Today’s news in brief – 28/4/25
Foxhills Club and Resort has completed nearly half of a £3m refurbishment, marking the latest phase in its transformation, which will continue until 2026. The newly upgraded rooms, set in the Lyne House, offer a blend of traditional and contemporary styles with views of the 19th-century manor, golf course, tennis courts, or courtyard pool. Families can enjoy added features like mini teepees for children and child-sized amenities. The rooms now include Crave tablets with access to Foxhills’ AI concierge, CJ the fox, enhancing the guest experience by allowing easy booking of activities and services. The resort has partnered with Proverb for its skincare amenities and plans further upgrades, including a new spa garden and additional recreational facilities.
Liverpool’s hotels and serviced apartments have voted to implement a £2 overnight charge for guests, expected to generate £9.2m over two years. This levy, approved by the city’s 83 hotels, will be managed by the Accommodation BID and will fund the city’s visitor economy. The initiative aims to attract larger events to Liverpool, with evidence from other European cities suggesting that this model will boost investment and enhance the city’s tourism infrastructure. The funds will be directed towards improving the city’s ability to host world-class events and contribute to its economic vibrancy.
Countrywide Hotels has launched a formal hotel asset management service, building on years of successful, behind-the-scenes operations. The service will support hotel owners through all stages of ownership, from acquisition to post-investment strategies. It will offer services like financial planning, performance benchmarking, and team development. Countrywide’s Managing Director, Darren Patt, emphasized the success of the company’s informal support and now aims to help a broader range of hotel owners optimize performance and returns.
Christine Hodgson, chair of Severn Trent, and Andrew Martin, chair of Intertek, are the leading candidates to replace Adam Crozier as head of Whitbread, the company behind Premier Inn. Crozier, who has led the company since 2018, is expected to step down later this year. Hodgson and Martin, both experienced boardroom figures, are seen as key contenders to oversee Whitbread’s growth plan, which aims to expand its UK hotel network significantly in the coming decade.
