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Claudia Schergna

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Citybox signs 240-room hotel in Copenhagen

🏨 Citybox Hotels signed to operate a 240-room hotel in Kastrup, Copenhagen, in partnership with CapMan. The Best Western Plus Copenhagen Airport will be renovated and rebranded to open as a Citybox hotel in 2026. The hotel is one metro stop from the airport with direct city centre access. This deal follows CapMan's acquisition of a 28-hotel Nordic portfolio. Citybox has a long-term management agreement with CapMan for the Copenhagen property.
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  • 2 min

Blue Orchid to convert Atlas House into luxury hotel

🏦 UK's vacant Atlas House on King Street, Cheapside, London, first built in 1836, will be redeveloped into a luxury boutique hotel by Blue Orchid Hospitality. Owned by Integrity International Group and led by Tony Matharu, the Grade II-listed building will feature 104 guest rooms, a restaurant, cocktail bar, health club, spa, swimming pool, gym, and flexible public workspaces. Aiming for a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and Biodiversity Net Gain, the redevelopment focuses on restoration to preserve the site's character. The hotel adds to Blue Orchid’s London portfolio, including Tower Suites and 55 Broadway.
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UK hospitality leaders express concern following Spring Statement

📌 UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced economic measures in her Spring Statement, extending business rates relief but not fully addressing cost pressures. OBR halved the UK's 2025 growth forecast from 2% to 1% due to global instability and borrowing costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief (RHLR) is extended for another year at a reduced 40% rate, with a cap of £110,000 per business. Small businesses with properties under a £51,000 rateable value will benefit from a small business multiplier freeze. From April, the National Living Wage will increase by 6.7%, giving a £1,400 annual raise to three million workers. Hospitality sector leaders are disappointed with the lack of meaningful support, as the sector faces a £3.4 billion annual tax hike. NICs threshold changes will lead to reduced recruitment and employment. Visa and immigration fees will rise from 10 April 2025, with a Certificate of Sponsorship for skilled workers increasing from £239 to £525, expected to generate £400 million by 2029/30. Hospitality in London faces a £300 million impact from a 15% NICs hike, with the earnings threshold lowered from £9,100 to £5,000, pushing for technological adoption for survival. With the UK economy shrinking by 0.1% in January and interest rates at 4.5%, hotels may stop recruiting, cancel investments, and increase prices. Short-
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Armani Hotel Milano joins Preferred’s Legend Collection

🏡 Armani Hotel Milano has joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts' Legend Collection, which comprises over 100 independent luxury hotels globally. Located on Manzoni Street 31 in Milan's fashion district, the hotel is a partnership between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties. Featuring 95 rooms and suites, the hotel offers amenities such as the Armani/Ristorante on the seventh floor, the Armani/SPA with six treatment rooms, a couple’s suite, steam and sauna rooms, a pool, and a fitness center with personal trainers. Roberta Possenti, VP of Europe for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, emphasized the hotel’s alignment with the collection's luxury and service standards.
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  • 2 min

IMR acquires Ballathie House Hotel

🏡 Ballathie Country House Hotel & Estate in Perthshire, Scotland, acquired by IMR Hotels. Marketed at nearly £5 million in 2019, the 17th-century property has operated as a hotel since 1972, boasting four AA stars and a two-AA-rosette restaurant. IMR Hotels plans renovations to enhance accommodation, dining, leisure facilities, and sustainability, focusing on outdoor and wellness activities, local sourcing, and creating new employment opportunities. The estate aims to become a premier destination for outdoor pursuits and wellness.
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Iconic Luxury Hotels to open Gran Marbella Resort and Beach Club

🏖 Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club, part of Iconic Luxury Hotels, opens this spring in Playa del Real de Zaragoza, Spain. The resort offers 125 rooms, 10 signature suites, private pools, jacuzzis, and coastal views. Amenities include two event spaces, a seafood restaurant, a spa with seven treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, and an indoor pool. Goddard Littlefair is responsible for interiors and architecture. The resort is the ninth addition to the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection, following Palm House in Palm Beach, Florida. Executive director Andrew Stembridge highlights the strategic expansion, while senior vice president Francisco Macedo mentions the significance of the launch after Hotel Excelsior in Venice.
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The TownHouse Mykonos awarded Michelin Key

🏡 TownHouse Mykonos in Greece, part of Elegant Hotel Collection, was awarded a Michelin Key in Greece's first Michelin awards. Michelin Key criteria include architecture, service quality, character, value, and community contribution. The TownHouse Mykonos is among 14 hotels on the island to receive the distinction, featuring 19 rooms and a rooftop lounge. The Michelin Guide's inaugural selection for Greece includes 68 hotels, showcasing diverse accommodations from Athens to island retreats.
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