Merry Old England a hot meeting market

Hotels across England are increasingly being designed to cater to the business and meeting market, according to Simon Gidman, manager of Business Visits and Events Manager, MeetEngland.
 

“England is incredibly well-placed for attracting international meeting and event planners and business travelers looking for a unique hotel and location, thanks to its expanded portfolio of impressive properties throughout the country,” he said.
 

Many of these properties have the added advantage of being close to some of the country’s most iconic attractions.
 

These range from the historical city of York’s first five-star hotel and spa to the first boutique style hotel in Shakespeare’s Country.
 

York’s first five-star hotel is the Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa, which opened last May.

“Retaining the original features and beauty of the building, the hotel was designed to restore the feel of the Golden Age of travel, while providing visitors with modern and state-of-the-art amenities,” says MeetEngland.
 

In addition to providing guests with electrical outlets that accept British, European or North American plugs, the hotel receives television channels from around the world and when a customer checks in with their credit card, the TV in their room is activated to receive channels from their home country. Additionally, for guests staying in one of the hotel’s four lavish suites, a 24-hour butler service is provided.
 

Another new property, the Arden Hotel is Stratford-upon-Avon’s first boutique hotel. It overlooks the River Avon and is near the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company as well as key attractions of the playwright. The hotel itself has 45 rooms in a contemporary design. Facilities are provided for meeting groups of up to 40.
 

Located on London’s South Bank, the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, which opened in March of this year, is London’s largest hotel opening in a generation. Boasting uninterrupted views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the 15-story, 1,021-room contemporary hotel, close to the London Eye, includes 54 spacious suites and penthouses, 545 studio rooms and 422 superior rooms as well as five dining and entertainment experiences, a 24-hour concierge and Wi-Fi throughout the entire hotel.
 

Event spaces include a 3,600 square foot, pillar-free ballroom, large enough to host events with up to 1,400 guests, along with 31 additional meeting rooms for smaller events, break-out sessions and meetings. In summer 2010, the hotel will unveil its spa featuring eight treatment rooms, a fitness center, and a 15-meter swimming pool.
 

By David Wilkening