News

Older News

• 

  Camera Obscura Wins Industry Trailblazer Award from Living Wage Scotland

  Thursday, November 30, 2023

  Camera Obscura & World of Illusions have been crowned winner of the Trailblazer Award at the 2023 Living Wage Scotland awards ceremony.

• 

  Dublin City to become European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2024

  Wednesday, November 29, 2023

  On Monday the European Commission announced that the Irish capital has been named as a European Capital of Intelligent Tourism 2024 in Brussels
  The judges noted that throughout this past year, the city has been so actively involved in decision making that it has created a destination that is "resonates with its people and embraces innovation at the same time". We have picked 30 candidates from 17 countries, of which six are shortlisted: Bremerhaven, Cork, Dublin, Genoa, Helsingborg and San Sebastián.

• 

  Tourism is on the rise, but still 9% below 2019 levels

  Monday, November 27, 2023

  The most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show visitations to the UK grew 112 per cent year-on-year, generating revenues of £30 billion, but still 9 per cent below a 2019 level.
  Measures to make the UK more competitive and attractable for foreign visitors can help bring attendance levels back to pre-pandemic levels, and surpass them.
  Raising the national living wage was also confirmed in the statement, which along with widespread rising costs would "drive some firms to the margins," said Loungers founder Alex Reilley.

• 

  All-Star chef jury selects two Andrew Fairlie scholarships for 2023

  Friday, November 24, 2023

  Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland has released two worthy recipients of its fourth Andrew Fairlie Scholarship.
  Darren Seggie, 35, lecturing culinary arts at City of Glasgow College, and Rachel Bremner, 34, confectioner at The Balmoral, were the chefs who most impressed the judges.

• 

  Confidence is increasing, but business rates must be dealt with

  Wednesday, November 22, 2023

  Almost half (49%) of hospitality company leaders is confident that the hospitality market will recover in the next 12 months, up four percentage points from the 45% it recorded in August
  Over a quarter (29 per cent) of managers say they have seen holiday bookings fall around this time in the past year - twice the percentage (15 per cent) who say bookings have fallen.
  Employers have increased pay levels by an average of 10% during the last 12 months, even though better wage levels have helped to reduce the number of jobs that remain open from 11% in their last survey to 8%.

• 

  Irish group to take 95-bed hotel in Glasgow city centre to open

  Wednesday, November 22, 2023

  The family-run Irish hotel group, The Address Collective, is expanding to Scotland with its new location in the centre of Glasgow.
  The Address Glasgow is the first Scottish hotel, and the first business outside Ireland to provide guest accommodations by The Address Collective. It is the fifth Address Collective accommodation set in the bustling heart of Glasgow on Renfield Street.

• 

  Hunt plans to extend UK tax breaks for hospitality, small businesses

  Monday, November 20, 2023

  Treasury Secretary Jeremy Hunt is considering plans to extend tax breaks for hospitality and small firms in next week's Autumn Statement as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth.
  Among the plans being looked at today will be the launch of a combined cash Isas and shares Isa in an effort to encourage more investment in the UK stock market.
  Mr Hunt is to make final decisions on his plans after receiving the most recent Office for Budget Responsibility budget forecasts on Friday.

• 

  Mars concludes £534m deal to buy Hotel Chocolat at enormous premium

  Friday, November 17, 2023

  US food giant Mars said on Thursday it was to buy British chocolatier Resort Chocolat for £534m as it sought to revamp its global presence following its foster the spread of inexpensive luxury milk chocolate 534 years ago.
  "The cash offer is… a ridiculous premium for what is fundamentally a business with limited future growth in the UK, and questionable performance internationally," - Jonathan De Mello.
  Launched twenty years ago, Hotel Chocolat's mission is to make chocolate exciting and it has successfully brought ethically affordable luxury to the UK High Street with more than 130 shops.

• 

  FAO's report for October shows global food prices falling

  Wednesday, November 8, 2023

  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)"s price index, which covers the world's most traded food commodities, fell in October to its lowest score in more than two years, driven by declines in sugar, cereals, plant oils and meat.
  The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said its food price index had fallen in October to its lowest level in more than two years.

• 

  Edinburgh hotels:'Ambitious' Apex wants hotel group to be expanded

  Monday, November 6, 2023

  Apex, which owns hotels in Bath, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Pitlochry, returned to full-profit profit for the first time since the pandemic began at the end of April 2022, a time when commerce had been rampant without rules Operational profit of £14.5m was up on last year's £2.9m.
  "experienced a significant increase in demand across all our hotels, from both the corporate and leisure markets" - Angela Vickers