriving years in the linen hire and laundry service business.”

Originally established as Air Linen, the company catered to the linen needs of airlines operating on its doorstep at Manchester Airport. The business rebranded in 1994 as The Linen Group concentrating its efforts on a nationwide linen hire and commercial laundry service.

To find out more about The Linen Group, please visit the new website – www.thelinengroup.co.uk.

The De Vere Group is selling two hotels to Britannia Hotels for around £20m. It has exchanged contracts on the five-star, 140-bedroom Royal Bath in Bournemouth the 192-bedroom De Vere Daresbury Park in Warrington.

De Vere is also negotiating the sale of two further hotels (the 173-bedroom Grand Harbour, Southampton, and the 119-bedroom University Arms, Cambridge) following a strategic review of the group, which last year achieved an annual turnover of £360m.

The sale of the properties will help fund the expansion of the De Vere Village brand, which is planning to add up to 18 hotels to the current portfolio of 25 hotels over the next five years, as well as the growth of the De Vere Venues brand, which operates 28 conference and training centres. The cash injection will also provide capital investment in some of the nine luxury properties which make up the De Vere Hotels brand.

De Vere Group’s chief executive, Andrew Coppel, said he was pleased to have successfully sold the hotels in Bournemouth and Warrington. “The proceeds from our disposal programme will go towards funding a range of exciting development opportunities across the group, building a better De Vere and generating increased value for our stakeholders.”

Britannia Hotels, which now owns 41 hotels across the UK, is currently on a buying spree, having acquired two hotels in Scarborough - the Royal and the Clifton, and the Ramada Hotel Leeds North earlier this year.

Sanguine Hospitality has opened a new Holiday Inn Express hotel at Hoylake, Wirral, on the site of the former Kings Gap Hotel.

The new £5.5m scheme includes a 56-bed hotel and a 155-seat Frankie’s New York Italian restaurant, which is a collaboration between celebrity chef Marco Pierre White and champion jockey Frankie Dettori.

Robin Wicks, chief executive of Sanguine Hospitality, said: “The success of the hotel will be determined by our ability to establish it as a viable alternative for tourists and business travellers visiting Liverpool.

“We hope to shine a light on Hoylake’s many qualities and reap the rewards for the hotel, restaurant and the village as a whole.”

The hotel is located close to many of the North West’s renowned golf courses and is already fully booked for the Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 2014 and the 2012 Women’s Open.

John Brown, general manager of Holiday Inn Express Liverpool-Hoylake, said: “A lot of detailed work has gone into modernising the building without losing any of its character and the result is an impressive, contemporary hotel. We want the hotel, restaurant and bar to become a hub for village life, somewhere that families can visit together at any time during the week.

“The hotel is located very close to a number of excellent golf clubs so we’re expecting a high volume of golfing enthusiasts through our doors.

“We want to make golfers as welcome as possible and are looking into added extras such as a practice room, to enhance their stay.”

Leading hotel and licensed property specialists Colliers International are offering for sale the uniquely themed Aphrodites Boutique Hotel with spa and pool in Bowness-on-Windermere, one of the most sought after areas in the Lake District. The hotel was featured in Channel 4’s “Four in a bed” programme on Tuesday, 17 April 2012.

The property is located in a superb secluded area at the top of Longtail Hill, on the fringe of the picturesque village of Bowness.

With its classic and romantically themed accommodation, the hotel includes 17 bedrooms of outstanding quality. Some bedrooms feature four poster beds, hot tubs, spa baths and open log fires, including rooms with themes ranging from James Bond and Cleopatra to Tarzan and Jane and Robin Hood.

Following a £1 million refurbishment, the hotel also features a superb spa and treatment centre and a heated pool, all complimented by a spacious car park.

As an integral part of the business, a state of the art website - www.aphroditeslodge.co.uk - has been created by the current owners to generate a substantial level of bookings and turnover which the hotel has readily achieved on an annual basis.

Having enjoyed their ownership of Aphrodites, the owners are now offering the business for sale with the benefit of a new lease, allowing the new buyer to enjoy this very profitable business at a realistic cost.

Haydn Spedding, a Director at Colliers International, said: “This is a beautiful and highly individual property as well as a very successful business. With its superb location, high quality unique accommodation and excellent marketing , the hotel has an outstanding level of both takings and profitability rarely seen at this level even in the Lake District.”

Haydn added: “It’s not often that a property of this calibre becomes available, offering a fantastic business opportunity for such a reasonable price.”

Colliers International are inviting offers of around £395,000 for the Aphrodites Boutique Hotel.

Demand for hotels in Manchester was up by 3% in February, with Occupancy rates climbing to 75.7%, according to new figures from accountants PKF.

Hoteliers in Blackpool also reported an increase in demand, with occupancy rates climbing 1.3% to 52.7%. However, demand in Liverpool and Chester witnessed marked drops in year-on-year figures.

In Liverpool, occupancy rates dropped by 5.8% to £63.7%, although room rates increased slightly to £65.84. In Chester, occupancy rates dropped by 5.4% to 56.9% and room rates fell by 9% to £52.81.

Mark Sykes, partner at PKF, commented: “The hotel market is still somewhat turbulent in the North West with some months seeing an improvement on the previous year’s results whilst others show a decline.

“This underlines the dependence the regions have on the MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Events) market, which remains largely subdued at present. Unfortunately, there is little to suggest that the situation will improve anytime in the foreseeable future.”