Guoman and Thistle hotels reveal enhanced websites for faster browsing and booking

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:34:35 GMT

Guoman Hotel Management UK Ltd has revealed new look websites for both its Guoman and Thistle hotel brands. The company, which launched free Wi-Fi across its Guoman property portfolio last month, has redeveloped the sites in superfast HTML5, ensuring time is saved when browsing, booking and even upgrading rooms from PCs, tablets or mobile technology platforms.

The investment in the sites includes a freshly designed homepage to complement the individual style of each of the hotels run by Guoman Hotel Management. The sites also feature an upgraded 4-step booking journey, and visible offers - easily searchable by hotel, date and offer type.

Mithu Sengupta, eCommerce Director, Guoman and Thistle Hotels, commented: "With digital technology constantly evolving it’s important that we keep up with the latest booking trends to make the booking process as easy and enjoyable as possible for our business and leisure travellers.

"We have listened to feedback from our customers and based the new features on their comments and suggestions. This is just the first stage in our web development project and using the help of usability experts, we will be making further improvements throughout the rest of this year and well into 2013, including an enhanced mobile site, to make the user experience even better."

For further information about Guoman and Thistle Hotels and to experience the new websites, visit www.guoman.com and www.thistle.com.

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About Guoman Hotel Management UK Ltd:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands; Guoman Hotels - an exclusive collection of luxury hotels in London - and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK and Malaysia.

Guoman's UK hotels consist of five landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor Hotel in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Thistle has 32 UK hotels, many in superb city centre locations, including ten in central London. In addition, Thistle has 2 hotels in the exotic peninsula of Malaysia.

Guoman's Cumberland Hotel to showcase Goldie exhibition

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:50:07 GMT

Guoman Hotels is to host 'Athleticizm', a new painting exhibition from urban artist Goldie, featuring painting of twelve of the UK's leading athletes.

The athletes include such household names as cycling gold medallist Victoria Pendleton 2009 World Champion triple-jumper Phillips Idowu MBE, European and 2009 World Heptathlon Champion Jessica Ennis MBE, three-time World Champion track cyclist Shanaze Reade, leading field athlete and nine-time National Champion Goldie Sayers, Commonwealth bronze medallist weightlifter Zoe Smith and high-jump hopeful Tom Parsons. The works will be on show at a special London exhibition until the 12th August at Guoman's The Cumberland hotel in London. The exhibition is open from 7-10pm and admission is free.

'Athleticizm' brings street art together with the world of sport in a unique way for the first time and the energy and power of these sporting greats is perfectly complimented by the colour, vitality and edge of Goldie's art. His skilfully composed street-art style marks and departure from the traditional portrayal of national sporting stars, the exhibition celebrates the new generation of athletic hopes and depicts the 'rawness of their talent' Goldie said, 'in a light in which they are rarely seen.'

As a pioneering force on the UK urban art scene in the early eighties, at a time when graffiti was far from the widely regarded art form it is today, Goldie forced the boundaries of public approval. He made his name as an exceptionally skilled graffiti artist, turning his hand to a variety of art forms before becoming one of the most famous DJs in the world as founder of ground-breaking UK drum 'n bass collective Metalheadz. A finalist on the successful BBC series Maestro, he can currently be seen scouting musical talent across the country on BBC Two’s Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment, which sees his specifically chosen group of disadvantaged kids perform at Buckingham Palace, in the presence of guest of honour, Prince Harry, as the grand finale of his mentoring programme.

The Cumberland hotel is one of five Guoman hotels in London and is fast becoming a must-use venue for showcasing contemporary art. The hotel's foyer perfectly lends itself to a pop-up gallery space, and has already featured a street art exhibition with the likes of Banksy and Shepherd Fairey.

For further information please visit www.guoman.com/athleticizm.

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About Guoman Hotels
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK's major cities, including luxury hotels in London.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of five landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards hotel near the London eye, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman Hotel Management Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GuocoLeisure Ltd, part of the Hong Leong Group which has hospitality and leisure businesses across the globe with hotels in Europe, USA, Australasia and Asia. For further information please visit www.guoman.com.

Guoman and Thistle Hotels launch mobile site for on-the-go travellers

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:42:39 GMT

Guoman and Thistle Hotels has announced the successful launch of its mobile-optimized sites, allowing travellers on-the-go to search and book hotel rooms from their mobile phones. Both mobile sites were created by leading technology platform Usablenet, one of the driving forces behind mobile commerce in UK and Europe.

The two mobile have seen a 25% increase in visits since their launch. Both sites feature a slick design with HTML5 capabilities specifically tailored for the best mobile browsing experience, making the site very easy to use and quick to navigate.

Features include:
Book a Hotel: Users can book a room at any of Thistle's 32 hotels and Guoman's 5 destination properties from any web-enabled mobile device. Calendar overlays make it easy to choose dates from a calendar without loading extra pages.

View Offers: Allows prospective guests to find special offers on accommodations, dining, or meetings and events, all searchable by city, hotel, or type of offer, and easy to book from a mobile.

Hi-Resolution Image Galleries and Videos: Viewing property images is highly important to travelers deciding where to stay. The mobile sites feature scrolling image carousels of the hotel properties, rooms and facilities, aiding users in their decision when booking hotels or meeting rooms.

Find a Hotel: View the entire collection of hotels under the Guoman and Thistle group, or use the Find Hotels Near Me feature that utilizes geo-location services.

My Reservations: Allows users to easily view and cancel existing reservations from their phone.

Advanced Navigation: Expandable and collapsible menus make it easy to navigate the site without loading extra pages making it a fast browsing experience for people on-the-go

Mithu Sengupta, eCommerce Director from Guoman and Thistle Hotels said: "The mobile channel has become an important travel planning and booking channel worldwide, especially for local and last minute searches. It was very important for us to have a mobile site that reflects our brand and provides the best experience for our customers with rich-media content and videos. We partnered with Usablenet to create a mobile site that caters to the traveller's needs and understands what their user journey would be when accessing our websites via mobile phones. We are very happy with the response we had from our customers who have been on our mobile site and who have stated that we have provided them a seamless transition between mobile, tablets and desktops to effectively assist them in their travel plans."

"Thistle and Guoman were very committed to providing the best user experience for their customers. Whether you're a business traveler or a leisure traveler, customers can easily view and book rooms, and manage their hotel reservations easily via the mobile site," said Nick Taylor, CEO of Usablenet. "With the rapid growth of travel bookings via mobile increasing each year, they understand the importance of the mobile channel and are proving to be true leaders in the space."

About Guoman Hotel Management:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK and Malaysia.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of five landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor Hotel Victoria. Each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Thistle has 32 UK hotels, many in superb city centre locations, including ten hotels in London city centre. In addition, Thistle also operates two deluxe hotels in Malaysia. With a selection of restaurants and a choice of excellent health and leisure facilities, Thistle has something to offer everyone. Thistle was recently awarded Hotel Group of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2011-2012.

Guoman's The Royal Horseguards hotel announces a very British afternoon tea

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:24:02 GMT

Guoman Hotels' historic five-star The Royal Horseguards, in London’s Whitehall is inviting guests to celebrate all things British with an afternoon tea to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

Presented on the hotel's intimate outdoor terrace with spectacular views of the iconic river Thames and the London Eye, resident head pastry chef Joanne Todd has designed the exclusive ode to HM The Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

The Very British Afternoon Tea includes:
- A selection of finger sandwiches, including Her Majesty's favourite - roast beef
- A delicious selection of very British biscuits shaped as iconic red buses, Union Jack flags, crowns and the Big Ben tower
- A decadent crown jewel cupcake and a Yorkshire rhubarb Queen of Pudding
- Dark chocolate and English peppermint creams, a homage to Queen Elizabeth's favourite childhood sweets - peppermint creams
- A Lemon and Martini meringue pie is inspired by her tipple of choice - a Martini finished with a twist of lemon rind
- Drop Scotch scones with English Bramley apple compote are created just as Queen Elizabeth herself made for President Eisenhower when he visited Balmoral Castle in 1959
- Traditional Freshly Baked Scones served with homemade English strawberry preserve and Cornish clotted cream

The Very British Afternoon Tea to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee will be available from 21 May until 17 June 2012 at Guoman's The Royal Horseguards hotel in London.

The Royal Horseguards is Guoman Hotels' five-star flagship hotel, a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts and also member of the Tea Guild, a prestigious and strictly invitation only collective that confirms the highest standards of afternoon tea service.

For more information on the Royal Horseguards, visit www.guoman.com

About Guoman Hotels:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of luxury hotels in London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK’s major cities.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of five landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards hotel near embankment, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

The Grosvenor Hotel's Reunion bar reveals sweet shoppe themed cocktail menu

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:50:33 GMT

The Grosvenor Hotel's stylish Reunion bar has revealed an exclusive limited edition Old Fashioned Sweet Shoppe themed cocktail menu, which will be available throughout the month of April 2012.

Inspired by childhood memories of the local corner shop with its bright jingling entrance, huge brass scales, rustling paper bags torn from string and shelves of multi-coloured jars as high as a young eye could see, guests can enjoy delicious childhood favourites such as 'Pineapple Rock', made with pineapple flavoured ice cubes and a hint of Seriously Pinky liqueur. They can sip their old fashioned cocktail while relaxing in elegant surroundings of a historic London hotel. Other tipples expected to bring back the memories include 'Pontefract Cake', containing a delicious concoction of Dark Creme de Cacao and Absinthe, and 'Pear Drops', featuring a mix of Wyborowa Pear and Limoncello.

Visitors to the Reunion bar can also sample 'Rhubarb & Custard', an iconic, bicoloured sweetie cocktail with a bottom half containing a rich vanilla custard flavour and a top made with delicious rhubarb compote, Chase Rhubarb liqueur and a splash of Grenadine.

Some of Reunion’s other vintage candy themed cocktails include the 'Humbug' and 'Butterscotch'. The Humbug is made with White Crème de Menthe, caramel syrup and Teichenne Butterscotch liqueur. The 'Humbug' draws its inspiration from the early 19th century striped sweet. The 'Butterscotch' cocktail combines a delicious vatted malt whisky called Monkey Shoulder, along with butterscotch schnapps, reminiscent of the luxurious, gold wrapped sweet from childhood.

Reunion's Head Barman Paul Bradley said of the cocktail menu: "This is our latest monthly themed cocktail menu, designed to celebrate the rich history and heritage of Reunion and the hotel itself. Having been challenged to write a menu based on an old fashioned sweetshop, our usual high level of research and homework suddenly became much less of a chore, as we set about sourcing a wide variety of traditional treats which we could translate into liquid form. We had lots of fun creating each bespoke cocktail to reflect the carefree days of childhood."

Reunion bar, which was designed to reflect the Grosvenor hotel's colourful past with unique decor and art inspired by the golden age of railway travel, was formerly the VIP lounge for first class rail passengers at Victoria station. It was often frequented by famous actors including Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Platform one, which could be accessed directly from the lounge, was famous for luxurious trains The Orient Express and the Brighton Belle, the latter being depicted in paintings hanging at each end of the room.

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About Guoman Hotels
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of luxury hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in several major UK cities.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland and The Royal Horseguards and luxury hotel, The Grosvenor. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman's The Royal Horseguards recognised with 2012 Award of Excellence

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:34:40 GMT

Guoman Hotel's five star The Royal Horseguards has been honoured with a prestigious Award of Excellence from the Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea Awards.

This is the first year the luxury hotel has been recognised and is a result of its high level of commitment to tea service and its extensive list of specialties teas, which over the last year has included dedicated themed offerings to celebrate Valentine's Day, Christmas, the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Wedding and Bonfire Night.

Joanne Todd, resident Head Pastry Chef at the elegant Whitehall property commented: "For The Royal Horseguards afternoon tea to be recognised by The UK Tea Council's Tea Guild is just fantastic and a real testament to our dedicated team and their commitment in creating both charming and innovatively themed five star afternoon teas."

Heiko Figge, Managing Director Guoman & Thistle Hotels added: "The recognition of The Royal Horseguards from The UK Tea Council underlines the hotel's strong position on the London afternoon tea scene, where some of the world's most prestigious and established hotels have had a presence for generations. Guoman Hotels is a collection of exceptionally-positioned London properties and The Royal Horseguards is our five-star flagship - this award further marks out our position as a leading five star hotel in the capital."

Depending on the season, guests can enjoy The Royal Horseguard's afternoon tea on the hotel's intimate outdoor terrace with spectacular views of the iconic River Thames and the London Eye or in front of the fireplace in the hotel’s cozy and romantic lounge.

Staying true to its tradition of providing guests with quirky and unique themed tea offerings, the hotel in London will soon be launching its Mad Hatter Easter Afternoon Tea. Designed to mimic the quintessentially English afternoon tea but with a fun Easter twist, the Mad Hatter Easter Afternoon Tea will be available until 15 April 2012.

Overlooking the River Thames, The Royal Horseguards is perfectly positioned in the historic heart of London, just yards from Westminster and Downing Street. Built in 1884 in the style of a French château, the grade I listed, luxurious 281 bedroom hotel offers a choice of bedrooms and suites, many with magnificent views over The Thames, making the property one of the most charming hotels in London.

For more information on the Royal Horseguards, interested parties can visit www.guoman.co.

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Guoman & Thistle Hotels launch guest rewards scheme

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:00:57 GMT

Guoman & Thistle Hotels has launched a user-friendly rewards scheme, 'Signature', for guests staying at any of the group's properties across the UK.

Signature is quick, free and easy for guests to join. Guests progress through Blue, Ruby and Gold membership tiers depending on how often they stay, to enjoy benefits such as a free Sunday lunch, priority / late check-out and free room upgrades.

The scheme is valid across any of the groups hotel's including the newest member of the Guoman Hotels collection, the recently refurbished hotel, The Grosvenor Hotel.

The Signature Blue tier is open to all guests and is completely free to join. To qualify for the Signature Ruby tier, guests must stay at any Guoman or Thistle property for 4-10 nights across a maximum of two stays or more than eleven nights (across two stays) to become a Signature Gold member.

Signature Gold tier members receive all the rewards that Blue and Ruby tier guests receive as well as additional benefits such as complimentary tea and coffee at weekends, a dedicated check-in area and increased WI-FI usage. In all tiers, from time to time, members will receive exclusive offers and 'unique treats' as a thank you for staying with Guoman or Thistle.

Guests can enrol for the scheme and monitor their rewards points at www.guomansignature.com or www.thistlesignature.com.

-ENDS-

About Guoman Hotels
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels in London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service luxury hotels UK.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of five landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor Hotel in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman Hotels launches new lifestyle packages at the Royal Horseguards

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:42:41 GMT

Guoman Hotels' five-star The Royal Horseguards has launched a range of new luxury lifestyle packages to suit everyone visiting London in 2012; the certified shopaholics, loved up couples and enthusiastic explorers.

The Royal Horseguards, in the heart of London, epitomises British refinement. The hotel is steeped in history and heritage and has presided over the Thames with grandeur for over 100 years. It is conveniently located in close proximity to Covent Garden, Regent Street, Trafalgar Square and The Strand making it the ideal base to spend a day exploring the best in shopping and cultural attractions that London has to offer.

The new range of lifestyle packages which are available to book now includes:
Sophisticated Shopper - Shopaholics staying at the Royal Horseguards can head to the centre of the capital for an indulgent shopping stay. Guests can use a dedicated shopping map and get started with a £50 voucher for Liberty, one of London's most fashionable department stores, and a Regent Street VIP card for some great discounts and offers. After all that shopping, guests can relax with a bottle of Champagne and ease aching feet with a Guoman foot care kit.

Romance on the River - Travellers can treat their loved ones to a romantic hotel break, a bouquet of roses and a luxury beauty gift set with this indulgent package. Couples can share a bottle of rosé Champagne and Champagne truffles while enjoying the lavish surroundings by the River Thames.

Glamour in The Tower - This package offers guests the ultimate in indulgent stays in the capital; they can enjoy a night in The Tower suite with views of the London Eye and the South Bank across the River Thames. The package includes bespoke bathrobes and slippers, delicious pastries and chocolates, a bottle of rosé Champagne, a luxury beauty gift set and rose petals at turndown.

An Eye for Luxury - Guests can look out across the capital with a Champagne ride on the London Eye before continuing to enjoy views of the River Thames from an executive king river view room while indulging in a selection of pastries and chocolates.

Ladies Only London - An ideal hotel break for mother and daughter or best girlfriends in the centre of London. Guests are offered dedicated London shopper's maps, a £50 Liberty voucher and an indulgent Champagne afternoon tea. In addition, a VIP booking at one of a selection of lounges, restaurants and clubs in London is included.

London Revealed - This package offers guests a chance to fully explore of the capital, with a travel card and a London welcome pack available at the hotel. Travellers can climb onboard a Bateaux London cruise and enjoy a premier dinner whilst sailing down the River Thames before relaxing with a foot care kit. A beautiful London photo book will serve as a great way to remember the luxurious experience.

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Notes to editor
Terms and conditions:
Packages are based on two people sharing a twin/double room for two nights.
Packages exclude VAT.
Offer is subject to availability.
Guoman Hotels reserves the right to make changes to this promotion and other restrictions may apply from time to time.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland and The Royal Horseguards and The Tower hotels near London Eye. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor Hotel Victoria uncovers the 'Courtesan's Boudoir'

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:53:52 GMT

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor Hotel has revealed its past connection to one of the most risqué residents of 1870s London, with the launch of its opulent 'Courtesan’s Boudoir'. The Parisian-inspired Suite has been tenderly created in homage to one of the grand railway hotel's most infamous visitors - the scandalous courtesan, Miss Cora Pearl.

A lady notorious with entertaining only the highest members of social standing, including royalty, Cora Pearl was one of the most feted courtesans of her time. In the 1870s, Cora made a rare visit to London and, after arriving at Victoria Station (the gateway into London at that time), booked a Suite at The Grosvenor Hotel, only to be immediately refused entry when stories of her illicit and hedonistic lifestyle surfaced.

The Grosvenor Hotel's 150th anniversary year sees the hotel uncover the glamour and overindulgence of the courtesan's lifestyle by opening the doors of the specially-designed, rococo-themed Suite for the very first time.

Unveiled On February 23rd - the date of Cora's birthday - the 'Courtesan’s Boudoir – The Cora Pearl Suite', has drawn its inspiration from the opulent French interior styling of the late 1800s. Found on the second floor where the most expensive rooms were originally located, the spacious room features a stunning two-foot high oil painting of Cora herself, glass chandeliers, feather trimmed lamps, an overstated dressing table, custom made floor fittings and silver finished French inspired furniture.

The focal point of the Suite is a free standing 'infinity' bath, elevated on a marble tile plinth. The bath tub is a replica of the personally engraved, bronze bath that Cora had specially cast for her in Paris which she famously filled with vintage champagne in which to bathe with her suitors.

Katie Hickman, historian, novelist and author of the bestselling biography 'Courtesans', collaborated with Guoman Hotels to ensure the true spirit of Cora was depicted within the creation of the Suite.

Katie believes the 'Courtesan’s Boudoir' embraces the extravagance of high-class social circles of the time and reflects absolute Victorian glamour. She commented: "I'm very confident Cora would have loved the idea of a Suite created in her honour. It gives her the limelight she truly deserved and brings to the foreground a time in women's history where barriers of class, sexuality and independence were challenged. With all its lavish finishes and close attention to Cora's passions, the Suite certainly represents the hedonistic lifestyle Cora herself enjoyed."

Marking Cora's date of birth and to coincide with The Grosvenor Hotel's 150th anniversary, the hotel is opening the 'Courtesan's Boudoir - The Cora Pearl Suite' suite on 23 February 2012.

Further details and booking information can be found at www.guoman.com/cora_pearl.

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Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each of the luxury hotels in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman & Thistle Hotels appoints Jackie Brown as Director of meeting and event sales

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:34:31 GMT

Guoman & Thistle Hotels has appointed meeting and events expert Jackie Brown, who joins the UK group as Director of Meeting and Event Sales.

Jackie, whose responsibilities include managing the meeting and event sales teams and leading key accounts for corporate clients, has previously held a number of senior M&E and other commercial roles at Ramada Jarvis and Hilton Hotels and has an exceptional track record of delivering results and developing world-class teams within luxury hotels.

Ian Barrigan, Global Sales Director, Guoman & Thistle Hotels commented: "Jackie's passion and drive for the meetings and events industry really shines through and her expertise will ensure that Guoman & Thistle Hotels is firmly established as the hotel group of choice for any event, from meetings and conferences to cocktail parties and gala dinners."

Jackie, who has over 15 years of experience in the field, commented: "I am thrilled to be heading up the meetings and events function for such a diverse portfolio of hotels, during such an exciting time. 2012 is a huge year for the UK and there are many exciting opportunities for the meetings and events industry to get involved with. My aim is to grow Guoman and Thistle's excellent reputation and raise the profile of our unique collection of flexible venues and facilities across the country. I'm really looking forward to the challenge and am buoyed by the sense of pride and drive to exceed our clients expectations demonstrated by the team thus far."

For further information please visit www.guoman.com or www.thistle.com

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About Guoman Hotels:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK's major cities.

Guoman's UK hotels portfolio consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman launches Valentine's Day Afternoon tea at the Royal Horseguards

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:10:33 GMT

Guoman Hotels' The Royal Horseguards, a five-star hotel located in London's Whitehall, has announced the launch of its Valentine's Day afternoon tea.

A luxurious and aphrodisiacal menu has been created exclusively by the hotel's talented resident pastry chef Joanne Todd. The deliciously romantic afternoon tea menu is designed for two to share by the fireplace in the hotel's beautiful lounge, where the tables will be decorated with hearts confetti, a red rose and candles.

The menu includes heart shaped champagne truffles and a passion and pineapple jelly with banana cream that combines delicately flavoured jelly wrapped in roasted pineapple. A choice of tea or coffee is also served with dainty vanilla macaroons infused with real red roses, beautifully presented Love Heart candy cupcakes, Sugar Pie honeyed figs with almond biscotti and a Gooey Dark Chocolate Cake with sugar rose icing. Another highlight of the menu is the chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries for dipping. The selection of love-struck sweet treats is also served with an assortment of scones, preserves and clotted cream.

The Valentine's Day Afternoon Tea for two will be available until February 19th at Guoman's The Royal Horseguards.

The Royal Horseguards hotel also offers a range of accommodation packages for a romantic city breaks this Valentine's Day.

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About Guoman Hotels:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of luxury hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality UK hotels.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor returns to former glory for London's golden year

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:12:10 GMT

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor, London's oldest railway hotel, has come to the end of an extensive interior and exterior refurbishment project, as the world's eyes turn to the capital for 2012.

The iconic Grade II-listed property, which originally opened its doors in 1862 and was the first hotel in the capital to have fully functioning lifts, has been restored to its full Victorian splendour by Guoman Hotels.

Managing Director of Guoman and Thistle Hotels, Heiko Figge, said: "The reputation and history of The Grosvenor hotel makes it a valuable addition to the Guoman Hotels portfolio and allows us to build on our London presence for 2012. We have invested a great deal into blending the hotel's original charm with modern day comforts to reinstate The Grosvenor as one of the grandest and most well-loved hotels in London."

During the course of the 18-month project Guoman has worked hand-in-hand with experts from English Heritage to lovingly preserve and revitalise the building's original architectural features. This included the reinstatement of the original gold leaf finish, hand painted onto all the columns in the grand lobby as well as the uncovering of original white marble on the iconic pillars, which were discovered as the works progressed.

The end of the project will also see the hotel officially become the fifth member of the luxury Guoman Hotels portfolio. Presented at an impressive four-star deluxe standard, all of The Grosvenor's 346 bedrooms have been transformed to a high specification. There is a new residents' gym, offering the latest fitness equipment, as well as a fully-enhanced meeting and conference space where all of the rooms are named after iconic trains - a direct homage to the hotel's heritage as a central railway hotel.

Meanwhile, the sweeping marble staircase at the heart of the building now leads to a new destination bar, Reunion, underlining the hotel's reputation as the ideal central spot for meetings and champagne gatherings in the hub of Victoria.

Other points of the full refurbishment include:
- Restoration of the light and airy lounge area, perfect for an informal meeting or a traditional afternoon tea
- The creation of Grand Imperial, a Cantonese fine dining restaurant which includes a private dining room for 20
- Creation of nine new meeting rooms on the first floor, with accommodation for groups of up to 110
- A new manned business centre
- Creation of three new executive Suites including a separate lounge area, heated bathroom floors, a roll top bath and rainfall shower, a Nespresso coffee machine, a complimentary mini bar and flowers, fruit and Champagne on arrival

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Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman Hotels' Royal Horseguards reveals its New Year's Eve packages

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:33:07 GMT

Guoman Hotels' The Royal Horseguards hotel has revealed a number of options for guests wishing to celebrate the arrival of 2012 at the hotel.

Among the New Year's Eve packages available is the 'Midnight Revels' package in which guests can ring in the New Year over a 6-course menu served in the swanky Gladstone Library overlooking the midnight fireworks display at the London Eye. A more intimate evening can be found at the hotel's award winning OneTwentyOneTwo restaurant which offers equally stunning views of the fireworks. With 2012 being billed as a year of celebration for London, this year's fireworks display is set to top all previous efforts.

For 'Midnight Revellers' The Royal Horseguards is the only place to be this New Year’s Eve, with first-class food and drink and breath-taking views of the celebration from the hotel's own private terrace. Guests can start the evening in the stunning Reading & Writing room with a wonderful champagne reception, accompanied by a live band, before sitting down to a delicious 6-course dinner featuring the finest ingredients and festive drinks. As the final countdown to the old year begins, guests will be able to hear Big Ben strike midnight and toast 2012 with a glass of chilled champagne from the private terrace.

For guests interested in a more low-key New Year's Eve celebration, The Royal Horseguards AA Rosette winning OneTwentyOneTwo restaurant is offering a 6-course fine dining experience which includes a half bottle of wine, champagne on arrival and at midnight, as well as live music over dinner.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards and The Tower. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally with its new property opening in Shanghai. In the UK, The Grosvenor Victoria property will join the collection in 2011.

The Grosvenor Hotel goes back to its roots with Victorian themed cocktails

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:09:37 GMT

Guoman Hotels has announced that the Grosvenor hotel's stylish new Reunion bar will be offering an exclusive limited edition Victorian themed cocktail menu throughout December.

Inspired by the Victorian era when the historic London hotel was originally built, guests can enjoy a delicious 'Penny Black', 'Dorian Gray' or 'Victorian Martini', whilst relaxing in elegant surroundings overlooking the busy concourse of Victoria station.

Visitors to the new destination bar can also sample 'The 19th Century' made with Beefeater premium London dry gin, orange juice and dark chocolate infused with baby figs and Madagascan vanilla, which has been shortlisted for the prestigious Beefeater 24 South Regional cocktail championships.

Explosive rum based cocktail including gunpowder tea, the 'HMS Temeraire', is named after the first British ship to be equipped with barbette gun shields in 1876 and ‘Cuffs and Buttons’ is a refreshing fruity tipple based on a traditional Victorian recipe which later became known as Southern Comfort.

Reunion's Head Barman, Paul Bradley, said: "This is the first of a regular series of themed menu offerings that we have designed to celebrate the rich history and heritage of Reunion and the hotel itself. We created each bespoke cocktail to reflect the charm and character of this iconic Grade II listed building and to give visitors a valuable insight into Victorian life. The Grosvenor was one of the largest and grandest hotels in London when it was originally opened in 1862 and our aim is to put Reunion on the map as the destination bar in the capital. The limited edition menu also serves as a souvenir for visitors so that they can feel like they are part of the hotel’s story."

Reunion bar, which was designed to reflect the hotel's colourful past with unique decor and art inspired by the golden age of railway travel, was formerly the VIP lounge for first class rail passengers at Victoria station and was often frequented by famous actors including Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Platform one, which could be accessed directly from the lounge, was famous for the luxurious trains The Orient Express and the Brighton Belle, the latter being depicted in paintings hanging at each end of the room.

The Grosvenor hotel is nearing the end of an extensive £20 million refurbishment which will see it become the official fifth member of the luxury Guoman Hotels collection in January 2012. London's oldest railway hotel will also celebrate its 150th anniversary next year.

-ENDS-

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally with its new property opening in Shanghai. In the UK, The Grosvenor Victoria property will join the collection in 2011.

Guoman's The Cumberland launches unique wedding packages

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:03:35 GMT

Guoman Hotels' stylish London property, The Cumberland, has launched a range of unique wedding packages for modern couples looking to tie-the-knot in the heart of the capital.

Couples can choose to impress guests with delectable Michelin starred cuisine from celebrity chef Gary Rhodes or get the full rock star experience by spending their wedding night in the extravagant Hendrix suite - the last known address of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix.

The Cumberland's specialist wedding planner, Sophie Crann, explained: "City weddings have become increasingly popular over the last few years and our central location in the heart of the capital makes us an ideal venue for couples looking for a less traditional, quirky London wedding or reception. A large number of our event spaces are licensed for weddings and civil partnerships and we also have a dedicated wedding team who will be there every step of the way to ensure that everyone gets the wedding of their dreams; a modern fairytale if you will."

The Cumberland's Silver and Gold wedding packages include hire of the breath-taking Ocean Room and the adjoining foyer for up to 250 guests, champagne on arrival, a three or four course dinner and a complimentary overnight stay for the bride and groom. Couples can also choose to add a number of luxury upgrades including a red carpet and canapés on arrival, live music and bacon rolls at midnight. Separated from the rest of the hotel, the Ocean Room provides total privacy making it one of the most desirable London wedding venues.

For those who enjoy the finer things in life, The Cumberland's 'sumptuous wedding reception package' is ideal. Treat guests to delectable Michelin starred cuisine created by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and celebrate against the glittering backdrop of the stunning Rhodes W1 restaurant designed by Kelly Hoppen or the intimate private dining room. The package includes champagne on arrival, canapés, a delicious five course tasting menu and matching wines as well as a complimentary stay for the bride and groom.

The Cumberland hotel is one of the most prestigious properties in the capital, showcasing an impressive collection of contemporary art installations, making a unique statement of creativity and flair and making it perfect for city weddings.

- ENDS -

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally with its new property opening in Shanghai. In the UK, The Grosvenor Victoria property will join the collection in 2011.

Guoman & Thistle Hotel's Managing Director collects major accolade

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:53:16 GMT

Guoman & Thistle Hotels' Managing Director, Heiko Figge has been awarded the prestigious 'Chris Beaumont Special Award' at the 2011 Springboard Awards for Excellence. The awards, now in their ninth year, recognise the outstanding talent of people, organisations and initiatives in the hospitality, tourism and leisure industries.

The honour was presented in recognition of Heiko's personal commitment to the industry charity and in particular, for initiating the group's fundraising drive earlier this year which saw Guoman & Thistle Hotels contribute over £100,000 to Springboard’s efforts.

Commenting on the award, Anne Pierce, Chief Executive, The Springboard Charity, said: "We were thrilled to present Heiko with the coveted 'Chris Beaumont Special Award'. It was a fitting tribute to the outstanding, individual contribution Heiko has made since he became a non-Exec Director of Springboard just over a year ago.

"His inspirational leadership is an example to us all and he has been a hugely active, supportive and influential advocate of the Springboard Charit, not just by ensuring Guoman and Thistle Hotels’ actively participate in a variety of Springboard programmes - Ambassadors, FutureChef, INSPIRE work experience, Careers Campaigns, and Summer School to name a few - but by providing wise advice and good counsel to our organisation."

On receipt of the award, Heiko commented: "I am extremely honoured to accept this award from Springboard on behalf of Guoman & Thistle Hotels. We have always been very proud of our achievements in both developing our colleagues to be the best in the business, and doing all we can to lend further support to those in hospitality - through our strong partnership with the Springboard Charity. It's been an excellent year for the group with individual colleagues, hotels and the group all deservedly achieving awards for the work we do, and I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed along the way."

The Springboard Charity would also like to thank: Christian Armstrong, People Director, Guoman & Thistle Hotels, Anna Dowling, General Manager, The Royal Horseguards, Ben Purton, Executive Chef, The Royal Horseguards, Ian Fletcher, General Manager, The Tower, Mark Gallagher, General Manager, Thistle Glasgow, Tara Farnham and all of the Ambassadors and FutureChef Mentors at Guoman & Thistle Hotels.

Thistle Hotels also recently collected the AA Hotel Group of the Year Award at the AA Hospitality Awards 2011 - 2012.

About Guoman & Thistle Hotels:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK's major cities.

Guoman's Royal Horseguards hotel to host Bonfire night tea

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:06:55 GMT

Guoman's flagship five star hotel, The Royal Horseguards, will be hosting a Bonfire night themed afternoon tea, offering a specially created Fawkes-inspired menu.

The prestigious, luxury hotel famed for its cellar and underground tunnels to Whitehall, is the perfect hideout on a chilly November night, located just moments away from the spot where the original Gunpowder plot was foiled over 400 years ago.

The specially created Fawkes-inspired afternoon tea menu is sure to warm customers through. Guests start the menu with a hot chocolate shot and 'toast your own' marshmallows, served complete with tea-light for toasting.

The menu is complimented with a selection of white chocolate and chilli ganache truffles and tea infused macaroons. The sweet treat is topped off with sparklers and a scrumptious roasted chestnut cupcake with lightly fried parsnip crisp and yummy mini toffee apple lollies which garnish a mulled wine jelly with cinnamon cream.

The Bonfire Night Tea, available until 6th November, is served in The Royal Horseguards' luxurious lounge with open fire. For more information on the Royal Horseguards afternoon tea menus, guests can visit the hotel deals page on the Guoman website.

The Royal Horseguards Hotel was recently awarded the highly acclaimed AA London Hotel of the Year 2010/2011. The hotel also enjoys a prestigious riverside location, within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks, making it an ideal location to watch the fireworks displays on November 5th.

About Guoman Hotels:
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of luxury London hotels and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK’s major cities.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, the Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards (current AA London Hotel of the Year 2010/11) and The Tower. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally with its new property opening in Shanghai. In the UK, The Grosvenor Victoria property will join the collection in 2011.

Guoman Hotels property to host two style-packed auctions

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:22:08 GMT

Guoman Hotels is to welcome top London salesroom Dreweatts Bloomsbury to its Cumberland hotel on October 10th for two style-packed auctions.Eight works by legendary graffiti artist Banksy, a vintage Hermes crocodile 'Kelly' handbag and a collection of costume jewellery that once belonging to the Duchess of Windsor are among the lots on offer at the auctions taking place at The Cumberland.

Collectors and fashionistas are expected to pack the Marble Arch hotel - famed for its chic contemporary interior - when Dreweatts Bloomsbury hosts Luxury: Fine Handbags, Pens and Accessories (from 2pm) and Urban Contemporary art (from 6pm).

Taking top billing is limited edition spray paint and emulsion work, 'Mosquito', by street art master Banksy (estimate £30,000-£50,000). Other notable items in the Urban Contemporary sale include items from rising Brit star Eine, whose work was given to US president Barack Obama by prime minister David Cameron; French stencil king Blek Le Rat; and graffiti ace D*Face.

Meanwhile, Luxury: Fine Handbags, Pens and Accessories will feature a wealth of vintage and modern collectibles, including a 1960s Hermes brown crocodile Kelly bag (estimate £8,000-£12,000); four pieces of fabulous costume jewellery designed by Alexis Kirk for the Duchess of Windsor; and a number of contemporary pieces by Cartier, Gucci, Tiffany and Bulgari.

Tim Cordon, General Manager of the luxury London hotel commented: "The Cumberland has a long history of being at the cutting edge of the London design and fashion scene, so it's fantastic Dreweatts Bloomsbury are bringing these two incredible auctions here. The striking 'gallery' feel of the hotel makes it the ideal venue to showcase the incredible items going under the hammer."

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally with its new property opening in Shanghai. In the UK, The Grosvenor Victoria property will join the collection in 2011.

For further information please visit www.guoman.com

Guoman Hotels joins London Restaurant Festival celebrations

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:38:53 GMT

Guoman Hotels, has announced that the Grand Imperial London will be celebrating the London Restaurant Festival for the first time by hosting Oriental Tea & Jazz afternoons in its bar lounge from 3-17 October 2011, representing authentic Hong Kong Cantonese food at its finest.

Guests will be able to indulge in an Eastern take on Afternoon Tea with a selection of savoury and sweet dim sum. Surrounded by the splendid Feng Shui setting of the restaurant's bar lounge, and accompanied by the smooth sounds of jazz on the piano. The Oriental Tea & Jazz afternoons are a chance for guests to take their palate on a sumptuous journey to the East.

The Oriental Afternoon tea includes classics such as 'Char Sui Bao', 'Concubine Chicken Wrap' and Grand Imperial's signature 'Chocolate Dim Sum' or a velvety 'Green tea brulee'. To accompany these treats, guests can select their favourite soothing Oriental tea or opt for a glass of Balfour Brut English Rosé and, exclusively for the festival; they can pick any cocktail including the latest popping Boba drink. Throughout the festival guests will also have the opportunity to sample the restaurant's Oriental bar menu offering an extended choice of delicious Cantonese treats.

London Restaurant Festival returns to the capital in 2011 from the 3rd to the 17th of October and is a two-week celebration of London's extraordinarily diverse range of restaurants. Grand Imperial London will also celebrate with a bespoke 2 course menu, available by reservation only and which includes specialities such as 'Crispy duck salad' and 'Black cod with honey pepper sauce'.

Oriental Afternoon Tea & Jazz will be served up every day between 3-6pm and priced per set with the option of an extra glass of champagne or a cocktail.

Located in landmark heritage hotel The Grosvenor, Victoria, Grand Imperial London is headed up by Chef Rand Cheung and is one of Malaysia's leading restaurant groups with a premium reputation in fine dining. Featuring original pieces of artwork and calligraphy excerpts, Grand Imperial London has been designed around the ancient practice of Feng-shui, along with traditional artefacts and a private dining room to entertain up to 24 guests.

ENDS

Thistle Hotels is part of Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited which operates hotels throughout the UK. Thistle has 33 hotels across the country, many in superb city centre locations, including eleven in central London.

Guoman Hotels celebrates London Fashion Week

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:50:23 GMT

Guoman hotels has teamed up with renowned millinery designer, J Smith Esquire, to create five bespoke hats - one for each of the five hotel's greeting doormen.

Launched at the start London Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 2012 Collections), the collaboration is entitled 'Guoman presents J Smith Esquire: 5'.

The hats are all unique designs which have been exclusively created and handmade for Guoman Hotels by the millinery label's owner and founder, Justin Smith, in his London studio.

Two exhibitions - on view at The Royal Horseguards and Charing Cross hotels - have been curated by Gemma Williams to celebrate the launch of the doorman hat collection and will also showcase couture collaborations and archive pieces from the last five years of Justin's work.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the design process for this project and spent a lot of time exploring all five of the Guoman hotels for inspiration. As all five of the hotels are so individual in their design and history, I have created each of the hat designs with a distinct embellishment. I have always been inspired by international design-takes for hotel doorman uniforms and so have used this interest to create a refreshed, couture take on what is such a classic, traditional bowler hat shape," explained Justin Smith, milliner and 'J Smith Esquire' owner and founder.

"This project is particularly special for me as it allows me to not only highlight my current collection with Guoman Hotels in the doorman hats, but also gather a selection of my previous designs and collaborations from the last five years into an exciting exhibition. To bring everything together within the hotels in celebration of the five individual doorman hats, together with five years of my personal millinery and hat creations is extremely exciting."

The retrospective exhibition and catalogue, curated by Gemma Williams, will be the focal point of the 'J Smith Esquire''s London Fashion Week presentation. Guoman Hotels' flagship luxury London hotel, The Royal Horseguards, will host an exhibition featuring all five of the doorman hats along with pieces from the 'J Smith Esquire' label and designer collaborations. Guoman Hotels' Charing Cross, a four-star luxury railway hotel located literally in the very centre of the capital, will play host to an interactive audio-visual experience which will illustrate the full creation process for the project as well as from Justin Smith's diverse career.

The designer doorman hats were launched as Guoman Hotels' doormen uniforms from the first day of London Fashion Week. The concentrated exhibitions will run across The Royal Horseguards and Charing Cross hotels for five weeks in total. Guoman Hotels welcome visits to both exhibitions complimentary during this time, no booking necessary.

For more information please visit www.guoman.com and www.jsmithesquire.com.

- Ends -

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally, with its new property opening in Shanghai. In the UK, The Grosvenor Victoria property will join the collection in the near future.

For further information please visit www.guoman.com

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