www.leisuremanagement.co.uk
ISSUE 2 2010 VOLUME 30 NUMBER 2
Fiona Reynolds On modernising the National Trust
ARTS & CULTURE SPECIAL The iconic venues of the future
Stockholm EUROPE’S FIRST GREEN CAPITAL
FlOW HOUSE BRINGING THE SURF TO BEDFORD
leisure-kit.net offi cial magazine Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital LEISURE TOURISM HEALTH & FITNESS SPA SPORT ATTRACTIONS HOSPITALITY DID YOU KNOW? 80% OF PEOPLE SAY THEY LIKE TO HEAR MUSIC WHEN THEY EAT OUT.*
A recent survey revealed that almost 1 in 4 diners were prepared to spend 5% more on food and drink in restaurants that play recorded music versus those that don’t.*
There is no doubt that music is good for business. The simple act of turning music on can make a huge difference to productivity and sales.
PPL can make music work for you by offering licensing solutions for playing recorded music in public. A PPL music licence will give your business instant access to literally millions of songs – all for as little as 18 pence per day.
For more information on how to obtain your PPL music licence† visit ppluk.com or call 020 7534 1070.
To find out more on how music can work for you visit musicworksforyou.com.
*MusicWorks survey of 2000 people, conducted March 2009
† If you play recorded music in public it is a legal requirement to obtain the correct PPL licence, failure do so may result in legal action. PPL is different from PRS for Music. PPL collects and distributes money on behalf of record companies and performers whilst PRS for Music collects and distributes money on behalf of songwriters, composers and publishers. Both licenses must be obtained to ensure all copyright holders are fairly paid.
ppluk.com EDITOR’S LETTER e-mail: contact’s full name @leisuremedia.com THE POWER TO REBUILD Subscriptions Julie Albone +44 (0)1462 471915 olicymakers are lining up to convince those in power that our industries have the ability [email protected] to help rebuild the UK economy, with leaders in both the tourism and cultural sectors Circulation Manager launching consultations and initiatives to get the message across. Michael Emmerson P +44 (0)1462 471932 The UK has the largest cultural economy in the world relative to GDP, according to a Editor Liz Terry new report, Cultural Capital: A Manifesto for the Future, which argues that “investing in culture +44 (0)1462 431385 will build Britain’s social and economic recovery.” Seventeen organisations, representing thou- Managing Editor Magali Robathan sands of facilities, were involved in its creation, including the Museums Association, AIM, lottery +44 (0)1462 471918 awarding bodies, the Cultural Learning Alliance and tourism, heritage, library and arts quangos. Contributors The authors make a powerful case for the arts and culture as both catalysts for change and Kate Cracknell a source of inspiration and wealth creation, saying: “As the economy begins to move again, the +44 (0)1462 471906 Kathleen Whyman cultural sector is ready to contribute to the upturn. We are ready to give our ideas and energy to +44 (0)1462 471918 help with the restructuring that will be needed as the country renews itself.” Managing Editor/News The manifesto shows how arts and culture are a pivotal part of the national life of Britain, argu- Tom Walker +44 (0)1462 471934 ing for continued funding and explaining the positive impact fi fteen years of investment has had Assistant Editors/News on engagement, with record attendances and the highest ever levels of participation. Pete Hayman Cultural Capital gives a stack of useful numbers to make its case, reporting that the sector +44 (0)1462 471938 “Accounts for 10 per cent of GDP...tourism is our fi fth largest industry, with a spend of £86bn Sarah Todd +44 (0)1462 471927 Martin Nash Given our industry’s dismal record of collaboration and +44 (0)1462 471911 penchant for rivalry and infi ghting, this initiative is a leisure-kit.net Sarah Todd glorious thing. It’s so heartening to see a sector united in +44 (0)1462 471927 Publisher a common purpose with the drive to prepare and present John Challinor +44 (0)1582 607970 such a compelling argument in such an eloquent way Display Advertising Julie Badrick and directly [employs] 1.4m people. Heritage tourism contributes over £20bn to GDP, more than +44 (0)1462 4719019 advertising or the motor industry... the economic benefi ts of the UK’s major museums and galler- Nadeem Shaikh ies are estimated to be £1.5bn per annum... music contributes nearly £5bn to the economy, with +44 (0)1462 471902 Jan Williams £1.3bn as export earnings. The economic impact of theatre is £2.6bn a year.” +44 (0)1462 471909 Regional impact is also considered, and Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture is esti- Advertising artwork mated to have “generated £800m for the local economy and attracted 27 per cent more visitors Ed Gallagher +44 (0)1905 20198 to the city. The economic impact of the 2009 Manchester International Festival was £35.7m.” Design The manifesto also says that “during a decade of investment in public sector arts and herit- Andy Bundy age, the creative and cultural industries have grown faster than the rest of the economy, and +44 (0)1462 471924 Internet account for 6.2 per cent of Gross Value Added. Katie Eldridge Cultural Capital argues against budget cuts, making the point that +44 (0)1462 431385 around £770m has already been sacrifi ced by the organisations in Dean Fox +44 (0)1462 471900 question – some of it to pay for the London Olympics. The focus is on Emma Harris explaining how the cultural sector can make a powerful contribution +44 (0)1462 431385 in vital areas such as training, learning, job creation and volunteering. Tim Nash +44 (0)1462 471917 Given our industry’s dismal record of collaboration and penchant Michael Paramore for rivalry and infi ghting, this initiative is a glorious thing. It’s so +44 (0)1462 471926 heartening to see a sector united in a common purpose, with the Financial Control Sue Davis drive to prepare and present such a compelling argument in such +44 (0)1395 519398 an eloquent way. To read the report, go to http://www.mla.gov.uk Financial Admin Denise Gildea +44 (0)1462 471930 Liz Terry, editor [email protected] Credit Control Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital Rebekah Scott +44 (0)1462 431385 the leisure media company publishes Attractions health club SPORTS management management MANAGEMENT Fiona Reynolds MONEY SURREY SPORTS PARK ?8IIPGFKK
The iconic venues of the future the strictly effect tapping into the nation’s Contact us passion for dance
@E; ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 3 ISSUE 2 in this issue… p28 Fiona Reynolds p24 Bodyfl ight founder Paul Mayer on his latest launch p46 Stockholm: Europe’s greenest city? Leisure Management news 24 hotseat 40 across the board paul mayer From helping to bid for the 2018 World 06 world leisure The founder of the Bodyfl ight extreme Cup to solving disputes with locals, three 08 commercial sports centre in Bedford tells Kath consultants talk us through their most 10 hospitality Hudson about his new surfi ng attraction exciting recent projects 11 attractions 12 sport 28 interview 43 growing the market 14 spa fi ona reynolds With the right government support, sport 15 property The National Trust director general tells and leisure can act as a catalyst for 16 parks Magali Robathan how she’s helping to economic growth, argues David Teasdale 17 health & fi tness modernise the organisation 18 public sector 44 the pubs market 32 culture shock Reports of the demise of the British pub 20 design news From the Museum of Liverpool to China’s have been greatly exaggerated, says Including the renovation of the Museum Guangzhou Opera House, we take a look Matthew Goodman. In fact pub deals are of London, Philippe Starck’s fi rst Italian at the landmark arts and cultural projects holding up surprisingly well hotel and London’s new cabaret venue taking shape around the world 46 sustainable stockholm 22 design profi le 38 architect’s focus The fi rst European Green Capital, koncept stockholm bernard tschumi Stockholm is aiming to be free of fossil The award-winning Swedish designers On the challenges of designing Egypt’s fuels by 2015 and its leisure facilities are talk through the challenges of some of New Acropolis Museum on one of the leading the way in sustainable operation. their most exciting recent projects world’s most historic sites Andrea Jezovit fi nds out more 4 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 issue two 2010 p32 New cultural projects p58 We check into Butlin’s newest hotel p74 Tea sommelier Catriona Grant p52 How to raise funding in a diffi cult economic climate 50 62 wellbeing in knowsley a new dawn READER SERVICES CLOA’s John Bell and Knowsley Now the Carbon Reduction Commitment Council’s Andrew McCormick take a look is upon us, Dave Lewis sets out a few digital magazine at the £16m Leisure and Culture Park tips for staying ahead of the game Read Leisure Management online taking shape in the borough 64 leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ticketing news & jobs 52 A round up of some of the latest ticketing how to get funded For jobs and news visit the Locum Consulting’s Jim Roberts offers systems on the market Leisure Management website at some hard-won advice on raising fi nance www.leisuremanagement.co.uk in today’s tough economic climate 66 senior’s solutions how to succeed attention buyers! 54 transforming aberdeen Clear-sighted thinking is vital in these Use our product search engine to fi nd suppliers and get innovation The neglected Scottish city has tough times, says Grahame Senior updates www.leisure-kit.net ambitious plans to revitalise its centre with a major cultural hub and extensive 68 leisure-kit subscribe: parkland. Kath Hudson speaks to the New products for industry buyers sign up for Leisure Management at people behind the plans leisuremanagement.co.uk/subs 72 leisure directory or call: +44 (0)1462 471915 58 exceeding expectations buyers’ guide: Caroline Wilkinson checks into Butlins’ 74 odd job For suppliers of products and new Ocean Hotel to fi nd out if it’s tea sommelier services in the leisure markets, achieving its aim of attracting new Catriona Grant explains why she’s so turn to p72 customers while staying true to the brand passionate about tea ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 5 NEWS World Leisure ye\i^`\fg\ejZclY`eHXkXi The fi rst ever énergie Fitness Club in the Middle East was launched at the start of February in Doha, Qatar. Located close to Doha International Airport, the new £2m facility boasts Precor cv and resistance equipment, a dedicated boxing/combat studio, a private personal training studio and dedicated customer amenities and services. The launch is part of énergie’s strategy to open a number of new health clubs in Qatar and across the Middle East during 2010. The Middle Eastern expansion plans for the group are headed by énergie’s operations director Nad Miyan. K_\;f_XZclY`je\i^`\ËjÔijk`ek_\D`[[c\ @Z\CXe[nXk\igXib GXiXdflekgcXej j\kkffg\e`eL8< JgXe`j_k_\d\gXib Film company Paramount Pictures is A waterpark claimed to be the largest in looking into building what would be the Middle East is scheduled to open in the largest theme park and entertain- April in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. ment centre in Spain, in the south east- The Ice Land Water Park is the fi rst ele- ern region of Murcia. ment to open as part of the 120 acre family Reportedly aimed at competing entertainment destination, WOW RAK. directly with Disneyland Paris, the Located 80km north of Dubai, WOW project would also incorporate a fi lm RAK will also boast an amusement studio designed to centralise all of park, shopping mall and resort facili- K_\gXibn`ccfg\e`e8gi`c Paramount’s production in Europe. ties when complete. Developed by Polo Spanish minister for culture, Pedro Amusement Park as a joint venture with As well as a variety of waterslides, Alberto Cruz, said he has received a the local authorities of the Emirate of Ras the developers claim the park offers the letter from Paramount’s licensing divi- Al Khaimah, the 110,000sq m waterpark world’s largest manmade waterfall, a rain sion expressing their interest in launch- is themed around penguins and is said to dance pool, aqua soccer, a snorkelling ing the project once its economic have been inspired by global warming. pool, an arctic wave pool and a kids’ cove. viability has been proven. Nfic[>pd\p\j^cfYXc\ogXej`fe A US-based team of experts has been cle beach’ ringleaders, World Gym tar- recruited to build the international arm of gets 18- to 34-year-olds with a mid-priced one of Los Angeles’ most famous fi tness membership offer and innovative program- brands, World Gym. ming based on the ‘West Coast California’ Jim Teatum, former president of theme, where ‘fi tness meets celebrity’. Nautilus’ commercial division and senior World Gym already has more than 200 market development director for Reebok locations worldwide – in the US, Canada, International, and George Jackson, a club Central and South America, Africa, Russia, developer/owner and fi nancial consultant Asia, Australia and the UAE. previously with KPMG International, will It was recently purchased by the handle the brand’s international develop- Cammilleri family, who have invested in ment and franchise growth. Founded in a major rebranding exercise and plan to 1976 by Joe Gold, one of the original ‘mus- expand the brand on a global scale. K_\^iflggcXejX^cfYXcifcc$flk 6 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 E\njljkX`eXYc\i\jfik]fiD\o`Zf The new resort hotel of Imanta Punta de Mita opened in mid March on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit near Puerto Vallarta on the country’s Pacifi c coast. Designed by Texas-based architectural fi rm Overland Partners with an emphasis on sustainability and luxury, Imanta fea- tures seven accommodation lots, each constructed using locally sourced and environmentally friendly materials. Five free-standing, one-bedroom Casas provide living areas, indoor/outdoor show- ers, pools and terraces, while a further two two-bedroom Casonas include a full kitchen, living room, dining room, pool and K_\i\jfiknXj[\j`^e\[YpXiZ_`k\ZkjFm\icXe[GXike\ij terrace. The resort’s culinary approach is in keeping with the rest of the prop- Tukipa restaurants, with cocktails available can be carried out in guests’ rooms, on erty, with an emphasis on fresh seafood from the Observatorio rooftop terrace bar. the beach or in the spa itself, plus activi- and organic produce grown locally. Dining The resort also features a full-service ties such as biking, hiking, bird-watching, options include the Catch of the Day and spa, with naturopathic treatments which eco-adventure tours and horse-riding. =fliGf`ekjYpJ_\iXkfekf[\Ylk(*_fk\cj`e)'(' Starwood Hotels is to add 13 new hotels Points hotels will be opening in Niagara to its portfolio of Four Points by Sheraton Falls, Ontario; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; properties by the end of 2010. and Calgary, Alberta. In China, three Four Points properties In the US, properties are scheduled are expected to open during the course for San Jose, California; Oklahoma City, of the year, with one each in Lianyungang Oklahoma; Memphis, Tennessee; and in the east; the port city of Taicang to the Long Island City, New York. north east; and Tai’An, also in the east and Four Points by Sheraton currently home to Mount Taishan, a UNESCO World operates 148 hotels in 24 countries. The Cultural and Natural Heritage site. planned expansion follows a US$1bn reju- The company is also planning to debut venation of the brand which has seen in Lagos, Bangkok and the resort island of major renovations and conversions of Phuket in Thailand, while in Canada Four existing hotels, as well as new-build hotels. Gifgfj\[j`k\j`eZcl[\9Xe^bfb#K_X`cXe[ ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 7 NEWS Commercial ;\cf`kk\1LB^XdYc`e^j\ZkfiÊnfik_-YeË New research carried out by profes- sional services fi rm Deloitte on behalf of Ladbrokes has revealed that the betting industry is worth an estimated £6bn to the UK economy each year. The Full Picture report, which aims to provide a quantitative and qualitative study of the gambling sector, has found that the economic contribution made by the sec- tor is equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP). According to the report, the industry is also responsible for providing 15 per cent of horseracing’s annual income, while also supporting employment for workers with 9\kk`e^Xe[^Xd`e^_Xj`eZi\Xj\[`egfglcXi`kp little or no qualifi cations. Simon Oaten, betting and gaming lead international competition. With internet Ladbrokes CEO Christopher Bill added: at Deloitte, said: “The betting industry and mobile betting growing, the challenge “This report will help inform the govern- makes a signifi cant contribution to the is to balance regulation with the conditions ment about the contribution the industry British economy – but is subject to intense needed for the industry to compete.” makes in these diffi cult economic times.” D`edXiXZhl`i\je\n ^Xd`e^gifg\ik`\j Business advisory fi rm Baker Tilly has announced that it has completed the sale of more than 100 gaming centres formerly owned by Agora Gaming Group to invest- ment vehicle Minmar. Edward Symmons LLP acted on behalf of Baker Tilly to secure the deal, which I\m\el\jXkD\ZZXn\i\lg`e)''0 includes 106 leasehold properties formerly operated by the four subsidiary companies K_\[\Xc`eZcl[\jgifg\ik`\j`eCfe[fe :Xj`efYlj`e\jj[i`m\j under the Agora banner. Gaming centres in London and Administrator and Baker Tilly part- IXeb>iflg^ifnk_ Aldershot are among those to be sold after ner David Hudson said: “A sale has been Rank Group, the casino and bingo Agora and its subsidiaries – Leisure World agreed for the entire portfolio, which will hall operator, has posted an operat- UK and Caesar’s World – were put into safeguard 480 jobs and enable the estate ing profi t of £60.8m for the year end- administration on 7 December. to continue to trade under new ownership.” ing 31 December 2009 – a signifi cant improvement on the £9.1m loss the group reported for the previous year. ;fneklie]X`cjkfX]]\ZkiXZ\Zflij\Ô^li\j The company’s Grosvenor Casinos chain saw operating profi t grow by a Attendance levels at racecourses across if it wasn’t for December suffering aban- fi fth and revenue increase by 7 per the UK remained stable during 2009 donments during the winter’s cold snap, cent. An increase in customers and despite the challenging economic climate, which continued to make January a very customer visit helped to boost the according to new fi gures published by the testing time for racecourses. casino chain, while Mecca Bingo Racecourse Association (RCA). “However, the all-weather tracks have saw an increase in revenue through a The total number of people attending done an absolutely magnifi cent job in growth in average spend per visit help- horseracing events during the 12-month keeping the show on the road and hope- ing to offset a “modest decline” in the period increased slightly – by 2,000 – to fully things will be back to normal soon to number of overall visits. 5,718,729 when compared with the pre- build on last year’s success.” The group was also boosted by a vious year, although the average daily The RCA was formed in 1907 to repre- successful legal challenge against HM attendance decreased by 0.22 per cent. sent the interests of racecourse operators Revenue and Customs, after a tribunal RCA chief executive Stephen Atkin said: in Britain. There are currently 60 active ruled that Rank Group was entitled to “The fi gures would have been even better racecourses across the country. a VAT refund totalling nearly £26m. 8 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Winning Partnership Elevates The West Bay Club to Premier Holiday Site An innovation in self catering holiday sites - the West Bay Club has undergone an extensive regeneration and development programme that has transformed it into a premier holiday lo- cation on the Isle of Wight. Guests are not only able to enjoy stunning, contemporary, New England styled cottages, they also benefi t from every imaginable sporting facility including, a heated pool, gym, tennis, squash... the list goes on. The West Bay’s ESPA Spa has now offi cially opened and offers locals the use of extensive facilities. The architect responsible for the regeneration programme spec- ifi ed Armitage Venesta (AV) to manufacture and supply cubicles for both the wet and dry washrooms. Stadia, AV’s free-standing changing cubicles and Relay cubicles, both systems entirely im- pervious to water, were installed in all wet areas. Stylish Equinox cubicles with opaque glass doors and stream- line polished pilasters were used to striking effect within the plush spa area. AV also supplied all benches and lockers. As the West Bay Club continues its programme of regeneration and development, its partnership with Armitage Venesta contin- ues to ensure its guests are provided with quality, lasting and aesthetically pleasing facilities. For more information on Armitage Venesta’s washroom systems, call 01474 353 333 or visit www.armitage-venesta.co.uk Equinox® A contemporary, streamline washroom system Call: 01474 353 333 exclusively designed to deliver modern styling www.armitage-venesta.co.uk NEWS Hospitality -'d:Xi[`]]9Xp_fk\cgcXejlem\`c\[ Wyndham Hotel Group and Cardiff-based developer Bayscape have unveiled plans for the construction of a new £60m water- front hotel in Cardiff Bay. The two companies have signed a 25-year management deal for the 32-sto- rey Wyndham Cardiff, which will become the tallest building in Wales at 127m (417ft) high. Located on a site adjacent to the International Sports Village and the new 350-berth Cardiff Marina, the property has been designed by Custard Architecture and will feature 200 bedrooms as well as 35 serviced apartments. The hotel will also have two restaurants K_\_fk\c_XjY\\e[\j`^e\[Yp:ljkXi[8iZ_`k\Zkli\ and three bars, including a signature res- taurant and bar on the 24th and 25th fl oor spa, a sauna, a whirlpool, a fi tness centre, tre will also be provided for guests. Malta- offering views across Cardiff Bay, as well and conference facilities, as well as 100 based operator CHI Hotels and Resorts as a health bar and café. Other facilities residential units, shops and offi ces. will provide technical assistance and will include an indoor swimming pool, a Private river bus rides to the city cen- advice in the design of Wyndham Cardiff. ?fjg`kXc`kpj\Zkfi FlkcffbÊcffb`e^lgË]fi _`kj('$p\XiD 8cfn Cfe[feËji\jkXliXekj A new survey of more than 300 restau- KPMG has revealed that the number of rants across London has revealed that merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the more than half of the capital’s eateries hospitality sector reached a new 10-year expect to see an increase in takings low during 2009 as the recession had a during 2010, compared with last year. sharp impact on the hotel sector. Despite tough trading conditions, Richard Hathaway, head of travel, lei- nearly 90 per cent of those questioned sure and tourism at the business advisory as part of Business Link’s Restaurant fi rm, said that operators and investors in Barometer for London said they are the sector are still being affected by chal- D\i^\ijXi\XkXi\Zfi[cfn planning to maintain or increase staff lenges in fi nding available fi nance. levels over the coming months. Hathaway said: “Funding is available, According to a recent study, some of However, poor weather conditions but with the banks happy to sit on hotel the world’s leading hotel groups expect during January meant that 49 per assets in the hope of a property rebound, to require US$70bn (£46.2bn, E51.2bn) cent of restaurant owners reported a prospective investors will need to develop of refi nancing in the next fi ve years – decline in takings, when compared creative deals that work for them.” US$12bn (£7.9bn, E8.8bn) this year alone. with the same period last year. ?`jkfi`Zj\X]ifek_fk\ci\fg\ej`eJflk_\e[ The Rezidor Hotel Group has reopened a room capable of holding 280 delegates historic seafront hotel in Southend-on-Sea, theatre-style and 200 guests for banquets. Essex, following the completion of a major Park Inn’s new RBG Bar and Grill res- £25m refurbishment of the property. taurant concept – which has already First opened as the Metropole in 1901, been rolled out at properties in Cardiff, the six-storey Park Inn Palace Hotel fea- Manchester, Peterborough and Belfast – is tures 137 bedrooms overlooking the situated on the fi rst fl oor of the revamped Thames Estuary. It is the 26th site to open hotel, along with an adjoining bar. under Rezidor’s Park Inn brand in the UK. Phillip Dark, regional director at Park Inn Located on the Western Esplanade, the UK, said: “The new Park Inn Palace Hotel majority of the hotel’s public areas are sit- in Southend-on-Sea will be a great addition uated on the fi rst fl oor – incorporating six both to the hotel portfolio in the town and meeting rooms and a large, divisible ball- to Park Inn’s UK hotel portfolio.” K_\_fk\cËj_`jkfi`ZYXi 10 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 NEWS Attractions ;fneklie]X`cjkf Cfe[feËjA\n`j_Dlj\ldfg\ej _XckD\ic`e^ifnk_ A London museum dedicated to Jewish Merlin Entertainments Group, the culture, heritage and identity in the UK reo- UK-based visitor attraction opera- pened to the public on 17 March, tor, recently posted a 16.1 per cent following the completion of a comprehen- increase in revenue for the year ending sive £10m redevelopment. 26 December 2009. The Jewish Museum London in Camden A 10 per cent increase in visitor Town has been expanded and revamped numbers compared with the previous as part of the scheme, which has involved year helped to fuel the group’s growth architects Long and Kentish and exhibition CREDIT: PETER DURANT over the 12-month period amid what it designers Event Communications. called a diffi cult trading environment. New displays and exhibitions across The attraction operator was also four permanent galleries aim to provide boosted by the opening of Madame visitors with the chance to explore Tussauds Hollywood, US and the Jewish life and culture as part of the relaunch of the London Aquarium. wider history of Britain. K_\dlj\ld_Xj]fli^Xcc\i`\j Merlin chief executive Nick Varney The museum’s exhibits include the rec- said: “During 2009, as well as deliver- reation of an East End street and tailor’s The Welcome Gallery introduces visi- ing strong increases in sales and prof- workshop, a map showing where Jews tors to a range of Jewish people. History: its, we have reduced debt leverage, have come from across the world and a A British Story examines how and why leaving the group better positioned.” number of historic artefacts. Jewish people settled in the UK. 8Y`e^[fedlj\ld dXb\fm\ikf^fX_\X[ DZDXelji\fg\ej Plans to give the historic County Hall Museum in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, a X]k\i()di\mXdg complete makeover are to go ahead following the award of a fi nal grant of The McManus art gallery in Dundee, £1.7m by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Scotland, has reopened following a £12m To date, the project has been refurbishment programme. awarded £210,000 in development The main entrance to the attraction has funding and a £50,000 project plan- been completely redeveloped, and inside ning grant, making the total invest- the gallery spaces have been upgraded ment £1.97m. The Grade I listed with interactive displays and visitor sta- building in the town centre was con- tions. A new retail and café area has been structed between 1678 and 1682. Its added, complete with an outdoor terrace K_\dX`e\ekiXeZ\kfk_\^Xcc\ip dual role as market hall and Sessions and a new top-lit atrium. House dates from when the town was There is also a new creative learning Lottery Fund, the European Union, Historic included in the boundaries of the old suite, catering for outreach programmes Scotland, and The McManus Fundraising county of Berkshire and played host to as well as inhouse workshops and classes. Appeal. To celebrate the opening, a new the local courts, the assizes. The works were funded in partner- exhibition – called The Making of Modern The popular County Hall museum ship by Dundee City Council, the Heritage Dundee – has been launched. was created in the 1920s. 0%),dYffjk]fi>`XekËj:Xlj\nXpgcXej Plans for the development of a new Communications have been selected to £18.5m visitor centre at the Giant’s develop the interpretative aspect. The Causeway, Northern Ireland, have received centre has received a £3m grant from the a £9.25m boost from the Northern Ireland Heritage Lottery Fund and £4m from NT. Tourist Board (NITB). A fundraising campaign to secure the The funding announcement comes after remaining £2m needed for the scheme is the tourism agency reached an agreement already underway, while construction work with the National Trust (NT), which owns is expected to start on the main build in the attraction and plans to enhance the autumn 2010. Preliminary work will start World Heritage Site’s visitor experience. in May to create new car parks, the reloca- Dublin-based architects heneghan. tion of retail and tourist information to the peng are behind the designs for the new Causeway Hotel and the provision of addi- visitor centre, and design group Event tional catering kiosks and toilet facilities. Nfibn`ccY\^`e`ecXk\)'(' ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 11 NEWS Sport ;:DJlem\`cj-dX]k\i$jZ_ffc`e`k`Xk`m\ Young people will be given the opportunity to take part in Olympic sports as part of a new network of 3,000 after-school clubs created across the country. Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has confi rmed that the government will spend £6m on creating the network of after- school clubs at English secondary schools and colleges as part of the sporting legacy from the 2012 Games. Funding will be used to pay for new equipment and qualifi ed coaches to run the clubs, which will provide a range of sports including boccia, badminton, table tennis, K_\`e`k`Xk`m\`jgXikf]k_\^fm\ied\ekËjc\^XZpgcXej]fik_\)'()>Xd\j volleyball and wheelchair basketball. Sports national governing bodies, Sport England In addition to £3.4m from the DCMS funding will be sourced from and the Youth Sport Trust, will work in Department for Culture, Media and Sport the £780m made available by the govern- partnership with schools and colleges to (DCMS), the Department of Health has ment and its Physical Education and Sport develop the new clubs, which will be oper- earmarked £1.5m for the plans and Sport Strategy for Young People fund for 2008- ated under the Change 4 Life banner. England will contribute a £1m grant. 2011, announced two years ago. 8k_c\k`Zjj\\j gXik`Z`gXk`feYffjk More than 85,000 additional adults are taking part in athletics activities at least once a week and overall participation has increased to 7 million people, according to Sport England’s quarterly update. The fi rst three months of the Active People Survey 4, which covers a 12-month K_\gcXejkXi^\k('d`cc`feg\fgc\ period to January 2010, has revealed that 186,000 more adults are participating in 8k_c\k`Zj`jk_\]Xjk\jk^ifn`e^jgfik E\n)'()c\^XZpgcXe sport compared with 2007-2008. Athletics participation has seen one of There has been a “strong increase” in ]fi[`jXYc\[g\fgc\ the largest increases since the previous participation in sport among men aged A major new plan to deliver a lasting Active People report. The sport’s partici- between 35- and 54-years-old, although legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games pation numbers have increased by more the fi gures for women and disabled partici- for 10 million people with disabilities than 200,000 during the past 15 months. pants have shown a decrease. across the country has been unveiled by the government. London 2012: A Legacy for Disabled ÊCXjk`e^c\^XZpËX`dj]fi 12 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 The simple switchover for R22 systems REDUCED REDUCED REDUCED Plug in VRV®III-Q Upto 50% Existing System SAVED Act now. Virgin R22 banned in January 2010 Save time and money, without compromising performance, when you replace existing R22 equipment. VRV®III-Q is the smart way to achieve: • Dramatically reduced installation time and cost, compared with complete new system. • Minimal business disruption by reusing some existing equipment. • Higher energy efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. • Major potential to increase system capacity. • Less waste with full recycling service for end-of-life units. For more information, visit www.daikin.co.uk/r22r your comfort. our world. Midlands Northern North Central South Scotland Western Region Region London London London Region Region 0845 641 9370 0845 641 9340 0845 641 9360 0845 641 9350 0845 641 9355 0845 641 9330 0845 641 9320 NEWS Spa & Wellness IX^[Xc\?Xcck_\iXg`jk =`ijkg_Xj\f]:_\m`e_fk\ci\mXdgZfdgc\k\[ Crerar Hotels has completed the fi rst phase bedrooms and to refurbish the existing of a £1.2m revamp of its Chevin Country Woodlands Suite function space. Park Hotel & Spa in Otley, Yorkshire. Enda Rylands, general manager of The fi rst phase, costing £500,000, Chevin Country Park Hotel & Spa, said of included the refurbishment of the hotel’s the refurbishment: “The hotel has under- 22 lodge cabin rooms, the opening a new gone a real transformation. Sonas Spa treatment room and the crea- “Along with the newly refurbished lodge tion of three new self-catering log cabins rooms, the Sonas Spa is a great addition within the hotels grounds. to our leisure offering.” A further £700,000 will be invested in The hotel’s new Sonas Spa offers a full the coming months to expand the exist- range of holistic and therapeutic treat- ing leisure club, to create a destination ments – supplied by Decléor – such as hot Sonas Spa and a further nine executive stone massages and aromatherapy. K_\jgX_XjY\\eZfdgc\k\cpi\mXdg\[ 14 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 NEWS Property >i\\ec`^_k]fi/'dC\\[j8i\eXgcXej Plans for the development of a new £80m entertainment venue in Leeds, South Yorkshire, have been conditionally approved by the local authority. Leeds City Council’s (LCC) plans panel has backed the proposed 13,500-capacity Leeds Arena, which will be developed on a site in Claypit Lane in the city centre and will be operated by SMG Europe. ‘Super theatre’ plans for the new venue will ensure that the furthest seat will be no more than 68m (223ft) from the centre of the stage – compared with 90-95m (295- 312ft) at most conventional arenas. Regional development agency Yorkshire K_\m\el\n`ccY\fg\iXk\[YpJD> MXcl\f]_fk\c gifg\ikpkf]Xcc`e)'(' Hotel operators could see millions shaved off the value of their property portfolios during 2010, according to a report by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (JLLH). The real estate fi rm said the fall in prop- erty prices will result in the market “cor- recting itself” after a period of perceived stability spurred by lack of stock and few 8eXik`jkËj`dgi\jj`fef]k_\gcXej sales, which have resulted in prices stay- ACC?gi\[`ZkjXÈZfii\Zk`feÉ`e_fk\cmXcl\j ing roughly at 2007 levels. Ifj\9fncc\^Xc Hotel transaction volumes across the massive decline from the £1.81bn seen in globe continued to fall during 2009, with 2008 and the 2007 peak of £7bn. Z_Xcc\e^\k_ifneflk the UK particularly hit by lack of activity. Mark Wynne-Smith, a spokesperson for An application for a judicial review into The total value of hotel deals completed JLLH, said the main reason for the stability Eastleigh Borough Council’s (EBC) in the UK during 2009 was £353m – a in pricing during 2009 was a lack of stock. decision to contribute £32m towards the redevelopment of the Rose Bowl cricket ground has been dismissed. /,dI_pcj\X]ifekgcXejYXZbfekiXZb A High Court judge rejected the legal challenge brought against the Plans for an £85m seafront redevelopment site from administrators acting on behalf council by three hotel operators, which in Rhyl, North Wales, appear to be back on of Modus Properties. submitted notice to serve the judicial track after a buyer was found to take over The Ocean Plaza development is set to review on 20 November 2009. the scheme from Modus Properties. include an 80-bedroom hotel, a standalone EBC announced last month that it The Manchester-based developer went leisure unit, a food store and offi ces, while “acted properly within the law” in its into administration in June 2009, rais- SDG will also take over a number of other decision to purchase land and invest ing fears over the future of the mixed-use former Modus schemes across the UK. in the construction of a new 175-bed- Ocean Plaza project, which aims to trans- SDG managing director Mark Jackson room hotel as part of the scheme near form a 16-acre (6.5-hectare) site in the town. said: “We are a new and energetic com- Southampton. New covered stands Scarborough Development Group pany backed by great experience, and we and upgraded media, catering and (SDG), the newly-formed property and are delighted to be one of the fi rst compa- hospitality facilities are also included investment company, has taken over the nies to make a signifi cant commitment to in the Rose Bowl scheme, along with redevelopment scheme after acquiring the stepping back into development.” an extended golf course. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 15 NEWS Parks & Countryside :::i\a\ZkjeXk`feXcgXibYfle[XipgcXej Cumbria County Council (CCC) has rejected plans to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks due to fears over what it describes as a “demo- cratic defi cit” in decision-making. According to the council, issues cur- rently dealt with by elected councillors on a county or district level would have been taken by unelected members of a national park authority if the proposals had been allowed to go ahead. CCC also expressed concerns that the plans, which would have affected the Eden and South Lakeland areas, could have increased house prices and brought about GcXejkf\ogXe[k_\eXk`feXcgXib_Xm\efnY\\eglkfe_fc[ more stringent planning restrictions. CCC cabinet member for the environ- feel we can’t support proposals that will local communities. The areas that Natural ment Tim Knowles said: “While we do work take decisions out of the hands of dem- England are proposing become parts of closely and constructively with the national ocratically elected members and could the national parks are already beautiful and park authorities and Natural England, we have a negative impact on some of our unspoiled areas of countryside.” *djZ_\d\]fiEKËj :fejlckXk`fe]fi JkXZbgfc\\jkXk\ I\[_`ccgXibgifgfjXcj Reigate and Banstead Borough Welsh heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones Council (RBBC) is currently seeking has revealed plans for a £3m overhaul of views from local residents in Redhill, the National Trust’s (NT) Stackpole estate Surrey, over a long-term vision for the in Pembrokeshire, south west Wales. town’s Memorial Park. Four main elements of work com- Potential design ideas for the park prise efforts to transform the 2,000-acre and additional information were put on (809.4-hectare) heritage and environmen- show as part of an exhibition held by tal centre, which has received £1.6m from the council between 4-6 March, while the European Regional Development K_\)#'''$XZi\gXibn`ccY\i\mXdg\[ a public meeting about the plans also Fund. NT’s charitable funds will provide took place on 9 March. the remaining balance for the scheme, The former Stackpole Court and the RBBC executive member for regen- which will include improvements to the Brewery Complex will revamped to to ena- eration Allen Kay said: “Over the next existing accommodation at the former ble visitors to see how the estate’s land- few years, the regeneration of Redhill Home Farm Complex for students, volun- scape was shaped and to see how the will result in a number of changes to teers and adult groups. infrastructure allowed it to function. the town, including to Memorial Park.” DXpfifg\eje\nZ\ekiXcCfe[fegXib London mayor Boris Johnson has opened programme to improve key routes in time a new area of parkland on a site formerly for the London Olympics. occupied by the Aldgate gyratory traffi c Developer Tishman Speyer contrib- system in central London. uted £2m towards the creation of Braham The new Braham Street Park – a 160m Street Park through planning obligations (525ft) long stretch of public space – to Tower Hamlets Council – a partner in boasts grassed and planted areas, a the scheme. The London Development fountain and one of London’s longest con- Agency also contributed £350,000. tinuous wooden benches. Johnson said: “This is exactly the kind The project forms part of Johnson’s of transformation that we are replicating wider Great Outdoors initiative to improve across London ahead of 2012 and beyond parks, streets and public squares across – bringing formerly disused spaces back the capital, as well as the High Street 2012 to life for Londoners to enjoy.” K_\i\mXdg\[9iX_XdJki\\kGXib 16 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 NEWS See it. Health & Fitness Experience IT. Gli\>pdXeefleZ\jj\m\ee\nj`k\j Budget gym oper- ator Pure Gym is to open its fi fth UK site in Sheffi eld, after agreeing to a leasehold deal on a property at the city’s Sheaf Gardens industrial estate. The com- pany has secured a former Dixons Car Showroom site and K_\ZfdgXepgcXejkf_Xm\)'^pdjfg\eYp)'() has started work to convert the space into a health club. loan facility provided by a consortium of The Sheffi eld club will be the fi rst of investors led by Magenta Partners. Pure seven new sites that Pure Gym will open Gym has previously raised £3.5m from its during 2010. It plans to have 20 gyms management and private investors. operating across the UK by the end of Peter Roberts, Pure Gym CEO said: 2011. The company has agreed terms for “Our existing sites are trading well and properties in Birmingham, Glasgow and have set the template for future develop- Southend on Sea, and negotiations are ments. The new round of funding means at an advanced stage for further sites in that we are actively looking for further sites Aberdeen, Belfast and Derby. throughout the UK where there is access The expansion will be funded by a £6m to strong population demographics.” =flik_=`k+C\jj fg\ej`e:Xek\iYlip ClarityLive Health club operator énergie opened its fourth of Fit4Less budget club in Next Generation Canterbury, Kent, in March. Leisure Management The club, which cost around £250,000 to set up, will be operated by a franchisee Software and will offer one standard membership ClarityLive is the new, fully integrated of £16.99 a month. Chief executive at the software that takes customer énergie group, Jan Spaticchia, said: “This experience to a new level. It enables is a very exciting concept that we believe you to connect and deliver the most will do well in this economic climate. rewarding interactions possible, “We are looking to continue to introduce K_\ZclYZfjk),'#'''kfj\klg encouraging customers to do more, Fit4less to multiple towns and cities across buy more and remain loyal. From core Britain through our successful franchise The Fit4Less brand was launched by leisure management tasks to bar and support scheme, which empowers people énergie last year as part of efforts to tap food service, ClarityLive excels. to own their own business.” into the expanding budget gym sector. Experience ClarityLive now +44 (0) 1732 525870 ;CCkfjkXiknfibfee\n ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 NEWS Public Sector MfZXk`feXchlXc`ÔZXk`fej :Xcc]fidfi\jkX]]\[gcXpXi\Xj ZXe_\cgpfliYlj`e\jj Play England has called for an increase in SkillsActive, the number of staffed playgrounds to help the Sector Skills beat child obesity and anti-social behaviour. Council for Active The association says that a report by Leisure, Learning independent think thank Demos supports and Wellbeing, the view that skilled staff – whether paid has been working or voluntary – play a crucial role in suc- closely with gov- cessfully engaging the children and young ernment to create Jk\g_\e people most at risk of a sedentary lifestyle a new website and Jkl[[#: 18 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 \ \ \ \ GGG , \ 1 2 -. G / 0 \ G 3 G # \ GG # \ # \ $%$ \ " \ $ ! " ##$%&&& '(% % !*# % \ \ % \ \ \ % + ! " \ DESIGN designnews PROJECT Museum of London refurbishment DESIGN Wilkinson Eyre and in-house team LOCATION London, UK Museum of London expansion The Museum of London is nearing completion of its £20m refurbishment which will see the opening of fi ve new galleries. Architects Wilkinson Eyre and the museum’s in-house design team have transformed its display spaces. The redesigned museum seat lecture theatre. The new Sackler Hall features a 48m will feature the City Gallery, a new space housing the LED curtain and can be used as a private events space Lord Mayor’s Coach; The Weston Theatre, a multipurpose for up to 500 people, while a recreation of a Victorian space for fi lms and performances which can also be used Pleasure Garden will feature real trees and starry skies. for corporate events; and the Clore Learning Centre, a 220- The new-look museum is due to open at the end of May. PROJECT Palazzina Grassi DESIGN Philippe Starck LOCATION Venice Philippe Starck hotel for Venice The Palazzina Grassi, Philippe Starck’s fi rst Italian hotel, has opened in Venice. The fi ve-star hotel has 26 guestrooms and no reception desk – instead a ‘personalised check in service’ is promised. It also has a private jetty on the Grand Canal, a restaurant and bar, and a members’ club. The opulent design mixes the old and new. The hotel has a classical 16th century façade and a restored central colonade in the reception area, but the guestrooms feature geometric lines, transparent glass wardrobes and LCD screens. PROJECT Circus DESIGN Tom Dixon LOCATION London, UK Circus comes to town Bar/restaurant/entertainment venue Circus launched in London’s Covent Garden in January. Designed by former Habitat creative director Tom Dixon, the interiors were apparently inspired by the surrealist art movement and feature silver balls and glittering curtains. Tom Dixon-designed furniture has been used and the venue also features a dancer’s pole and a giant dining table in the centre of the room. Circus includes a 140-cover restaurant serving Pan-American cuisine and a cocktail bar headed up by Dick Bradsell. 20 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 PROJECT Brooklands Hotel DESIGN Carey Jones (architecture) Mark Trevillion (interiors) LOCATION Surrey, UK Hotel to open in middle of racetrack The Brooklands Hotel opened in March, inside the historic Brooklands motor-racing circuit in Surrey. The 120 bedroom hotel is next to Mercedes Benz World and features a destination spa, a cocktail bar and a restaurant. The art deco inspired design features rich colours and materials, and glass has been used extensively for the building itself. Design features include leather panels, glittering light pendants and bespoke round daybeds in the suites. A giant wooden sculpture hangs in the atrium representing a 3D map of the Brooklands racetrack as it was in the 1930s. The hotel is part of the Delancey portfolio and is a sister property to Bovey Castle and Grand Jersey. PROJECT The Arch London DESIGN RDD (interiors) Graham Seabrook Partnership (architecture) LOCATION London, UK New luxury hotel for London The 82 room Arch London has opened in London’s West End. The hotel is housed in a row of nine Georgian Grade II listed townhouses and features 82 rooms and suites over six fl oors. It also has a lounge and study, a cocktail bar, a restaurant and a library serving afternoon teas and martinis. The architecture was by Graham Seabrook Partnership, with interiors by RDD. The interiors mix modern technology and contemporary artwork with carefully restored architectural details. The bar features silver Philippe Starck barstools, while the guestrooms feature original works by young artists. A collection of video art is projected onto the wall behind the marble reception desk. PROJECT Burj Khalifa DESIGN Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LOCATION Dubai, United Arab Emirates Burj Khalifa viewing deck opens then closes The Burj Khalifa opened to great fanfare in January in Dubai. At more than half a mile tall (823m) it is the tallest building in the world, and features an observation deck on its 124th fl oor, offering the public views of the city. In February however, the deck was closed ‘due to technical diffi culties.’ At the time of going to press it remains closed. The Burj Khalifa was designed by US architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Leisure facilities include the Armani Hotel Dubai and eight health and fi tness clubs. The tower was previously known as the Burj Dubai, but was renamed after Abu Dhabi’s president Khalifa Bin Zayed. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 21 DESIGN PROFILE ● KONCEPT When did you launch? What is Koncept's We launched in 1996 and have approach to interior design? Based in Stockholm, since completed jobs in 20 coun- Environments can be designed the award-winning tries. We now employ 30 people. to communicate strong mes- sages that infl uence people. Koncept off ers interior What does Koncept offer? Architecture and interior design are Our mission is to develop unique excellent tools with which to commu- design, architecture and environments that add value and nicate the identity of a company and competitive advantages to our cli- a brand, and to get across its core concept development ent's businesses. To achieve this, we values. Koncept designs unique envi- always base our ideas on an under- ronments that create value and a services, with clients standing of each client's business. competitive advantage for our clients. Free, artistic creativity is important in the hotel, spa but we believe in structure in the cre- What leisure projects are ative process. This is why we begin you currently working on? and retail sectors all our projects by working with our Projects currently under production clients to identify their specifi c chal- include new properties for Scandic lenges and goals. Once we've decided Hotels in Hamburg and Stockholm, where to go, we can concentrate all our both due to open in 2011, a shop- energy on moving in the right direction. ping mall project also opening in 2011 We approach all of our projects with and the Gota Lejon theatre open- a combination of joy and enthusiasm. ing in Stockholm the same year. Situated in the Scandinavian mountains, the fi ve star Copperhill Mountain Lodge was designed COPPERHILL by American architect MOUNTAIN Peter Bohlin of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and LODGE AIX Arkitekter with inte- Are, Sweden riors by Koncept. It has 112 suites – most with a balcony or terrace pro- viding spectacular views of the mountains – a spa and health club, two res- taurants, a champagne bar and a lounge bar. It also has a 600-capacity conference venue and an on-site helipad. The contemporary building was con- structed in wood and stone, with glass and metal also used throughout. The interiors PHOTO: KRISTOFFER ANDERSON are characterised by large open spaces, rus- tic materials and large windows facing the tic spa. Three of the nine treatment rooms history as an important copper mining site. mountains. The hotel and spa’s relaxed feel are shaped like traditional Sami tipis, with The copper mine theme can be seen in is enhanced by an extensive use of natural the benches covered with reindeer hides and the ‘Copper Shade’ pendant lamps by Tom materials throughout. These include pine, the ceilings designed to look like a starry sky. Dixon in the suites. The bathrooms also spruce, stone, leather and 2,000 tons of slate, The treatments are Sami-inspired, and use feature shimmering, copper-coloured tiles, which was locally-sourced. birch oil and hot stones. They are carried out which contrast with the contemporary white The Copperhill Mountain Lodge Spa won to a backdrop of traditional Sami music. The sinks. The walls are decorated with historic best interior design award at the European spa also features an indoor pool and a sauna pictures from the nearby county museum. Hotel Design Awards 2009 for its unique with panoramic windows. The public areas feature specially com- design, which the judges said embraced its Elsewhere in the hotel, the design aim missioned artworks including two 2m-tall location, environment and culture. was to create a modern interpretation of a sculptures by Spanish artist Jaume Plensas. Sami culture (the Sami people are the classic ski lodge. The warm tones and natu- The Copperhill Mountain Lodge has indigenous people of northern Europe) has ral materials are again infl uenced by Sami undergone a major renovation programme, infl uenced the design of the deliberately rus- culture, as well as the surrounding area’s which was completed in December 2009. 22 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 STORY HOTEL Stockholm, Sweden PHOTOS: MIKAEL FJÑLLSTRÎM PHOTOS: MIKAEL Story Hotel launched in March 2009, and it won the award for best interiors at the European Hotel Design Awards 2009. The designers were briefed to develop a completely new hotel concept in the heart of Stockholm. The aim was to create a design that was both unique and relaxed. Koncept have mixed cutting edge design with com- fortable features to create a unique hotel. The hotel features 82 bedrooms, a late night bar, a restaurant, a café and a bou- tique. Koncept used New York pubs and bohemian hotels in Paris as sources of inspiration for the hotel’s design. Original throughout, contrasting with the original modern look, while the bar was apparently features from the historic building have features and creating a unique hotel. inspired by a Parisian salon. been kept, with ‘beautifully worn’ walls Other design features include industrial- There is no check in desk at the hotel; left bare and the old entry doors reused as style exposed pipes and concrete fl oors, instead guests book and pay for their room bed frames. Contemporary pieces of furni- which again contrast with velvet upholstery online, and enter their confi rmation code at ture and modern artwork have been used and satin quilts. The restaurant has a retro a check in computer in the hotel’s lobby. PHOTO: MIKAEL FJÑLLSTRÎM PHOTO: MIKAEL B.A.R. Stockholm, Sweden The clients – restaurateurs The main challenge was rant using ash, oak and to create a space that could tiles. Guests sit in the mid- The indigenous Sami culture Henrik Norström and Peter Johansson – wanted to easily make the transi- dle of the kitchen and pick has infl uenced the design. create a combined restau- tion from breakfast café to fresh fi sh or lobster from the rant and market hall, also restaurant and bar, while market or live from giant Three of the spa’s treatment blurring the line between still providing a unique tanks ready to be cooked in rooms are shaped like tipis, the kitchen and dining atmosphere for each meal. the style of their choosing. area. Koncept were briefed Merging the market area Guests can also pick fresh reindeer hides cover the to create a relaxed, urban with the restaurant area in vegetables and condiments benches and traditional Sami dining experience that a way that made sense and and request their own indi- would refl ect the restau- was not intrusive for diners vidualised meal, or choose music provides a backdrop rant’s focus on local, fresh was another big challenge. from a seasonal set menu. produce, with a particular Koncept created a rustic, B.A.R. opened to the pub- emphasis on seafood. warehouse-style restau- lic in December 2009. ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 23 HOTSEAT PAUL MAYER Since it opened in 2005 with the UK’s fi rst wind tunnel, Bodyfl ight has expanded Wave Loch to add a leisure centre, hotel and café. manufactures artifi cial The latest plans will see the launch of wave machines, which can be used for surfi ng the Flow House indoor surf experience, and bodyboarding as MD Paul Mayer tells Kath Hudson How do you describe your business? A lot of my friends and family thought I was bonkers to give Bodyfl ight offers unique, adrenalin-based leisure activities that up a good job and a comfortable lifestyle to sell wind! But I are a bit different from the norm. never really saw launching Bodyfl ight as a great risk. I thought that if it didn’t work out I’d have lost a bit of money and I’d just Where did the inspiration for Bodyfl ight come from? get another job. It was just really exciting to be working for In 2000, I went on holiday to Florida with a friend who wanted myself and doing something I was interested in. to do a skydiving course. I just went along for the ride really, but had a great time on the course. While I was there I visited a Why did you choose the site in Bedford? wind tunnel, which gave me the idea for Bodyfl ight. The building was already here. It was a MOD science research facility that included a wind tunnel built in 1950. It was a bit of a Did you put the plan into action immediately? white elephant project and was only used for about 180 hours It was my pet project for 18 months and then I gave up my job before sitting abandoned for 40 years. once I was confi dent the idea had a future. I had been looking The structure of the existing building was ideal for our needs, for a business idea for a long time. I always thought it would be although we did have to replace everything inside it. The site something to do with IT, but I realised this was an opportunity gave us a great head-start; it meant we were able to open the for me to do something a bit different. world’s biggest wind tunnel for half the price of a smaller new build. Bodyfl ight opened in 2005. What were the main challenges? The fi nancing was a challenge, because it was a bit of a leftfi eld idea, plus not that many venture capitalists look to invest in lei- sure. The technical side of things was also a challenge. To start with I thought a wind tunnel was just a fan with air blowing up, but I realised there’s actually a lot more to it than that! At that point there weren’t any wind tunnels in the UK and there weren’t many scientists with the necessary knowledge. Who are your customers? Around 70 per cent of our customers are experienced skydiv- ers, and 30 per cent are beginners. The beginner market is mainly made up of people who want to try skydiving as a one off experience, but don’t want to plummet towards the earth in Bodyfl ight’s tunnel generates a potentially deadly situation. We get a lot of stag parties and wind speeds up to 180mph people who have been given a vouchers as a present. 24 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 The wind tunnel at Bodyfl ight is used as a training facility for professional sky divers as well by beginners WAVE LOCH Wave Loch was developed by surfer a further two Wave Tom Lochtefeld, who patented the Houses, in San Diego, FlowRider – a new kind of arti- US and Santiago, Chile. fi cial wave machine – in the late Two more are under con- 1980s. The fi rst Wave Loch FlowRider struction in Singapore opened at the Schlitterbahn water- and Zaragoza, Spain. park in Texas in 1991, and in 1993, Wave Loch has now Lochtefeld built a larger, curl- sold more than 100 ing FlowBarrel sheet wave at the FlowRider sheet waves, Summerland resort in Bo, Norway. and they can be found Lochtefeld went on to develop the in locations around the Wave House concept – a complete world including Center ‘beach and surf lifestyle package’ Parcs villages in the Netherlands, the Flow House, a new visitor attraction offering retail, live music, entertain- National Aquatic Centre in Ireland, concept. Flow House is based on the ment, food and beverage, with the Hershey Park in the USA and on board Wave Loch FlowRider and FlowBarrel FlowRider and FlowBarrel sheet fi ve Royal Caribbean cruise liners. waves and offers an indoor surf- waves at the centre of the concept. In October 2009 Wave Loch themed experience which also The fi rst Wave House opened in announced that it had signed a joint encompasses food and drink, music, South Africa in 2001. There are now venture deal with Bodyfl ight to launch entertainment and retail. How long do the fl ights last? lots of customers on site and realised there was a need for more The smallest package we do consists of two fl ights, which food and beverage and lounge areas to cater for them. equates to two and a half minutes of air time. Most people do four fl ights, which is fi ve minutes. You recently collaborated with Wave Loch. What does this collaboration involve? Can you explain the thinking behind Wave Loch manufactures artifi cial surfi ng waves including the your current expansion plans? FlowRider, which uses a bespoke board and a continuous The site has oodles of space and buildings. We realised we had stream of water. Waveloch’s successful concept, Wave House, the opportunity to bring a few additional, unique leisure facili- centres on the FlowRider experience, while also offering food ties in. The wind tunnel was the fi rst of its kind in the UK and and beverage, music, retail and entertainment. Wave Houses we wanted to fi nd some more new innovations. Also, we have offer an outdoor party atmosphere in large, beach-style venues. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 25 HOTSEAT “There’s no reason why there couldn’t be a Flow House in every major town in the UK, but we need to test the water fi rst and see if it’s as popular as we hope. We’d love to open more” So far the Wave Houses have all been outside, so in collaboration with Wave Loch, we’ve come up with the Flow House concept – a new visitor attrac- tion similar to Wave House, but indoors instead of outdoors. There are a few places around the world which feature a FlowRider wave attraction indoors, but the Flow House philosophy is lifestyle-based, rather than just being a sporting activity. It encom- passes food and drink, music, relaxation and entertainment, as well as the waves. Early last year we started to research the idea and it became evident that Wave Loch was a market leader with both its sites and its products. The Waveloch management were quite excited about Vertigo allows have two ways to get down from the tunnel (via the bungee the potential of our site; about the fact customers to and zipwire), but only one way to get up, which is in a lift. We that we already offer an extreme activity free fall for thought it would be good to offer a fun way to get to the top. and could move quickly. two thirds of Climbing 35m is quite a challenge, so we’re looking at a few The Flow House is due to open at the 125ft drop climbing adventure ideas to make it a bit different. Bodyfl ight in May 2010. before a cable gradually slows Do you plan to roll out the Flow House? Will this appeal to existing them down If the timing is right and we can fi nd the right locations, we customers or attract new ones? would defi nitely like to open more. There’s no real reason why A mixture of both, hopefully. We have people aged from three there couldn’t be a Flow House in every major town, but we to 97 using our wind tunnel. The age range won’t be so wide need to test the water fi rst and see if it’s as popular as we hope. for Flow House; we expect it to attract a core of local people as well as surfers, skateboarders and wakeboarders. How much have you invested? It will probably bring a new stream of people to Bodyfl ight, To date we’ve invested £2.5m in the BodyFlight facility, and a who’ll come along for the day, and it will also increase the further £1m in the Flow House. length of the stay for beginners using the wind tunnel. We’re thinking of running activity days when people can come Are there any other elements you’d and try all the activities on site, and are talking about the idea of like to add in the future? summer camps for schools, as we have accommodation on site We’ve got plenty of space on site and I’m always on the look- and a range of fantastic activities. out for the next idea, so if something comes along that I think is cool and that people will use, then yes, absolutely. What accommodation do you offer? We have 20 bedrooms, which range from single rooms to bunk Do you have any long term ambitions? rooms. We can sleep 40. The accommodation is mainly used by Not really, to be honest. It’s a journey of discovery, and it feels skydivers, who stay on site to train. This was the main reason as though it’s a journey I’m following rather than leading! we introduced the new leisure centre, which opened last year. What’s the highlight of your career? What other new activities do you have? The World Challenge, which we run every year. It’s recognised There’s Vertigo, which is a bungee jump without the bounce, as one of the biggest competitions in the skydiving calendar. It and Swoop, an extreme zipwire from a 35m tower, which attracts the top competitors and generates a huge buzz. stretches more than 200m and is very steep. People on the zip- wire travel at around 45mph. We are really starting to push that. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned? We are also planning to build a climbing wall, which will com- That refl ection is the key to decision making. It’s easy to make bine a traditional climbing wall and an adventure trail. We now decisions, but it’s defi nitely better to listen fi rst and talk later. ● 26 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 azen DESIGN ASSOCIATES For us, inspired design comes naturally... immersive environments, highly naturalistic Conceptual & complete design habitats & landscapes, for zoos, aquariums museums & themed attractions. Detailed visualization & models Creative & technical specification For more information please visit our website www.lazenbydesign.com, or email Interpretive & graphic design us at [email protected] to request a fully illustrated portfolio. Construction art-direction Farnley Park, Farnley, West Yorkshire, LS21 2QF, United Kingdom t.+44 (0)1943 850101 RREYNOLDSEYNOLDSPROFILE From cutting down on Do Not Touch signs to creating allotments, the National Trust is revamping the way it communicates with the public, as its director general tells Magali Robathan meet Fiona Reynolds, the National I’m here to talk to Reynolds about Trust’s director general, in the the latest part of this process of trans- I trust’s headquarters in Swindon. formation. In February, the Going Local The building is modern, welcom- strategy was published, setting out the ing and sustainable – built using wood trust’s aims over the next 10 years. It’s from the trust’s estate, it is naturally ven- described within the document as “noth- tilated and generates around 30 per cent ing less than a cultural revolution” and of the electricity it needs using solar pan- sets out plans to involve local communi- els. The offi ces are open plan to improve ties in the running of trust properties, to communication between staff, and the encourage risk and give property man- public is welcomed in to the airy café agers more freedom to run the houses in and on regular tours of the building. the way they think is best. ©NTPL/DAVIDPHOTO: LEVENSON The building is a good representation of what Reynolds was hired 10 years ago A part of our heritage to help the National Trust achieve. “When The National Trust was set up in 1895 I joined, I think people were looking by Victorian philanthropists Octavia Hill, for a bit of a fresh eye,” she says. “The Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke National Trust had done some wonder- Rawnsley. Worried about the effects of ful things but there was a sense that we industrialisation and development, they needed to enter the 21st century. founded the trust as a way of protecting “We’ve perhaps been seen as being a threatened countryside, coastlines and bit stuffy, telling people what to do rather buildings, in Hill’s words: “For the ever- than listening to what people want to do. lasting delight of the people”. former homes of Paul McCartney and We’ve been very good at conservation Today the trust owns more than John Lennon and Birmingham’s last sur- but perhaps less in touch with people 300 historic houses and gardens, 700 viving back-to-back houses. and the kinds of experiences they want. miles of coastline and 600,000 acres Despite the recession, National Trust I feel I’ve been reconnecting us very of countryside, making it the UK’s sec- memberships have continued to grow. strongly with the founding vision, but ond biggest private landowner after the Last year it had 3.8 million members – up also making sure that we love people as Queen. As well as the stately homes it’s from 2.7 million when Reynolds joined in much as we love places.” best known for, its properties include the 2001 – and there were 15 million visitors to its properties and 50 million visitors to the coast and countryside in its care. The trust has benefi ted from people staying in the UK for their holidays and Reynolds also believes that the diffi cult economy has made people appreci- ate simpler pleasures. “There has been a shift during this recession, with peo- ple remembering that money can’t buy everything and actually there are some things that are more important, such as happiness and spending time with your family,” she says. “I pray that will last.” When the recession started to bite, Reynolds explains, the National Trust PHOTO: ©NTPL/ARNHEL DE SERRA PHOTO: began to cut costs and become more prudent, but also acted decisively, launching the Time Well Spent adver- tising campaign. “We tried to touch people’s heartstrings with our mes- sage about the importance of the simple pleasures of life,” she says. “Things that money can’t buy – a walk in a beauti- ful woodland, or a picnic in the park with your family, or the wonderful views of a The trust is working to create a more relaxed atmosphere beautiful building or coastline. 28 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 PHOTO: ©NTPL/JOE CORNISH PHOTO: ©NTPL/ROD EDWARDS Reynolds is determined to ensure the National Trust becomes better known for the coast and countryside in its care, via a range of initiatives “If you join the National Trust it’s a says, with feel- value proposition; you get free entry to ing. “I love my job all these wonderful places, but it’s much and I feel incred- more than that. It gives you freedom of ibly lucky to be spirit and a sense of peace and tranquil- working for an lity that shopping with your children on a organisation that Saturday just doesn’t. We’ve found that is so passionate people have really responded to that.” about places and people and really A passion for the country cares that future generations will have all conservation solution” to running the Reynolds has spent most of her work- beautiful places to enjoy.” trust’s properties in a more individual way. ing life helping to protect and preserve Reynolds may feel lucky to be work- “Every single one of our properties is the British countryside. “I am absolutely ing for the trust, but she also knows different and distinctive and has its own passionate about it, and I’m also really that her experience and enthusiasm has stories and its own personality,” she says. passionate about this country,” she says. brought a lot to the role of director gen- “It’s a risk in a big national institution “I love what it stands for and I love that eral. “I brought my personal passion and that there becomes a ‘National Trust way sense that each generation has choices. I also brought a sense that I know how of doing things’ that overrides some of We can either mess it up or we can make things get done,” she says. “I have been that local quirkiness. sure there’s a legacy for our children.” working on countryside policy for all my “The Going Local strategy is partly After studying geography and land working life and I do know what you can about saying we want our properties to economy at Cambridge, Reynolds joined do to improve beauty and improve man- celebrate what’s special about them, and the Council for National Parks in 1980. agement and make things better. we want to bring them to life in ways that In 1987 she moved to the Council for “I also know what government needs are true to their own character.” the Protection of Rural England (now to do and what other people can do. In practice this means getting rid the Campaign to Protect Rural England), Although the trust is very much a doer of barriers and Do Not Touch signs in becoming director in 1992. She spent and not a lobbyer, it’s important to under- the properties and presenting the sto- two years as director of the Women’s stand how partnerships can work.” ries of the buildings in a livelier way. In Unit at the Cabinet Offi ce, from 1998 to Upton House, in Warwickshire, for exam- 2000, and a year as a member of the Going local ple, visitors arrive as if for a weekend in Policy Commission on the Future of Food The new Going Local strategy outlines a country house – the fi res are burning, and Farming. In 2001 she saw an advert the plans and aims of the organisation music is playing and the visitors can sit for the post of National Trust director over the next 10 years. on the chairs and drink cocktails. In other general and she knew she had to apply. The strategy, explains Reynolds, is properties, stories are brought to life “It’s the best job in the world,” she about moving away from a “one size fi ts using actors in period costume. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 29 PROFILE “There have been accusations of dumbing down, but I don’t believe we are dumbing down at all. I think there’s a real integrity to what we’re doing which I’m very proud of. I absolutely trust our people to get it right” Properties are also being made avail- asking permission. We are also encour- mental risk, just being a little bit more able for community meetings and events, aging our people to be slightly less relaxed about the way we use them. I and local people are being involved in risk averse. They are all conscious that absolutely trust our people to get it right. fundraising activities and decision-mak- they look after very special places and Our staff and volunteers are so con- ing. Last year the trust pledged to make the ‘don’t take any risks approach’ has scious of their responsibilities that I don’t 1,000 allotments available for local com- maybe gone a bit too far in some cases.” think that’s a risk at all.” munities by 2012 as part of its Food, The public has, in the main, welcomed Glorious Food campaign. this approach, says Reynolds, although Changing climate “The allotments have been phenome- there has been some resistance. As well as the Go Local strategy, the nally successful,” says Reynolds. “Last “There are people, of course, that like National Trust recently unveiled its energy summer we gave away tomato plants to come to our properties and enjoy the document Energy – Grow Your Own. In and seeds to visitors and our gardeners very cerebral atmosphere and study the this, it pledges to reduce the use of fossil gave out advice. It all helps to present a guide book, and don’t want to have lots fuel by 50 per cent by 2020, beating the very different face of the trust.” of people running around in costume government’s target of 34 per cent. Other initiatives include the Bonus or making a noise,” she admits. “There “The National Trust works on the basis Time campaign, which saw the trust have been accusations of dumbing down. that we have properties and huge land open all of its properties for free during But actually I don’t believe we are dumb- holdings all around the country, and the weekend of 21 and 22 March. ing down at all. All of this work is based things happen as a result of a chang- The other part of the Going Local strat- on research, so the stories are all real ing climate,’ says Reynolds. As such a egy is about decentralising control of the stories, properly researched and all the huge land and property owner, we feel properties and allowing local managers artefacts and costumes are all properly the effects of climate change more than the freedom to make their own decisions. made. I think there’s a real integrity to it most. It’s not about temperature or sea “We’ve just transferred about £35m which I’m very proud of. level rising in a predictable way, it’s from money that used to be held cen- “There has also been some resistance about the damage caused by unpre- trally into the properties’ hands,” says in the form of people saying ‘please don’t dictable events – the big fl oods, the Reynolds. “They have more control over trash these properties’. We’re not talking dramatic coastal collapses on chalk cliffs their own money, they can spend without about placing the properties at funda- in the south, or very hot, dry summers. Insects survive during mild winters and eat through incredibly precious textiles. These events have real, practical impacts. “It’s not that we can single-handedly stop climate change but we have to take it seriously and work out our response.” The strategy is twofold. Firstly it’s about adaptation; managing the changes in a way that impacts the properties and landscapes as little as possible. Secondly the trust is focusing heav- ily on reducing its carbon footprint, as set out in the Energy – Grow Your Own document, which explains how it plans to achieve its aim of cutting its reliance on fossil fuels. The initiative will involve PHOTO: ©NTPL/STEPHEN ROBSON the trust’s entire building stock and will The trust is creating 1,000 new allotment plots for local communities introduce micro and small scale energy HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL TRUST 1895 1907 1927 1931 1937 1953 The National National Trust Stonehenge The National The National The Queen Trust is Act comes Down is Trust for Trust Act of Mother established into force bought after Scotland is 1937 ena- becomes by Octavia a national established bles the Trust president of Hill, Canon appeal to accept the the National Hardwicke gift of country Trust Rawnsley and houses, with PAUL WAKEFIELD Sir Robert ©NTPL/ PHOTO: endowments Hunter in land or cap- ital which are free of tax 30 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital PHOTO: ©NTPL/DAVIDPHOTO: LEVENSON PHOTO: ©NTPL/JOE CORNISH schemes using wood fuel from the focus on putting the Going Local trust’s estate, solar, heat pumps, Biomass boilers are being installed in aims into practice, bringing the prop- hydro and wind. The trust also plans trust properties. They use wood chip erties to life and holding ‘meet the to install more than 50 new wood fuel from National Trust woodland neighbours’ events to get to know boilers over the next fi ve years. the local communities better. As well as reducing carbon emis- The trust is also pushing to cele- sions, the initiative will also cut energy can go up to the top of the castle and brate the outdoors, with initiatives such costs, says Reynolds – the trust currently see them, and there are dials showing as downloadable walks on its website spends around £6m a year on power and how much energy they are generating. as well as the allotments and outdoor heating for its properties. “Lots of these initiatives are win-win. activities. “We want to be as well known It’s a huge challenge, and one which We’re transferring lots of oil boilers to for our coast and countryside as for our is made even more tricky by the need wood chip. We’ve got the wood on stately homes,” she says. The outdoors to ensure that the energy systems don’t our estate which provides the fuel, and is Reynolds’ personal passion, and she intrude aesthetically on the buildings on it’s good to coppice those woodlands, spends much of her free time walking. which they are installed. “We recognise because it encourages wildlife. It’s a What about Reynolds’ longer term that visitors to a medieval castle don’t really good example of how you can aims? They are the same as the aims of want to see photovoltaics, for exam- achieve multiple benefi ts by thinking the National Trust today, she says, which ple,” says Reynolds. “In Dunster Castle carefully about how you do things.” are the same as they were when it was we have managed to fi nd a place to put The next 12 months look set to be launched in 1895: “To promote beautiful them that is hidden from view, but you extremely busy for Reynolds, with the places, for everyone, for ever.” ● 1968 1970 1997 2003 2006 2010 First National The Trust National Trust Prince Charles The launch of The launch Trust begins to sell acquires part becomes the History of the Going magazine items such as of Snowdon, president of Matters Local strat- tea towels at thanks to National Trust campaign egy, pledging its properties, the ‘Save to get closer leading to the Snowdon’ to local formation of Appeal which communities National Trust was launched Enterprises in 1990 by Sir Anthony Hopkins Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 31 ARTS & CULTURE culture SHOCK All around the world, espite the global downturn, huge sums of money are still being poured into the major arts and culture projects of the future. Mammoth, exciting muse- landmark cultural facilities D ums, concert halls and galleries are taking shape around the world and are taking shape. Magali many are set to become architectural icons of the 21st century. Some of Robathan takes a look at these have been delayed as a result of the economic climate – in some cases by tomorrow’s museums, art several years – but when they do open these projects promise to be amazing. We can’t cover them all, of course, but here’s a snapshot of the latest on some galleries and music venues of the most exciting cultural projects set to open over the next few years. IMAGE: ©SHIGERU BAN ARCHITECTS EUROPE & JEAN DE GASTINES / ARTEFACTORY Museum of Liverpool, UK The centre will feature Biggest new build British museum in a century three main galleries The much-anticipated The Creative City gallery Museum of Liverpool is tak- will include displays focus- ing shape on Mann Island, ing on The Beatles and between the Albert Dock Merseyside’s famous foot- and Pier Head, and is set to ball clubs, while the Global open in spring 2011. It will City gallery will feature a be the biggest new-build 180-seat theatre showing national museum in Britain work created by Liverpool in more than 100 years. artists. The People’s City Centre Pompidou-Metz, France The £72m building will explore the experience French cultural centure nears completion was designed by Danish of living in Liverpool while architects 3XN but has Port City will look at how The Centre Pompidou’s The Centre Pompidou- been delivered by AEW the city became one of the fi rst decentralised cul- Metz will run temporary Architects after 3XN were world’s great ports. tural centre – the Centre exhibitions of modern and removed from the project The Museum of Liverpool Pompidou-Metz – is due to contemporary art, display- in 2007. The museum replaces the Museum open in May 2010. ing works of art from the will house exhibits from of Liverpool Life, which At the end of the 1990s, Centre Pompidou Museum the National Museums opened in 1993. The the Centre Pompidou’s of Modern Art’s collection. Liverpool’s entire collection, Museum of Liverpool Life president decided to open The building has been much of which is currently was so successful that the another facility. Metz was designed by Shigeru Ban in storage. The story of waterfront building which chosen partly because of and Jean de Gastines. It Liverpool will be told via housed it wasn’t able to a lack of cultural resources features three main gal- four galleries, each with a accommodate the sheer in the area and partly leries at different levels, different theme: Creative number of visitors and thanks to its position near each with huge picture City, Port City, Global City the idea to build a new Germany, Luxembourg, windows looking out onto and People’s City. museum was born. Belgium and Switzerland. Metz landmarks. IMAGE: ©MILLS MEDIA The Museum of Liverpool is under construction 32 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 IMAGE: ©HAYES DAVIDSON AND HERZOG & DE MEURON Tate Modern extension, UK New building to fulfi ll Tate Modern’s potential Swiss architects Herzog on paper, as well as areas and de Meuron are behind designed by young people the Tate Modern’s £215m for young people – 60 per new extension, which has cent of visitors to the Tate been designed to address Modern are under 35. the problems of over- The design of the exten- crowding and strain on the sion was revised by Herzog museum’s public facilities. and de Meuron in 2008 and An average of 4.6 million the revised plans won plan- people now visit every year ning permission in April – more than twice the num- 2009. The former power bers it was designed for station’s oil tanks are at the – and the museum desper- heart of the new plans – ately needs more space. they are being retained as The new extension will ‘raw spaces’ and the new provide more than 5,000sq building will rise from them. m of new gallery space The building will feature a including more fl exible ‘perforated’ brick façade, areas for major exhibitions, allowing it to glow at night. dedicated family areas with It will be visible from the restaurants and cafés, a north, and will rise behind Children’s Gallery and two the existing building when new public squares. It will viewed from the river. It is feature galleries for display- hoped the new extension The extension will allow more visitors ing photographs and works will be open by 2012. Bell Lightbox, Canada The Bell Lightbox will New Toronto centre to celebrate fi lm feature a large atrium Set to open this autumn, theatres and meeting the Bell Lightbox in places. It will also have an Toronto is the largest new open air amphitheatre on cultural project in Canada its roof for fi lm screenings. for years, and will act as Designed by Toronto- a permanent home for the based architects KPMB, Toronto International Film it will feature a concrete Festival (TIFF). It will be canopy projecting over its housed in the bottom fi ve main entrance. This will fl oors of a new 46 storey be punctuated with glass mixed use tower and will ‘windows’ that will cre- feature fi ve cinemas, three ate a spotlight effect, while galleries, three learning moving images will be pro- studios, restaurants, cafés, jected onto the pavement. Saint Louis Art Museum, US Museum expansion project back on track St Louis Art Museum sion will increase the announced in December museum’s gallery and that it will proceed with its public space by 30 per expansion project follow- cent and will provide ing a year-long delay. Work new galleries, a new fully IMAGE: KPMB AND NORM LI AG+L on the $130.5m expan- accessible entrance and sion was originally due to a new car park. The new start in late 2008, but was wing will be wrapped in delayed due to the eco- full-height panels of con- nomic downturn. crete, glass and metal and Designed by London- will feature huge windows, based architects David providing views of the sur- Chipperfi eld, the expan- rounding Forest Park. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 33 ARTS & CULTURE IMAGE: IWAN BAAN MAXXI, Italy MAXXI is opening in May Zaha Hadid-designed museum set to open Rome’s National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, known as MAXXI, is opening in May. It will incorporate two new museums, MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture. MAXXI Art will explore 21st century art via exhibi- tions and events including conferences, documenta- ries, dance performances, music concerts and guided tours. MAXXI Architecture is Italy’s fi rst national temporary works, it will museums located around spaces. The building has a museum of architecture and provide a space to study the full height grand hall transparent roof, allowing will look at both 20th and and create new work. which also links to the lots of natural light in. 21st century architecture. Designed by Zaha Hadid, reception, café, bookshop, The project was The idea is that MAXXI the building is a simple auditorium, library, event launched by the Ministry will act as a campus; as concrete and glass struc- halls, temporary exhi- for Cultural Heritage and well as exhibiting con- ture with the two separate bitions and educational Activities for Italy in 1998. IMAGE: COURTESY + RENFRO OF DILLER SCOFIDIO The new museum sits on Museum of Image & Sound, Brazil Copacabana boulevard New museum to help improve Rio’s image New York architects The architects used Diller Scofi do + Renfro Copacabana boulevard – are behind the design of where the new museum is the new home for Rio’s situated – as inspiration. Museum of Image and The museum’s entrance Sound, which is due to has been designed to act open in 2011. as an extension of the The existing Museum of famous boulevard. A path Image and Sound is in the leads from the seafront to city centre and houses a the museum and zigzags huge collection of Brazilian externally up the building’s music, photographs, vid- six storeys, offering views eos, posters, fi lms and of the beach and ocean. newspaper archives. It will be built on the The new museum will site of Discoteca Help, an explore the history of infamous nightclub that Brazilian music and fi lm and became notorious for prosi- will feature galleries, educa- tition and drug dealing. The tion rooms, an auditorium, a museum is part of a plan piano bar, a café, a restau- to clean up the city’s image rant and a rooftop cinema. before the 2014 World Cup. National Museum of African American History and Culture, US Construction of Washington museum of African American history due to start in 2012 The architectural team open in 2015, and the total seminars and confer- The museum is part of Freelon Adjaye Bond and cost is estimated to be ences, creates travelling the Smithsonian Institution Smith Group were cho- $500m. It will be located on exhibitions and is cur- and will be the only national sen last year to design the National Mall near the rently collecting artefacts museum devoted to docu- the Washington National Washington Monument. designed to bring to life the menting African American Museum of African The NMAAHC was estab- major periods of African life, history, art and culture. American History and lished in 2003 by an Act American history. It has its The design team is cur- Culture (NMAAHC). of Congress. It is has no own gallery in the National rently working on the The museum is set to premises, but conducts Museum of African History. building design [see p38]. 34 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Herzog and de Meuron used the water as inspiration for the wave-shaped roof IMAGE: ©HERZOG & DE MEURON Elbphilharmonie, Germany de Meuron’s structure will levels rise from the brick Concert hall to put Hamburg on the map house three concert halls, a foundations up to a wave- hotel, apartments, a plaza shaped roof, which mirrors Under construction on by Herzog and de Meuron. featuring restaurants and the water below. Hamburg’s waterfront, The ambitious aim of the bars and a wellness area. The main hall will seat the Elbphilarmonie con- project is to create one of The core of the building 2,150 and will host a mix of cert venue is the anchor the best concert auditoriums is an old cocoa bean ware- classical, jazz, world music of a major new structure in the world. Herzog and house. The glazed upper and pop concerts. Visitors will be able Grand Egyptian Museum, Egypt to walk behind the museum’s stone facade Museum to provide backdrop to pyramids One of the world’s larg- as parks for visitors and est museum development locals, as well as two res- projects, the $550m Grand taurants, ticketing facilities, Egyptian Museum near the cafés and a large conserva- pyramids in Giza, is set to tion and energy centre for provide a massive boost restoring artefacts. for Egypt’s tourism industry The architects had the once it launches. It’s cur- tough job of designing rently due to open in 2013. a landmark building that Designed by Dublin- wouldn’t compete with the based architects Heneghan nearby pyramids. Peng, the museum will The main façade of feature 30,000sq m of exhi- the museum is a dra- bition space devoted to matic, translucent stone Egyptian history. It will also wall formed of a series of house an 800 seat audito- triangles creating a geo- rium, a conference facility metric pattern. Inside, the and a library. The planners museum features a giant are expecting it to attract lobby, with an enormous 4.8 million visitors a year. staircase leading to the var- The museum will be set ious galleries. A 121-tonne in a 50 hectare site with statue of Rameses will gardens designed to act stand in the courtyard. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 35 ARTS & CULTURE IMAGE: ©HERZOG & DE MEURON, VISUALIZATION BY ARTEFACTORYLAB A new home is planned for the Miami Art Museum Miami Art Museum, US The three storey building lines have suggested the Plans unveiled, but is the project in trouble? will sit on an elevated plat- project could be in trouble. form and below a canopy, Assuming all goes In October, Herzog and de the anchor for the new 40 which will create shaded to plan, the Miami Art Meuron unveiled design acre Museum Park, which plazas. Vegetation will be Museum will share plans for the new $220m is seeing the underused built into the columns sup- Museum Park with Miami Miami Art Museum. Bicentennial Park com- porting the canopy, as part Science Museum and The new facility, set to pletely redeveloped. of a strategy to ‘bring the Planetarium (MiaSci). replace the existing Miami The new Miami Art park into the museum’. The project began in Art Museum, includes Museum will also house an The new museum is cur- 2000 when the Miami 200,000sq ft of programma- educational complex with rently scheduled to open in Art Museum and the ble space – more than three a library, auditorium, class- 2013. It is, however, behind Miami Museum of Science times the size of the muse- rooms and workshops, as schedule and short on teamed up to create a pro- um’s current facility. It is well as a café and a shop. funding, and recent head- posal for Bicentennial Park. The opera house is Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi now due to open Work has started on Cultural District later this year In Issue 1 2009, Leisure Guggenheim and Louvre Management reported museums as well as a on the development of performing arts centre, a Saadiyat Island, part of maritime museum and the Abu Dhabi’s plans to posi- Zayed National Museum. tion itself as the cultural Construction started hub of the Middle East. on the Louvre Abu Saadiyat Island is Dhabi in May 2009. The located 500m off the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi IMAGE COURTESY OF ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS COURTESY IMAGE coast of Abu Dhabi. Its and the Zayed National Cultural District will fea- Museum are both due to Guangzhou Opera House, China ture new branches of the open in 2012/2013. Major new theatre delayed by fi re Due to open last year, The 70,000sq m Opera the launch of China’s House was designed by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, US Guangzhou Opera House Zaha Hadid, and resembles SFMOMA considering list of architects was pushed back after two giant boulders sitting the site went up in fl ames on the banks of the Pearl The San Francisco house contemporary art- in May 2009. The build- River. The building will open Museum of Modern Art works from the huge ing, which will incorporate out onto the riverside and (SFMOMA) is planning to private collection of Doris a 1,800-seat grand thea- docks area, with the towers build a new wing which and the late Donald Fisher tre, a multipurpose hall, an of Guanghzou’s Zhujiang will treble its gallery (founder of the Gap cloth- entrance lobby and café New Town providing a dra- space. The project is still ing chain) alongside art and restaurant facilities, is matic backdrop. in the early stages, with from the museum’s col- now due to open later this Guangzhou city offi cials SFMOMA currently work- lection. The collaboration year. It is expected to be are hoping that the building ing up a detailed business with the Fishers was one of the three biggest will put the city on the cul- plan for the expansion. announced by SFMOMA theatres in China. tural and architectural map. The new wing will in September 2009. 36 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 leisure-kit.net Gamma LeisurePOS The website, email and search engine for leisure buyers health & fitness MEMBERSHIP leisure gamma dataware Now over Complete business solutions sport 5,000 leisure suppliers Modular integrated spa listed on our NEW improved management information search hospitality systems for visitor attractions, museums, attractions heritage sites and ADMISSIONS RETAIL CATERING BOOKINGS ACCOUNTS theme parks theme parks museums Gamma Dataware Limited Gamma LeisurePOS provides visitor attractions of all types and sizes with a complete end-to-end operational management system from admissions to back office reporting, analysis and accounting. The system’s modular approach allows operators to implement any combination of modules to meet their specific requirements. While the integration between modules ensures that operators can easily produce cross departmental reports such as visitor spend analysis. LeisurePOS modules include: Admissions and Ticketing Bookings and Event Management Membership Retail and Catering Point of Sale Stock Control Purchase Order Processing Mail Order Gift Aid Visit leisure-kit.net for the latest news Integrated Chip and PIN Web Interfaces about products and services for the Gamma Dataware Ltd Accounting and Payroll Wright Business Centre Reporting and Back Office Management leisure industry and subscribe to the 1 Lonmay Road Glasgow LeisurePOS options include: FREE fortnightly product report G33 4EL = #,4(.(55$0'4(/16(+$0'+(.' !70,65 Telephone: To advertise your product +44 (0)141 773 6273 = ",&-(65$.(5$0'&1..(&6,10-,15-5 $: = (/1*4$2+,&'$6$&$2674( and reach over 20,000 +44 (0)141 773 6283 = !+,2$0' )141))5,6(5$.(5 E-mail: = 19(%64$05$&6,10)((5 leisure buyers call now on [email protected] = "+($64(1: )),&(5$.(5 +44 (0)1462 471908 or email [email protected] www.gammadata.com subscribe online at www.leisuresubs.com or call +44 (0)1462 431385 ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 37 ARCHITECT’S FOCUS The exhibits are lit using natural light as much as possible Bernard Tschumi Protecting precious archaeological remains was a major challenge when creating the New Acropolis Museum, as Bernard Tschumi tells Kath Hudson When and how was your architectural spaces, and an innovative double-glazed façade that makes practice established? it easy to recycle and fi lter the conditioned air. Technologically Bernard Tschumi Architects was founded in 1982 with the win- advanced glass also helped energy effi ciency. ning competition entry for the Parc de la Villette, a 125-acre park with cultural facilities in the north-western part of Paris. How did you design the museum so that natural light could be used? What is your approach to architecture? The organisation of the museum allowed for natural light at the In architecture, there is often too much emphasis on what a core of the building and in all of the gallery spaces through sky- building looks like, rather than what it does. lights, glazed façades, and even glass fl oors. For a collection designed to be viewed in daylight, it was important to recreate How did you get involved with the those conditions as much as possible. New Acropolis Museum? A former employee brought the architectural competition to our What was the biggest challenge attention, and we were shortlisted along with other architects and how did you overcome it? including Daniel Libeskind and Arata Isosaki. We learned of the There were three major challenges in designing the museum. jury’s decision in September 2001. Firstly there was the site, which was covered in precious We were given a brief to create a single building designed archaeological remains that couldn’t be disturbed. Secondly its explicitly to house the sculptures, archaeological treasures and location provided a challenge – just 300m from the Parthenon, architectural details found in and around the Acropolis. Unlike one of the most recognised buildings in all of western civiliza- many museum projects, this already had a distinct and dramatic tion. Finally part of the collection that the building is designed collection. The design was created explicitly for those artworks. around is currently being exhibited in the British Museum. What was your inspiration for the design? What element of the fi nished project In all of my work, I am interested in the relationship between do you feel most proud of? architecture and the people who inhabit the buildings. For the The biggest achievement of the museum is the way the build- New Acropolis Museum, there was a desire to create a very ing establishes a dialogue over centuries and provides a bridge clear path through the museum that would represent a narrative between the ancient and the contemporary. journey through the history of the Acropolis. You are currently working on the Alesia Museum What sustainable/eco features were in France? What stage is this project at? incorporated in the design? The Alesia Museum consists of a museum and interpretive It’s not easy to create a green museum because of curators’ center on the site of a historic siege between Julius Caesar’s strict requirements regarding conservation. We were, however, army and the Gauls in 52BC. Construction of the Interpretive able to use architectural solutions relying on natural light, open Center has been going on for about 10 months. 38 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM, GREECE ALL IMAGES: ARCHITECTS BERNARD TSCHUMI The building was constructed primarily from glass, concrete and steel. It sits just 300m from the Parthenon (above) THE NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM Opened in June 2009, The Acropolis has been in the pipeline since the the building above the ground Museum exhibits almost 4,000 mid-1970s, but issues with the site’s on pillars. The ground fl oor is artefacts found on the archaeological location delayed the progress. glass in places to reveal the site of the Acropolis of Athens, Bernard Tschumi Architects with archaeological excavations below. dating from the Greek Bronze Age Michael Photiadis ARSY won the Collections are exhibited on to Roman and Byzantine Greece. fourth architectural competition in three levels. A fourth middle level The redevelopment of the museum 2001, with plans which elevated houses the shop, café and offi ces. The project called for a museum, set into the hill, The Alesia Museum is set and an interpretive center, on the plain below the hill, on the site of the famous with battlement recreations that help explain and siege of Alesia in 52BC inform the historic site’s signifi cance for visitors. How did you ensure the museum wouldn’t detract from the site? By taking on the deliberately generic shape of a cyl- inder for both buildings and by using two different local materials for each exterior, the project both enhances and defers to the site. You’ve been working on the design of a concert hall and cultural centre in Bordeaux-Cenon. What will this offer? The project features two large performance halls, one suitable for intimate concerts, theatre or dance, and a larger What other leisure projects are you working on? venue for rock concerts and large-scale performances. We are currently designing an African American Museum The design for the centre features a folded roof, which cov- and Cultural Center near Washington DC [see Arts and ers the project and forms a common denominator for all of the Culture round up feature on p32 for more details of this] and spaces within it. Circulation is marked by dark glass avenues are also working on a complete redesign of Paris Zoo. that weave around the performance volumes. [The Parc Zoologique de Paris in Paris’ Vincennes woods has The building is currently under construction and should been closed since 2008 for major reconstruction work. The open to the public sometime this year. project is due to be completed by 2014.] ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 39 CONSULTANCY ACROSS THE BOARD From getting protesters on side to England’s World Cup bid, three of leisure’s top consultants tell us about the exciting projects they’ve been working on People least because the site was close to a TORKILDSEN BARCLAY national bird sanctuary. Project: Barn Elms As the white land development brief was prepared, a group of local residents Planning outdoor sports club became increasingly vocal, not wishing to see any part of the site developed for commercial purposes, and putting for- What’s been the most interesting ward their own fundraising proposals. project you’ve worked on recently? Performance One of the longest running projects What did you advise? Torkildsen Barclay has been involved With advice from Torkildsen Barclay, the in is finally coming to a conclusion. The council decided in 2008 to postpone the Barn Elms outdoor sports complex in pursuit of the enabling development and Partnerships Richmond upon Thames is a thriving work in partnership with local residents hub of sporting activity with a Charter and users to see whether alternative Mark football club attracting hundreds of funding was practical. young players. It is also used for rugby, Over the past two years a wide range cricket, tennis, angling and athletics. of financing options have been explored. Torkildsen Barclay The facility is used by schools, clubs The local community group has been and casual users. However, the poor able to seek funding routes not open to maximising condition of its facilities belies the signifi- the local authority. Everyone is work- cant sporting outcomes being achieved. ing together, and through the hard work your potential of the community, the users, the coun- When did you get involved? cil and its advisers, a range of funding In 2003, Torkildsen Barclay was engaged sources has been lined up. These include to help the council, users and local national governing bodies, local chari- stakeholders to assess the potential for table trusts, school investment, council the transfer of another multi-sports club capital and community fundraising. to Barn Elms, together with the capital A planning application for the new from the possible sale of their site. The pavilion and site improvements will soon aim was to use the investment to create be submitted and the final funding appli- a significantly improved facility, including cations will also be made. a major new clubhouse and pavil- ion. After a year the proposals proved Why was this project so exciting? impractical, but the aspiration was there. The project has demonstrated that the In 2006, the council decided to pur- collective energies of public, sporting sue the option of enabling development and community bodies working together on ‘white land’ within Barn Elms to cre- can find creative solutions to long term ate the funding for new facilities. Our role problems that, on their own, no individual was to work closely with the users and party would have been able to resolve. stakeholders to create a development brief for a community sports complex. What else have you been working on? The project was fraught with environ- Torkildsen Barclay is currently advising mental difficulties and sensitivities, not Exeter City Council on the tendering of PICTURE COURTESY OF AD ARCHITECTS its leisure manage- ment contract and the Shenley Leisure Centre Trust on the appointment of a new chief executive. We’ve also been working on Contact Ian Barclay the economic assess- ment of proposals for offi [email protected] a major sports city in 01525 754898 Barn Elms Sports Hub in Richmond upon Thames Saudi Arabia. www.torkbarc.com ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 strategic leisure PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/ © JEFFREY SMITH PHOTO: STRATEGIC LEISURE Project: Review of National Governing Body of Sport Funding Process What’s been your most interesting recent project? Strategic Leisure was commissioned to review the 2009-2013 report. This included recommendations National Governing Body of Sport (NGB) on 10 key areas, covering timescale, Vision . . funding process. The seven stage fund- training on use of specific participation ing process was developed in response tools, production and dissemination of to the new Sport England Strategy 2008- information. These were approved by 2011, which advocated an enhanced Sport England in early February 2009. role for NGBs and an outcome-focused approach to Sport England investment. What was the biggest challenge? The aim is to identify the strengths Ensuring engagement from all 46 NGBs and weaknesses of this new method was a challenge. This was achieved and and highlight any areas for improvement. has contributed to clear recommenda- The review also involved identification of tions for future funding processes. learning points to be reflected in subse- Strategic Leisure also consulted with a quent funding processes. number of national partners to get their The overall project facilitated the devel- views on the overall funding process. opment of 46 plans to deliver against the A further challenge was to analyse the new Sport England Outcomes. data collected and rationalise it in terms The final report was signed off by of recommendations. To do this, we cat- Sport England in January 2010. egorised feedback into three main areas: issues affecting all NGBs; issues affect- Why was this project so exciting? ing some NGBs; and issues which were It provided us with the opportunity to a factor of the overall process, but not review very recent policy changes in rela- material to its focus. The review’s rec- tion to the UK sporting infrastructure ommendations focus on the first two Our services include: through the new role of NGBs. categories, which highlighted the need for change and development of specific Strategic Planning What was your role? elements of the overall process. Feasibility Studies Strategic Leisure’s role was to review the Greenspace/PPG 17 funding process through research and What else are you working on? Playing Pitch Strategies consultation, to establish the NGB per- We are doing a number of PPG17 audits Best Value/CPA spective of this new method. and assessments, and are develop- Procurement (PPP/PFI) The research gathered views and per- ing the Green Infrastructure Strategy for Interim Management ceptions from all 46 NGBs involved in the the new Northumberland unitary author- Tourism and Heritage process via an e-survey, telephone inter- ity. Planning work includes a sports Operational Reviews views and a series of discussion groups. facility strategy for Leeds Metropolitan Consultation was also conducted with University; an evaluation of the agree- Performance Monitoring a number of other stakeholders involved ment between the Sports Council for Business Planning in the process. This comprised telephone Wales and Disability Sport Wales; and a Marketing interviews with national partner agencies Physical Activity Plan for Herts CSP. tasked with providing support to NGBs, International work includes develop- t: 01925 855 550 and Sport England representatives. ment of a National Football Strategy for f: 01925 858 769 Our role was to analyse the findings of Hong Kong and a Yachting Strategy for e: [email protected] the review, and develop a detailed study the Oman Ministry of Tourism. w: www.strategicleisure.co.uk ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Part of the Scott Wilson Group CONSULTANCY Culture, sport and lifestyle. Deliver your full potential. Wembley would be used if London won the bid documents for each city containing hun- pmplegacy dreds of pages of carefully detailed Project: England’s information. The 12 potential host cities were selected in December 2009 to be a 2018/2022 World Cup bid part of England’s final bid. What made this project so exciting? What is the most exciting project As Christian Nelson, one of the con- you’ve worked on recently? sultants who worked on the bid, put it: pmplegacy is currently supporting “Working on the England bid is a combi- England’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 nation of all the best elements of being FIFA World Cup. The team was involved a consultant – meeting interesting peo- in the city selection process and has ple and working on something which will since been retained to contribute to the have a genuine impact. Plus it’s the FIFA development of the overall candidature World Cup! Playing a part in winning the file, creating a compelling bid and high- world’s best event would be fantastic.” lighting the key attributes of each of the 12 selected candidate host cities. The What else are you working on? aim is, of course, to create a compelling pmplegacy is currently working with the case for England’s submission, which will British Equestrian Institute on the fea- be presented to FIFA in May this year. sibility of a national equestrian centre The decision on the two hosts for the and with England Netball on a fea- 2018 and 2022 tournaments will be made sibility study of their potential bid to in December 2010. host the England 2015 World Netball Championships. We also hosted the How were the potential cities chosen? international legacy conference Legacy The city selection process involved vis- Lives at the start of March. The confer- iting and working with 16 cities across ence looked in detail at the potential England as part of England 2018’s legacy benefits of major sporting events team of technical advisors. An evalu- across sport, art, tourism, economic Passionate about performance Passionate ation matrix was developed allowing development and regeneration, volun- each city to be reviewed against hun- teering, schools and young people. dreds of criteria including elements such pmplegacy is the major events divi- as the technical capabilities of each sta- sion of sport and leisure consultancy dium, each city’s visitor and leisure offer pmpgenesis. Based in London, the pmpgenesis can work with you and the quality of its grassroots football organisation has a track record of work- to maximise efficiency, develop development proposals. ing in over 30 countries worldwide. We facilities, increase participation The timescales for all involved in the have 20 years’ experience helping cities, city selection were very tight. Huge local organising committees and national and ensure a return from the amounts of information had to be federations bid, win, plan and deliver decade of sport. compiled and reviewed to create bid major sporting events. ● Visit www.pmpgenesis.com ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 BISL As we inch out of recession, sport and leisure can act as a catalyst for economic recovery with the right government support, says BISL chairman David Teasdale GROWING THE MARKET rowing the market. Now there’s a challenging title, in the light of present G economic conditions. As I write, national fi gures show a 0.1 per cent growth rate; hardly the ‘recession is over’ clarion call we all seek. The British economy will recover during the course of this year, but recovery will be slow. That’s the view of the private sector in sport and leisure that I speak and write for, as BISL chairman. People stop and ask me: What is BISL all about? After 25 years, I fi nd the question surprising, but also motivat- ing. Such enquiries indicate that BISL still has a way to go to achieve the recognition that it deserves. Let me answer the question, and then deal with the actions needed to get real growth back We need to focus on getting our products and into the UK sport and leisure market. BISL represents the private sec- services right, to encourage demand. Let’s make it tor. We stand alongside organisations including the CCPR and Youth Sport easy and fun for people to come through our doors. Trust; trade bodies like the British Great customers service must be everyone’s goal Beer & Pub Association and British Hospitality Association; and govern- ment bodies like Sport England and UK Sport. BISL is a part of their communities. The obesity crisis also plays a part. member body. Our members represent a ‘broad church’, from Central and local government need to act with leisure and gambling companies to sports governing bodies; from opera- sport providers to get more people more active. Then there’s tors to accountants. BISL is committed to growing the market the ‘decade of sport’ – starting with London 2012, we’ll see on behalf of its members and the private sector generally. big events with a big capacity to encourage the population to Because part of this involves getting more people participat- do more sport. The experiential economy is also good news, ing in sport and physical activity, BISL has common interests with experts predicting that in the next few decades we will with many other organisations. Sport England, for example, spend more of our money on experiences. recognises that it should work with the private sector as well All of these trends and opportunities indicate that the as local government and sports governing bodies in order to sport and leisure market will continue to grow. But what can hit its target of getting a million people doing more sport. we do to accelerate the process? We need to focus on getting our products and services OUR INDUSTRY CAN HELP right, to encourage and meet demand. Let’s make it easy and This year, growing the market sounds to some like a daunt- fun for people to come through our doors. Swimming sets a ing challenge. We’re just creeping out of the toughest good example with its national drive for culture change in recession for many years. There’s a General Election ahead, our pools. Great customer service must be everyone’s goal. with political change anticipated. The new government will We must also work together. Public, private and voluntary have little money available to help kick start the economy. bodies must all give the same messages about community There is some good news though. Sport and leisure is activity and enjoyment and health. one of the bankers for the new government. We are a rela- Here at BISL we say to government, work with us, not tively young industry, with a great growth record and built-in against us, and you will see recovery. Regulation is the national demand. Why? Because people have more leisure enemy of growth. Taxation hits pricing and investment. time and they look for our industry’s products and services Let’s please have the listening government we ask for in to fi ll it. Because the UK has a fi ne national tradition of gam- our BISL manifesto. Sport and leisure is one of the main mar- ing and of pubs and restaurants and cafés being an important kets for that national growth we are all seeking. ● ISSUE 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 43 BUSINESS ANALYSIS The Pub Market With high taxes, the smoking ban and fi erce competition hitting the pub industry, some have predicted the death of the British boozer. Yet the real picture is not nearly as gloomy, says Matthew Goodman epending on which land- fl ow can last, and there are plenty who think that consumer lord you ask, running a pub in spending, which held up surprisingly well in 2009, will come D Britain today is either the best crashing back to earth this year. After the General Election, job in the world or the worst. taxes will almost certainly rise, and interest rates are unlikely to Glance through the press and you would be too far behind. With unemployment also expected to climb, be given the impression that there are the short term outlook is far from healthy. a lot more in the latter camp than the former. It is not hard to work out why. A STILL IN DEMAND so-called perfect storm of higher taxes, Despite the challenges, there’s still strong demand among pub red tape, cut-price competition from supermarkets and the companies to buy quality sites. The market for pub properties smoking ban have all combined to impact pubs. Popular wis- has taken a big hit over the past year or two, but for the right dom has it that there are few industries that are having it much outlet in the right location, prices are holding up. tougher than the good old-fashioned British boozer. And yet… Tim Martin, the chairman and founder of JD Wetherspoon, Reading the recent run of trading statements and fi nancial reckons that values have fallen about 30 per cent from peak results from the majority of pub companies, you would be hard to trough. JD Wetherspoon has completed a number of astute pushed to wonder what all the fuss is about. The top perform- deals to add to its portfolio of around 760 pubs. ers, such as JD Wetherspoon and Mitchells & Butlers – which Indeed, as with residential property, the market got over- has had more than its fair share of boardroom issues to han- heated. London is one part of the country where demand dle at the same time as running its pubs – are holding up very continues to ensure prices remain high. Ian Edward, a non- well through the recession. Many operators are reporting sales executive director at the Geronimo Inns pub group, says: “There growth. The word is that even for the tenanted pub giants, is a lot of competition for freehold sites in London. Everyone, which have suffered the most over the past year or two, busi- from Greene King to Fuller’s and Young’s, is keen as mustard on ness is starting to stabilise, although this has yet to be refl ected buying them. The market is very strong.” in the fi nancial results they release to the stock market. In part, the strength of demand was driven by Punch Taverns’ Some observers wonder how long the run of positive news move last year to sell a number of its best freehold locations to There’s no shortage of people out there who want to run a pub. As long as that remains the case, valuations are likely to hold up no matter how gloomy the economic picture remains Pub groups reacted angrily to what was seen as a steep rise in tax on wine, beer and spirits in the 2010 Budget ©BRITAINONVIEW / ADRIAN HOUSTON ©BRITAINONVIEW 44 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Mitchells & Butlers raise money to pay down part of its outstanding is one of several There are signs, though, that even this end of debt. Pubs came up for sale that many rivals large pub chains the sector may have started to recover. Towards described as just too good to pass up. that has reported the end of last year, property agent Christie & Ralph Findlay, CEO of Martson’s, says: better than Co put 300 pubs from Punch Taverns’ ‘turn- “There is still competition for good assets.” This expected results around division’ up for sale, and reported a is refl ected in the valuations that are being paid. strong level of interest. Neil Morgan, the agent’s Punch has been able to dispose of some of its head of pubs and restaurants, estimates that top sites at a multiple of about 13 times their earnings, a level more than 60 per cent of the sites that it has sold will continue that would not have been out of place during the boom years. to trade as pubs rather than face conversion. Similarly, Enterprise Inns has been raising funds through THE TAIL END OF THE MARKET sale-and-leaseback deals on small parcels of pubs from its Where the market has been hit harder is the pubs that make up 7,400-strong estate. At the time of writing, it had just announced the ‘tail’ – those deemed non-core – for the large tenanted pub the sale of eight sites through an auction, raising more than companies. In the past, groups such as Admiral Taverns have £8m. This followed the sale towards the end of 2009 of three been built by snapping up those pubs regarded as surplus to separate packages of pubs, raising £35m. Much of the money requirements by the larger tenanted operators. raised will be used to pay down company debt, and further auc- But the companies that were doing these deals have been tions are planned. Christie & Co has said the level of interest hardest hit by the recession and are no longer in the mar- has led to the prices being paid for these kinds of pubs stabilis- ket bidding up such assets. Admiral, for example, which was ing. Both companies have indicated that the size of their estates bankrolled by Lloyds Banking Group, has undergone a debt- could shrink further as they continue to sell pubs. for-equity swap, with its main lender taking a big stake in the As the CEO of one large pub company says: “There’s no business in exchange for agreeing to reducing its loans. shortage of people out there who want to run a pub.” And as Values were underpinned by sites’ suitability for alternative long as that remains the case, valuations are likely to hold up use – most commonly, being converted into homes – but with however gloomy the economic picture. ● the residential market in such disarray, this has diminished, hav- ing a knock-on effect on demand for bottom-end pubs. Matthew Goodman is a business journalist at The Sunday Times ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 45 ECO CITY Sustainable Stockholm - STOCKHOLM VISITORS BOARD PHOTO: HENRIK TRYGG t has 12,000 hectares of green space, and 800 km The Scandinavian city with plans I of cycle lanes. There’s a national park in its centre, to go fossil-fuel free by 2050 has it is pedestrian and public- transport-friendly, and its been named the fi rst European hospitality industry is an eco- Green Capital. Andrea Jezovit conscious traveller’s dream. Stockholm launched its Stockholm is a model example investigates how environmental successful bicycle borrow of sustainability, and this year awareness in Stockholm’s and return project in 2006 the city is sharing its experi- ence with the world as the fi rst leisure and hospitality sectors is has reduced this by 25 percent, European Green Capital. with plans to reduce them further. “We have a great oppor- helping the city meet its goal A congestion charge discour- tunity to have a dialogue ages car-use, green vehicles are with Stockholmers and the encouraged, and there’s an effi - businesses and visitors that come to areas,” says Alvendal. “And the fact that cient public transport system, which 80 Stockholm,” says vice mayor Kristina Stockholm actually lies on water—it’s a percent of the city’s 800,000 residents Alvendal, who heads Stockholm’s city city on islands. With that closeness to use daily. All city-owned buildings are planning division. And the city isn’t stop- nature, I suppose it’s in our blood.” being made more energy effi cient, and ping there: there are plans to continue This awareness has led to achieve- innovative waste and water management decreasing the city’s environmental ments that won over the European have been made a priority. impact until it’s fossil fuel-free by 2050. Commission in its Green Capital deci- Stockholm has a proud tradition of sion. In 1990, CO2 emissions of 5.4 GREEN SPACE GALORE. environmental awareness. “I think it tonnes per Stockholmer were regis- Stockholm’s management of parks and originates from our closeness to green tered, but the city’s climate action plan green space sets a world-class example. Public green space makes up 47 per cent of the city and 90 per cent of residents live no further than 300m from a park or green area, a guideline built into new developments as the city grows, Alvendal says. Stockholmers love their parks— according to one study, 60 per cent of residents visit a park or green space several times per week in the summer. The city’s 27sq km national park, Ekoparken, became the world’s fi rst national urban park when it was estab- lished in 1994. It boasts a number of rare species, the densest population of giant oak trees in Europe and hundreds of pro- tected buildings, including museums and palaces. Today it’s the most frequented urban park and tourist destination in Sweden, as well as a conservation area protecting biodiversity for future gen- erations. And it’s not the region’s only IMAGE: ROYAL SEAPORT/AIX ARKITEKTER AB SEAPORT/AIX ROYAL IMAGE: protected area: Stockholm county as a The Royal Seaport scheme could feature an opera house whole boasts over 200 nature reserves, 46 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 The European Green Capital Award The European Commission presents this annual award to a European city with a record of great environmental achievements, ambitious goals for further improvements and the ability to promote best practices to other cities. In 2009, eight fi nalists for the new award were selected from a pool of applicants and evaluated: Amsterdam, Bristol, Copenhagen, Freiburg, Hamburg, Münster, Oslo and Stockholm. The evaluation panel awarded the 2010 title to Stockholm, and 2011 title to Hamburg. PHOTO: NICHO SÖDLING - STOCKHOLM VISITORS BOARD including two national parks, for a total cycling lanes, and the number of lanes gramme, the new community will not of 35,000 hectares of protected land. The is set to grow. “That’s part of the over- only be fossil fuel-free, but will also strive city has also taken action to safeguard its all strategy for Stockholm’s growth,” to reduce emissions to below zero. 24 bathing beaches: in 2008, legislation Alvendal says. “We know people will The city already has experience con- introduced new standards for bathing continue taking their bike and the more structing one world-famous sustainable water, and Stockholm is famed for the Stockholmers we have, the more need community—Hammarby Sjöstad, a new pristine swimming and fi shing it offers. there is for this sort of transport. So we residential district for 35,000 with strict Cycling has become just as much a have a programme for new bike lanes in environmental requirements on build- part of Stockholm life as green space. the city as new developments are built.” ings, waste and traffi c. “We’re now taking In 2007, the city was honoured as ‘The the next step, based on our experiences Biking Promoting City of the Year’, and A NEW GREEN DISTRICT with Hammarby Sjöstad,” says Royal it aims to become one of the leading Stockholm’s next major development Seaport environmental strategist Tomas biking cities in Europe. It’s well on its is one of Europe’s largest regenera- Gustafsson. “We’re talking very energy way—the number of cyclists in the city tion projects, and is ambitious not just in effi cient buildings; separation and sort- has increased by 70 percent in the last scale but in terms of sustainability. Set ing of waste; and sustainable transport, fi ve years, and today 100,000 people for completion in 2025, the SEK20bn which includes public transport, bike ride their bikes daily across the 800km of (£1.86bn), 660-acre Royal Seaport will lanes, walking lanes, buses driven by cycle lanes. Alvendal cites the success contain 10,000 new apartments, 30,000 biogas, and city rail. We’re talking about of the Stockholm City Bikes programme, new work spaces, a cultural district using organic waste to produce biogas run by the city in conjunction with Clear and a revamped harbour, on the site of which will be used to drive the cars.” Channel, as one reason for the infl ux of a brownfi eld industrial area beside the Measures will be taken to integrate the new cyclists; it allows pass-holders to Ekoparken national park. And, as one community with Ekoparken in a safe way. borrow and return bicycles from 70 sites of 18 developments around the world Ecological corridors will be constructed around the city. Twenty-four hour service involved in the Clinton Foundation’s to allow different species to move depots are also located along important Climate Positive Development pro- between the park and green spaces ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 47 ECO CITY within the development, old oak trees will Solar cells have also been added to the The Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel be protected, and the closest homes to roof of Kulturhuset, a city-owned cultural (glass building on left of image) will the park will be carefully distanced and venue which has also recently opened an be cooled using lake water feature height restrictions to better inte- environmental-themed café and exhibi- grate them into the surrounding nature. tion space, Ekoteket. ards for Sweden, such as district heating The new cultural district will be sit- based on renewable energy, advanced uated in the site’s old gasworks area, GREEN HOSPITALITY waste separation, energy-effi cient insula- home to 100-year-old heritage buildings, Separate from the council’s initiatives, tion and water-conserving showers. and will include an opera house and a Stockholm’s hospitality industry has Scandic, which is based in Stockholm museum or gallery, both of which are still embraced sustainability and is working to and operates 139 hotels around the in the initial planning stages. follow strict environmental guidelines and Nordic region and northern Europe, Creating green cultural buildings is contribute to a greener city. began its environmental programme in something Stockholm is already focused In particular, green has become the the 1990s, looking to promote energy on, however. Beginning last year, the norm for hotel chains in Stockholm—as effi ciency as a way of saving costs. Stockholm cultural administration’s well as across Sweden and Scandinavia. Today, it’s one of the industry’s leading ‘Climatesmart Culture’ programme has The fact that several major new sustainability programmes and has come overseen a number of accomplishments, Stockholm hotel developments will oper- to defi ne the company. “We could never including installing LED lighting in areas ate with an eye to sustainability is just stop with this because there would be of the City Museum of Stockholm and business as usual. Scandic, which cur- a revolution within the company,” says Kulturskolan, a city-run arts centre; work rently operates 18 properties in the city, Inger Mattsson, Scandic’s manager of on waste management; and an appli- will launch its new fl agship location, the sustainable business. “It’s really become cation for the EU’s Climate Change, Scandic Grand Central, in a 100-year- a part of company culture.” Monuments & Heritage project, which old former offi ce building in 2011. The Since 1996, Scandic has cut CO2 aims to increase the energy effi ciency of property will be renovated to include emissions per guest per night by 78 per- historic buildings while preserving them. Scandic’s regular environmental stand- cent, energy consumption per guest per night by 31 percent, water con- sumption per guest per night by 22 percent, and unsorted waste per guest per night by 40 percent. Each hotel compares consumption fi gures with others monthly, and all staff members receive extensive environmen- tal training. A big effort is made to solicit green ideas from all staff, which has been important, Mattsson, says. In 1994, one staff Operakällaren member suggested not changing restaurant has towels every night for long stay been awarded guests. “That’s become an indus- the Nordic try standard,” says Mattsson. Swan eco label Like Stockholm, Scandic has big ambitions for going fos- 48 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 sil fuel-free—the chain hopes to achieve At the Scandic Anglais guests are “Swedes, and Stockholm residents in this at its hotels by 2025, but it will be a given a resuable bottle to fi ll with particular, are very keen on all things eco, big challenge. “Quite a lot of it is out of water and can borrow bikes for free so in the past few years quite a few res- our hands. Take district heating—how do taurants and bakeries here have joined we infl uence society and suppliers in 10 Sheraton, Choice Hotels and Nobis AB, the movement,” managing director Maria different countries to deliver district heat- have also been certifi ed by Swan in Bergkvist Vordstedt says. ing based only on renewable energy?” recent years. “The Nordic Swan is much Mattsson, says. “I do believe we’ll man- stricter than other environmental labels,” GREEN TRAVELLER’S PARADISE PHOTO: ÅKE E:SON LINDMAN age, but it will be tough.” says regional Radisson Blu coordina- With all the green hotels, green restau- Rezidor has also long worked on tor Sabina Helmerson. “This has caused rants and inviting green spaces, the sustainability in its Nordic hotels. us to reconsider some of our opera- Stockholm Visitors Board is actively pro- The Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel & tional procedures, such as energy level moting Stockholm as a green city, with a Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre, consumption per room and waste man- number of environmental-themed events. set to open in January 2011, will include agement. We wouldn’t have been willing The city is hosting an Earth Hour con- some interesting environmental inno- to explore this change without the infl u- ference and free concert, as well as the vations. The hotel’s glass façades will ence of an eco-label.” International Water Prize, and June’s double as 1,040sq m solar collectors and Operakällaren, a Michelin-starred huge Love Stockholm 2010 festival will gather 1 MW of energy daily, the equiva- Stockholm restaurant operated by Nobis feature a Stockholm pavilion showcasing lent of 90,000 normal low energy bulbs. AB, recently became Sweden’s fi rst gour- the green city. “There’s no green festival The building will be cooled by lake water met restaurant to receive the Swan label. as such, because Stockholm is always stored in 250 tonnes of ice tanks in the Nobis Hotel Stockholm MD Claes Anerud a green city; it’s our way of living,” says basement and 20,000sq m of material says it’s a challenge—requirements Stockholm Visitors Board PR manager from the building previously occupying concerning energy, electricity, water, Ann-Charlotte Jansson. the site is being reused in construction. chemical usage and waste must be met. The fi rst offi cial European Green Rezidor’s Arlandia and Sky City “You also have to commit to buying a Capital Conference, with a mission to hotels, located in Sigtuna Arlanda near certain percentage of ecological farmed share sustainable urban development Stockholm’s airport, are both participants products and locally produced product. knowledge with other European cities, in Respect Europe’s Climate Neutral That’s not always is easy when you’re in will take place in Stockholm in October, Enterprise programme, and have brought the middle of a large city,” he says. and a professional study visits pro- their remaining emissions down to Another Stockholm restaurant, gramme to teach others about the city’s zero by supporting Clean Development Rosendals Trädgård, takes a different environmental work has been launched. Mechanism projects around the world; approach to sustainability. The café has Vice mayor Alvendal is excited for and each of Rezidor’s Swedish hotels a garden and greenhouses where organic other cities to see what Stockholm has has been certifi ed by the Nordic Swan fruits and vegetables are grown; all left- accomplished. “If we as a city provide a eco-label. Scandic’s properties, along overs are composted, and anything that good role model, I think we can inspire with Stockholm hotels operated by Rica, can’t be grown onsite is sourced locally. others to take responsibility.” ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 49 CLOA As work starts on the £16.1m Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, CLOA’s John Bell and Knowsley Council’s Andrew McCormick look at how it fi ts into the leisure facilities strategy WELLBEING IN KNOWSLEY s Leisure Management goes to and services they need. It will feature press, work is starting on the computer rooms; music and art spaces; A new £16.1m Knowsley Leisure advice and wellbeing services; an out- and Culture Park, one element door multi-use games area; and BMX of a £25m leisure facilities strategy to be and skateboarding facilities, all housed in implemented across the borough. a welcoming and iconic new building. The centre will feature two 25m pools The centre will aim to provide serv- and an eight-lane competition pool with ices for young people in a manner that spectator seating for 300 people. It will suits them and in a place where they feel also include a six court sports hall, a fi t- comfortable. There will also be a range of ness suite, a squash court, spa facilities, opportunities to gain new skills through two dance studios and a café area. participation in activities and by volun- The sports hall will allow the cen- The centre will include seating for teering to help run the centre. tre to host sporting and cultural events 300 spectators on the fi rst fl oor The leisure centre and youth facil- including performances, pantomimes overlooking the competition pool ity will be located on the same campus and award ceremonies, and will feature as Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for retractable seating for up to 900 people. Adult day care services Learning. Together, these will form a wider leisure and culture offering a range of visits and activities for people with disabili- park campus, which will transform the local environment and ties will also be based within the complex. maximise leisure and culture opportunities. It is hoped that the centre will strengthen Knowsley’s growing Knowsley Council is also currently in discussion with national international sporting links in the build up to the 2012 Olympics. governing bodies of sport about additional outdoor facilities. The planning application also included a £5m OurPlace youth facility, to be built on the same site as the leisure cen- THE KNOWSLEY CONTEXT tre. Funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Leisure and Culture in Knowsley sit within the directorate of Families managed by Big Lottery has been approved for this. Wellbeing Services. The directorate integrates health and social OurPlace has been developed in partnership with young peo- care, embracing NHS Knowsley and adult social care, as well ple across the borough and will provide them with the facilities as leisure and culture. The integration of these services has pro- The Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park will incorporate sports and leisure facilities and a youth facility 50 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2009 The design plans for the park include a new public square in front of the building SEB COE HAILS KNOWSLEY SPORT DEVELOPMENT’S GET QUALIFIED PROGRAMME Get Qualifi ed, a programme developed by Knowsley be offered, including football, netball, basketball, athletics, Metropolitan Borough Council Sport Development table tennis, badminton, rugby league and boccia. Service, won a national accolade from the London 2012 Knowsley Sport Development Service has set a target organisers earlier this year, as well as the praise of gold of qualifying 2012 new volunteers and coaches in a wide medallist Seb Coe. Get Qualifi ed, a programme aimed at range of sports leading up to the 2012 increasing the number of new and existing qualifi ed sport London Olympic Games and beyond. coaches within Knowsley by supporting the local volun- The new Get Qualifi ed programme tary sector with free and discounted local coach education was launched at the start of March. courses, was given the London 2012 Inspire Mark award. Lord Coe, chair of the London The Inspire Mark recognises innovative and exceptional Organising Committee of the projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Games. Olympic Games and Paralympic A range of coach education courses will be put in place Games said: “I am proud that with within Knowsley using the new centres for learning. These the help of partners such as Knowsley will build on the programme that was fi rst developed in Metropolitan Borough Council we are September 2009. A comprehensive six month coach educa- delivering on the vision to use the tion programme will be run from April using local facilities. power of the Games to boost A wide range of Level 1, 2 and 3 sport qualifi cations will participation in sport.” vided major advantages in service provision and economies in These pools would be complemented by a small pool – run business support functions. Examples of key projects include a at a higher temperature – at Stockbridge Village Neighbourhood GP exercise referral scheme; an obesity strategy; and an Arts in Centre. This would provide a facility for the disabled, young chil- Health programme that saw Knowsley develop creative events dren and those needing warm water for health reasons. The for locals to support key health priorities in the borough. Stockbridge centre would also feature a four court sports hall, Another strategic dimension is the Building Schools for the fi tness suite, community room and youth facility. Future programme, which has seen all of the borough’s sec- Other facilities to be added as part of the overall regeneration ondary schools replaced with seven new Centres for Learning. of Stockbridge Village Neighbourhood Centre include a multi These have a range of leisure and cultural facilities. use games area and a new co-located primary school. The leisure facilities strategy is further strengthening the lei- THE BACKGROUND TO THE PARK sure and cultural provision in the borough, leading on from the The development of Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park is part council’s recent programme to improve facilities in Knowsley, of a wider leisure facilities strategy in Knowsley. Following an which began with Halewood (south) in 2002 and Kirkby (north) external consultant’s examination of Knowsley’s leisure facilities, in 2007. A planned £25m package of investment in sports and the service concluded that the current leisure facilities in the leisure facilities in the centre of the borough was approved in centre of the borough were ageing and no longer fi t for purpose. February 2009. The £25m includes the development of the new Replacing ‘like for like’ was discounted, as it would be too central Knowsley facility, demolition of the existing centres and costly and would result in an over-provision of swimming pools also the investment of £1m into the leisure offer within Prescot. with resultant high revenue costs. It was recommended that the Knowsley council is also looking to improve golfi ng in the bor- centre of the borough (like the north and south) should have one ough by entering into a competitive dialogue process for the main leisure ‘hub’ facility with the main public pools. management and funding of Bowring Park Golf Course. ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 51 FUNDING How to get funding in tough times Raising fi nance in the current climate can seem like an impossible task, but with the right approach it can still be done. Locum Consulting director Jim Roberts offers some hard-won advice on improving your chances What a difference a with opportunities. They receive investment prospectuses daily and couple of years make they can’t possibly give their full atten- tion to every one. So how do you get DECEMBER 2007: Based on one meeting in a your project to the top of the pile? hotel lobby in Kazakhstan, we raise £30m from an An introduction helps, but beware of American fund for a £200m development project false prophets with big address books. It’s not about how many people you DECEMBER 2009: After four months’ work, know, but how well you know them endless due diligence, piles of research and reams and how much they trust you. Most of documentation, we give up on trying to place investors have a small retinue of orig- an £8m opportunity with a £120m upside inators that they trust to bring them decent deals. That’s who you should In 2009, no fund manager was going to be fi red for doing deal with. Credibility is currency in nothing. In fact, one of the best performing real estate fund this market – we guard our relation- managers in the world was a young man in India, who didn’t ships with investors closely and we place one penny of a $500m fund and eventually returned all don’t waste their time. We check out of the money with a bit of interest earned. That’s the environ- every deal beforehand and will not take ment we’re in. Though it is loosening up, ‘masterly inactivity’ anything to market until we are com- will continue to be the strategy of choice in 2010. Raising fortable that we can endorse it. That’s capital will be a tough, energy-sapping business. why they take our calls. But it’s not impossible. Last year, Colliers helped to secure a £300m war chest for an acquisitive development team tar- COMPETENT COLLATERAL IS NEEDED geting distressed assets. At Locum Consulting, we have It’s vital to have an executive summary that cuts through the secured the debt and are close to securing the equity for marketing speak and gets to the point: this is who we are, a $350m resort project in Russia. We are in the process of this is what we’re doing, this is what’s in it for you. arranging the forward sale of a £35m country park hotel. Also important is an investment memorandum that tells It hasn’t been easy. In order to raise fi nance in this market the story of the deal in a language and design that will reso- you need to be heard, you need to be believed, and you need nate. Glamour and fl ashy renderings are out; professionalism the perseverance and tenacity to close the deal. and numbers are in. The story should speak to different audi- ences – the chair who wants to get the gist of it and the CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION analyst who wants as much detail as possible. The story The pendulum has swung – from too much money chasing should be measured and competent. If it looks too good to be too few projects, there are now too many projects and not true, it probably is. Hyperbole, over-enthusiasm and any hint enough cash. Cash rich investors are currently overwhelmed of urgency should be avoided. When you are trying to get a squirrel to come out of a tree, jumping up and down will not help. It’s a long and arduous road from a fi rst meeting to a PROVE THE CASE signed contract. Don’t start spending cash after every Risk is the operative word – nobody friendly conversation. Yes it’s the chairman you need to will touch it. The game is no longer about talking up the upside or higher impress but it’s the junior analyst you need to convince valuations. An investment proposi- tion will go further with a reasonable 52 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 return and a protected downside. Can you Preparation and fl exibility months and months having friendly con- guarantee the income? Can you phase the are important when trying to versations. Yes, it’s the chair that you construction? Who owns the underlying persuade potential investors in need to impress, but it’s the junior ana- asset? De-risking the opportunity should today’s economic climate lyst that you need to convince – and that’s be central to all of the preparation and a lot harder. Steel yourself for a seem- planning that goes into the investment search. ingly endless back and forth on points of minor detail. An It’s a good sign when they start asking questions. It means exceptionally successful fi rst meeting can be the prelude they are taking you seriously. Have the answers ready. to months of follow-ups, revisions, negotiations and discus- If asked how realistic your projections are, be ready with a sions. ‘Analysis paralysis’ is the price we are paying for the full market analysis. When asked if you can really build your profl igacy of the last few years. project for the quoted price, hand over a cost consultant’s Pick your battles wisely. Stand fi rm when you need to, but report and a contractor’s estimate. When questioned about be prepared to change the deal to suit the investor’s require- PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/©MARCUS CLACKSON who will operate your project, have a signed Letter of Intent. ments. When someone is dangling a seven-fi gure cheque, An independent valuation from a reputable fi rm of surveyors don’t argue about the colour of the skirting board. will provide reassurance for a potential investor. “Pre-sale of residential properties is unthinkable at this resort!” Is it? Is it really? Even if that makes the difference CLOSE THE DEAL between a proposition with legs and one that gains no trac- It is a long and arduous road from a fi rst meeting to a signed tion? Maybe you should think about it some more. contract. The head of mergers and acquisitions for one of the Check your emotions at the door. Don’t raise your hopes Big 4 accountancies told me once that: “Every good deal dies too high when things are going well and don’t beat your- at least three times before it closes.” self up after every setback. If your project is as strong as Don’t be seduced by titles and don’t start spending cash you think it is, then your perseverance and patience will be after every friendly conversation. Developers have wasted rewarded, but it will take time and energy. ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 53 BIG ambitions Aberdeen has ambitious plans to transform its centre into a Guggenheim- TRANSFORMING inspired cultural hub and give Edinburgh and Glasgow a run for their money. Kath ABERDEEN Hudson reports berdeen is a city of contrasts. Thanks to the oil and that people will meet and spend the day there, and it will be a gas industries, there is wealth and just 2.1 per cent space for constant activity, such as music festivals in the sum- A unemployment. However, the city doesn’t refl ect this; mer and an ice rink in the winter. It will link the different areas of it has no centre to speak of and the lack of investment Aberdeen, giving it the proper centre it currently lacks. over the last 30 years has led to a loss of civic pride. The shop- “The plans for the City Square Project are radical – it’s a ping centres have moved to the north and south of the city, with major remodelling of Aberdeen,” says ACSEF chair Tom Smith. a black hole in between of dreary, north-facing gardens, which “It provides a tantalising prize for us socially and economi- have fallen into disrepair, attracting drunks and drug users. With cally. It is about safeguarding and creating jobs for our children a dearth of cultural amenities, and nowhere to meet or gather, and grandchildren. It is a bold and ambitious project which has people visit to shop or drink rather than spend time in the city. rightly become a hotly debated issue.” Tourists coming to the region fi nd little to detain them in the city The area in question, the Denburn Valley, currently com- and quickly head out to the stunning surrounding countryside. prises Union Terrace Gardens, an unsightly railway line and a This could all change. Exciting new plans, put forward by dual carriageway. The plans would cover what is currently there, public/private partnership Aberdeen City and Shire Economic raising the gardens to street level to create the city square. It Future (ACSEF), aim to transform the dead space at the city’s would create fi ve acres of public space at street level, and an heart into a cultural hub. This would feature an iconic attraction all-weather concourse underneath, with natural daylight, which – along the lines of the Guggenheim – an arts centre, an outdoor would span a further two acres. This level could house museum performance area, green space and a café culture. The idea is space to display city artworks and artefacts currently in storage, Auditorium Square Contemporary Arts Centre Main Square Parkland and Gardens Main Civic Square and Union Street The City Square Project aims to create a new and vibrant centre 54 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 ACSEF conceptual illustrations show how the area could look or a Covent Garden-style market area, Discovery Green in Houston, which was initiated and delivered which could attract major brands. Green space by a public/private sector partnership, and has transformed People would be able to arrive by bus and water downtown Houston, attracting signifi cant investment, new busi- or train and be in the heart of the city features are ness and stimulated tourism. With Millennium Park, Chicago via a quick underground walk, instead at the heart of has experienced a cultural revolution, which ACSEF would like of being faced with a windswept, unat- the plans to emulate. Stockholm is also an inspiration, showing that even tractive walk uphill. in a cold climate, it’s possible to create a vibrant café culture [see p46 for more details on Stockholm]. SIBLING RIVALRY The people of Aberdeen feel as though it’s time their city bene- TIME BOMB fi ted from public funding. Having received negligible investment However, it’s not just a desire to keep up with the neighbours for decades, there are feelings of rivalry with other Scottish cit- that’s making Aberdeen so desperate for regeneration. Oil sup- ies. Dundee has secured in the region of £66m worth of public plies – which are responsible for the thriving economy – are sector funding for its waterfront development and is now look- dwindling and unless Aberdeen can create a strong reason for ing for a further £45m for the proposed V&A museum offshoot. businesses to stay, they could well decide to relocate. A recent Glasgow has received hundreds of millions of pounds of pub- poll of 1,300 local businesses showed they were adamant the lic funding for various projects, including the Commonwealth city centre needed to be improved. Games, and the Edinburgh Trams cost the public purse £80m. “Great cities need to be attractive – they need to offer good “There is no reason why Aberdeen cannot aspire to secur- employment prospects and they need to offer a diverse range ing a major arts brand and establishing our own Guggenheim,” of activities to attract and keep people, particularly those start- says Smith. “The regeneration of Dundee’s waterfront has ing out in their careers,” says Smith. “This scheme is about us helped it secure the V&A museum, and our aspirations should being able to attract and retain business and investment, so that be to attract major national arts and culture facilities. There is when the North Sea oil runs out, companies are encouraged to real potential to bring together organisations involved in the per- stay here. Otherwise, we face a mass exodus of companies and forming and visual arts, building on existing arts festivals, to people and severe unemployment.” create a hub focused on enhancing the region’s cultural offering As well as improving the city, this project is part of a broader and attracting major events, fairs, street theatre and other art- aim to safeguard the economy for future generations, by putting related activities. There is a vibrant and diverse arts community the city on the map as a global energy hub. Businessman Ian here, and creating a major indoor and outdoor arts space in the Wood, who has pledged £50m of the £140m needed for the heart of the city would allow it to be showcased more widely.” scheme to go ahead, believes that transforming Aberdeen is A number of cities have provided models for the City essential. “Aberdeen wants to establish its position as a global Square Project, including Federation Square in Melbourne and energy hub; the energy capital of the eastern hemisphere, and ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 55 BIG ambitions ACSEF believes the City Square Project would attract more tourists THE PROPOSALS IN A NUTSHELL s A cultural hub, in the form s Celebration of the s Lighting features and level with natural light of an iconic attraction economic landscape of design to animate the wells to provide further s A gathering space the region via public art or square and garden at night performance arts space incorporating an outdoor physical exhibition space s Children’s play area and connectivity, through performance area s Green space, including s Seasonal displays and the transport hubs and ampthitheatre lawns, formal gardens activities, such as an ice s Sustainability at the s Water features, symbolising and tree-lined avenues rink in the winter and music forefront of design, Aberdeen as a major s Landmark sculpture festivals in the summer construction and port and harbour and public art s Lower concourse maintenance the headquarters for administration and The City Square Project needs to technology of major offshore oil and gas receive widespread public support in developments over the next 100 years,” order to go forward and the feedback says Wood. “[It also needs to establish from the eight week public consulta- itself] as being a leading developer and tion was being assessed at the time of supplier of the technology, expertise and going to print. If the consultation sug- know how which will deliver alternative gests that the public is in favour of the energy solutions, including deep water concept, then the feedback will be used offshore, wind, wave and tidal energy.” to inform the design brief, which would then go to an international design com- STICKING POINT petition. Interest has already been shown Although the plans are popular with the from international design and engineering business community and young people, fi rms eager to get involved, most notably there is enough opposition to prevent the fi rm which engineered the Pyramids the City Square Project from progress- at the Louvre. Outline and full planning ing hitch free. Some people want to keep would be sought, with further consulta- the gardens as they currently are and tion as part of the planning process. The the team behind Aberdeen’s Peacock remainder of the funds would have to be Visual Arts Centre have won planning raised, through national capital sources permission for the development of a of public funds available for major infra- new arts centre, sloped into the sunni- structure/regeneration projects. And, if all est part of Union Terrace Gardens. They goes according to plan, Aberdeen could have secured 75 per cent of the capi- have its new city centre by 2014. tal funding from public funding sources, Hopefully the plans will be supported, but cannot progress further as they have as an investment of this scale in the been unable to raise 25 per cent of the infrastructure of the city would act as a £13m from the private sector. ACSEF Three local architecture catalyst to attract further investment for has said it would like to integrate the arts graduates have come up with a the regeneration of the city centre. The centre into the City Square project, and range of designs showing some City Square Project is a forward-looking has offered all the requirements within a of the different possibilities for scheme, which would have both immedi- new iconic building, but Peacock Visual the City Square Project ate and long term benefi ts for the city of Arts are still not completely on side. Aberdeen and its people. ● 56 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Did you know that you can now receive a FREE subscription to Leisure Management in its new, greener, paper-free, digital format? Change the way you read Leisure Management magazine SIGN UP ONLINE: www.leisuremanagement.co.uk/green WHY NOT ADD A FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO OUR OTHER PUBLICATIONS? 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From theme parks and museums job or the perfect candidate for your vacancy to science centres, zoos and corporate brandlands GO GREEN www.leisuremanagement.co.uk/green NEW OPENING All rooms at the Ocean Hotel feature a separate chlidren’s den (above left); Mirror balls brighten up the lobby (above); exceeding The modern building was designed by Havant-based expectations PWP Architects (below) olour-changing lights, Last issue we reported on the RAISING STANDARDS ‘disco lifts’ and sing- Linking the upmarket 200-room spa hotel C ing showers are a few background behind Butlins’ with the brand’s eccentric personal- of the funky features at new Ocean Hotel and Spa. ity was essential, according to the resort Butlins Bognor Regis’ new £20m director Jeremy Pardey. Created by Ocean Hotel and Spa – the lat- This issue Caroline Wilkinson PWP Architects and Birmingham-based est product of a fi ve-year £100m checks into the new hotel to interior designers Newman Gauge, the investment scheme to expand the seven-storey development features disco holiday brand’s appeal. see if it’s living up to the hype mirror balls in the double-height lobby, Known for its no-frill holidays 1970s music in the lifts and under-the- for Brits on a budget, Butlins was pos- Bourne Leisure Group (BLG), owner of bed lighting in the children’s rooms to sibly one of the least likely places a the brand since 2000, has hoisted the help banish monsters. The guestrooms holidaymaker would go in search of a resorts from cheap to chic. Value for also feature colour-change lighting above little luxury or a spa break – until now. money is still at the core of the com- the beds, rainfall showers and views over With the addition of the spa hotel in pany’s concept, however, and its the South Downs or the sea. August 2009 and an extensive facelift fun-orientated ethos is as strong as “The hotel has only been open since across all three of its resorts in Bognor it was when the late Sir Billy Butlin August and it’s fl ying,” says Pardey, add- Regis, Skegness and Minehead, the launched the holiday brand 74 years ago. ing that it’s operating at 89 per cent occupancy and that it met its annual revenue target within three months of opening. The hotel started 2010 with more than £1m-worth of booking, with 55 per cent coming from fi rst time visitors to Butlins. In line with Butlins’ ethos of offering something for all budg- ets, the Bognor Regis resort has six different standards of accom- modation and various dining options. The hotels are consid- ered to be the resort’s ‘premier’ accommodation but target differ- ent audiences from the chalets. The spa hotel offers guests an experience more suited to fami- lies with older children or guests without children. The Shoreline Hotel, meanwhile, is geared towards younger families, with bunk beds, a play area and kids’ entertainment at breakfast. As 58 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Butlins was determined to create a families account for more than 70 per The £2m, 670sq m (7,211 sq ft) spa with personality using bright cent of Butlins’ business, the resort’s Ocean Spa features playful fur- colours and fun treatments peak period for the usual four-night stay niture, a singing shower, a -16ºC is concentrated during the 13 weeks of snow cave and a vivid mix of col- school half terms and summer holidays. our meant to have a positive infl uence lots of colour and breaking away from During this time, it could cost a family of on guests’ mood. There’s also a pri- the ‘norm’ could have been very danger- four between £700 and £1,000 to stay at vate relaxation area where guests can ous for business if it was done wrong. It Ocean Hotel, as opposed to the resort’s order food and drinks. While the 125sq proves that a spa can be colourful and room-only and apartment accommoda- m (1,345sq ft) thermal suite has been still relaxing though.” tion, which ranges from £500 to £800. designed using a rainbow palette, the 10 The purpose of the over-18s Ocean treatment rooms were kept relatively neu- Spa was to add an extra twist and “qual- THE SPA EXPERIENCE tral with earth-toned walls, soft-coloured ity to the resort, something the guests This isn’t the fi rst time Butlins has lighting, and cloudy sky projections on don’t expect,” explains Pardey. “One entered the spa market, but this offer is the ceiling. Other facilities include a thing we recognise from feedback is that entirely different from its more conserv- hydro pool, a sauna and mango-scented mum is a really important person during a ative sister spa at Butlins Skegness in steamroom and an outdoor hot tub. family holiday. When you come to Butlins Lincolnshire. However the success at According to spa manager, Amy Neale: it’s an active break, usually centred Skegness, where seven new treatment “It took two years, and a lot of briefi ng, to around the children. Mum needs a place rooms have been added, made it evident refi ne the spa’s funky concept. Everyone to take one or two hours out so that she to Pardey that the other resorts needed a involved had to understand the project to can have her holiday too.” spa too. This time the management team avoid it looking tacky, which is the way In addition to the funky features, was determined to create a spa that it could have gone had the team not had Butlins and its spa partner UK-based refl ected Butlins’ personality. the right expertise,” she says. “Adding Spa Find have revamped classic treat- ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 59 NEW OPENING ments and added the Butlins’ Entertainment signature by creating unusual at Bognor Regis treatments of its own. “As with everything at Butlins, we needed Activities at the Bognor to think about how we could Regis resort include a inject some fun into a traditional waterpark, a funfair and spa treatment,” says Andrea extensive outdoor and Knowles, Butlins’ head of pub- indoor sports areas with lic relations, who developed the facilities for short ten- ideas for the signature treat- nis, netball, basketball ments. “From using ultra-soft and football, with coach- mattress covers and marshmal- ing sessions delivered by lows in teenage facials, ‘tummy FA-accredited trainers. pods’ that play classical music In addition to more than to unborn babies, facials with 50 free activities, there is a chargeable tables and big TV screens and the Butlins’ real fl akes of gold and a men’s Odeon cinema, new high ropes (introduced free family funfair. Other facilities include massage with football highlights in 2009), mini golf and a new archery more than 10 restaurants, pubs and bars, projected on to the wall, there’s venue. According to Butlins’ exit surveys, shops and a revamped live entertainment something for everyone.” the most popular facilities are the Splash venue called Centre Stage, which hosts For Neale, it was important Waterworld, followed by the Hotshots performances by contestants from X-Factor that the spa could cater to a wide sports bar with its ten-pin bowling, pool and Britain’s Got Talent. range of customers. “A lot of people are intimidated and think to 15 during the summer months, and a separate entity from the resort. The that spas are just for those with money,” employs a second male masseur. She’s Ocean Hotel also features heavily in she says. “The whole purpose of this fi nding more men are using the spa as a Butlins’ current advertisement, which is spa is to banish these preconceptions place to escape; around 20 per cent of being aired across mainstream terrestrial by offering quality at great value. We clients who buy treatments are male, and and satellite television channels as well have more than 70 treatments to choose one of the spa’s most popular treatments as the website and family brochure. from. People can spend £20 or more is the Sporting Highlights Massage (£29). than £100 on a two-hour body treat- Other popular treatments include man- SO FAR SO GOOD ment.” Ocean Spa also offers a two-hour icures (£18 -£25) pedicures (£23-£35) Attracting business is not as much Spa Experience session in the thermal Heavenly Head, Neck and Shoulder of a concern as maintaining success suite for £19. There are also daily tours Massage (£38) and Spa Find’s Complete for Butlins. For the second year run- of the spa to give guests a chance to Calmness 2-in-1 Facial and Massage ning, Butlins experienced a 10 per cent look around without feeling pressured. (£38). Around 79 per cent of the spa’s increase in visitors in 2009. But there are The approach seems to be working, as revenue comes from its treatments, 29 no signs of complacency from Butlins’ more than 50 per cent of those who book per cent from Spa Experience passes management, who are already plan- treatments are spa ‘virgins’. and the rest from product sales. ning new packages for spa guests and During family breaks the Ocean Spa Most of the marketing of the spa has implementing a scheduled programme runs at around 60 per cent occupancy been done via the press and internal pro- of yearly accommodation upgrades. and during adult-only weekends the ther- motions in the rooms at the Shoreline There are also murmurs of a planned mal suite nears its 30-person capacity. and Ocean Hotel. As a result, in 2009, £20m swimming pool, a third hotel for Families don’t tend to use the thermal the spa captured 65 per cent of hotel Bognor Regis and a possible spa at the suite as much as non-families, but tend guests and 25 per cent of resort guests. Minehead resort. So while the brand’s to purchase more treatments. Neale However this may change now that the 75th anniversary is fast approaching, increases her team of therapists from 10 Ocean Hotel and Spa has opened as Butlins shows no signs of slowing down. my experience Caroline Wilkinson, journalist ou’d never think and the funky décor didn’t cringe, and I left feeling rejuvenated. it was Butlins’ look tacky as I’d expected, but My only complaint is that a car park ‘Y was a phrase I fre- fun and chic. The hotel is also vista is not the most idyllic backdrop quently heard from guests and located far enough from the for outdoor hot tub bathers. employees during my visit to central entertainment areas My two-hour Beauty and the Beach the Ocean Hotel and Spa. And so you don’t have to suffer body treatment was brilliant, and a I have to say I was thinking screaming children. good example of Butlins’ twist on tradi- exactly the same thing. Half expect- The spa was the real surprise. I pre- tional therapies. Meant to mimic a day ing a budget spa and hotel, I was pared myself for a garish display of in the sun, the treatment comprised a pleased to be proved wrong and can colour and singing showers – not sand scrub, seaweed facial and mud now officially say I’m a Butlins’ con- my idea of a relaxing atmosphere. wrap, followed by a deeply relaxing vert; already planning an adults-only However, I was amazed by the qual- Hawaiian hot stone massage. It was weekend. In the middle of a child- ity of service, the originality and the topped off with a non alcoholic cocktail. saturated resort, the Ocean Hotel and sophisticated offering. The optional The infrared electromagnetic heat lamp Spa was an oasis of peace away from singing showers don’t interfere with did feel a bit gimmicky, but this can be the mayhem. You can’t help but smile guests’ relaxing in the thermal suite, overlooked, as the quality of the treat- at the cheesy disco music in the lifts the vibrant colours make you smile not ment really made it work. ● 60 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 LEISURE INDUSTRY WEEK 21-23 September 2010 · NEC Birmingham LIW is the UK’s leading and most influential trade show for out of home leisure businesses, with over 350 exhibitors displaying the latest products and services across seven of the leisure industries sectors. Each sector is tailored to the specific needs of the communities we serve and offers comprehensive educational seminars and features. Play & Attractions · Licensed Business · Eat & Drink · Leisure Facilities · Sport · Pool & Spa · Health & Fitness To find the solutions to your business needs, connect with your industry colleagues, benefit from the education and best practice discussions and demonstrations. Register your interest for FREE FAST ENTRY to LIW 2010 today at www.liw.co.uk/register ENERGY A NEW DAWN As the Carbon Reduction Commitment comes into force, many businesses are still unaware of the massive impact it will have. Dave Lewis, head of business energy services at npower, says the right approach could see companies benefi t from the scheme he Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) energy effi - the UK. These organisations ciency scheme is now upon us. When it went live will be required to make an T on 1 April, the CRC specifi cally created a direct link information disclosure to the between businesses’ carbon emissions and their Environment Agency about fi nances. Those that fail to manage the scheme could face their energy consumption in fi nancial challenges, while those that plan stand to benefi t. 2008, which is being used A recent report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers calculated the as the qualifi cation year. This potential additional costs facing leisure businesses within the must be done by September. CRC. It anticipates a worst case scenario where companies Those whose consump- could see a 20 per cent increase in their outgoings by 2015 tion was 6,000 MWh or more if they don’t save energy and thus perform poorly under the a year in 2008 will be required scheme. This fi gure shows the potentially signifi cant impact of a to participate fully. Importantly poor performance in the CRC on an organisation’s bottom line. for the leisure industry, con- The CRC will apply to any organisation with half-hourly sumption will be measured at metered electricity supply, anticipated to be about 20,000 in a group level, not by individ- Dave Lewis ual sites. As such, hotel and gym chains and other multi-site businesses will be included as well as large stadia and arenas. THE HARD WORK STARTS It’s once companies have qualifi ed that the work really begins. Once a business is in, the CRC will capture emissions from all fuel types. Participants will have to forecast their energy con- sumption at the start of each trading year, as well as their equivalent emissions. They will then need to buy suffi cient allowances to cover their emissions for the year ahead at a cost of £12 per tonne of CO2 initially. It is this stage when accurate forecasting of emissions and energy usage is vital. If leisure businesses are to purchase for the year ahead, they will need an accurate record of their cur- rent consumption to give them a solid start in the process. There are signifi cant cashfl ow issues which may arise as a result of inaccurate forecasting of emissions. For instance, fore- casting too few emissions will mean a company doesn’t buy enough allowances and will therefore have to purchase more allowances on the open market, potentially at a higher cost per allowance. Purchasing too many allowances, on the other hand, means cash is tied up in the CRC until allowances are recycled, which could be as long as 10 months after the purchase date. At the end of the trading year, participants will submit details of their actual energy consumption and emissions, and surren- der the allowances they have purchased. THE ROLE OF THE LEAGUE TABLES This information is then used to compare performance in terms of how well organisations have reduced their emissions, which is published in a league table revealing best and worst per- formers. To start with, league table position will also be partly based on an early action metric taking into account measures 62 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 The Encompass Professional is one of a range of new tools coming onto the market to help companies manage their energy consumption TOOLS TO HELP MONITOR ENERGY USE or many businesses, the ability Encompass Professional. This is a new able to better manage their purchase to forecast allowance require- monitoring tool that analyses energy of carbon allowances through the abil- Fments, risk exposure and use in detail and combines historic ity to predict their carbon emissions. cashflow related to allowance pur- data on consumption levels and energy Encompass Professional is the latest chasing will require a step change in usage with 20 year weather patterns addition to npower’s ‘m3’ portfolio, a how they manage current and future to calculate future energy use. This range of energy management tools and energy consumption. npower has information is then used to devise strat- services, which also includes energy been working with organisations to egies to reduce consumption and costs, monitoring and targeting together develop the tools to achieve this. improving management and cash fl ow. with guidance on implementing car- Among these is the newly-launched Using the tool, organisations will be bon and energy reduction strategies. to improve energy effi ciency such as installing smart meters or costs, invest in cost-effective technologies and change culture. achieving the Carbon Trust standard. To perform well under the CRC, organisations will need to The league table is important for two reasons. Firstly, as have detailed plans in place to record and report on their emis- already mentioned, money received for the purchasing of allow- sions, and then work at reducing them. Smart meters should ances is recycled to participants based on their league table feature as a priority in these plans. These will capture detailed position. Those at the top receive their purchase plus 10 per data on energy use which can then be analysed to make cent and those at the bottom receive their purchase minus per informed decisions on energy effi ciency. cent. By year fi ve of the scheme, this will increase to 50 per Once a business has its energy management strategies in cent – a real incentive to perform well. order, it is crucial that there is senior level management buy in. Secondly, there is the impact on reputation. The pub- Energy use is so important to a company’s bottom line that it lic relations impact of a low league table position could be as deserves board level attention. Boards should be aware of the important as the fi nancial implications in a world that is increas- fi nancial implication of non-compliance and the impact to their ingly aware of organisations’ environmental impact, particularly business’ cashfl ow, not to mention the reputational risk associ- in a public-facing industry like the leisure sector. ated with a low league table position. With 2010 a pivotal year for the CRC, it’s imperative that lei- AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE sure businesses grasp the implications the scheme places on Businesses in the leisure industry should build the CRC into their organisation. There is time to respond and get the tools their core business operations. It should be viewed, not as a and strategies in place. However, with the September deadline compliance exercise, but as an opportunity to reduce energy fast approaching, it’s important that this work starts now. ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 63 leisure-kit.net TICKETING SYSTEMS Skidata’s Vario.Gate Wherever you are in the world, fi nd the Access systems com- right products and services 24 / 7 by pany Skidata AG has logging on to Leisure Management’s unveiled a versatile, easy-to-use tick- free search engine www.leisure-kit.net et reader suitable for use within stadiums as well as at amuse- For more information, or to contact any of these ment parks and companies, log on to www.leisure-kit.net and trade shows. type the company name under ‘keyword search’ Called Vario. Gate, the entry control system features an TOR Systems intelligent scan- unveils Maxim ning device that Solution software accepts and checks tickets in RFID, Print@Home and barcode formats at Leading provider of visitor engage- a single scanning point. The single ment solutions, TOR Systems, has scan point aids both operators, who unveiled its latest scheme for use can sell tickets in a variety of formats, within the museums, heritage and as well as visitors, who can then enter visitor attractions sectors. quickly and easily. Called Maxim Solution and leisure-kit.net keyword operating on industry standard skidata platforms, the ‘best of breed solu- tion’ has been designed to combine leisure-kit.net keywords stability, speed and resilience with tor systems cutting-edge technology. The product includes integrated fi nancial, catering and CRM soft- touchscreen PC-POS units as well ware as and when required. as the option to integrate real-time TOR Systems’ Ticketstor offers internet sales via MaximWeb, which further web sales capabilities for cli- can then be linked to external retail, ents organising temporary events. Gateway secures IAAPA Time Pursuit books new product award in at BeWILDerwood Gateway Ticketing won a best new Open Frontiers’ Time Pursuit ticket- product award at IAAPA, thanks to its ing solution has been deployed at eGalaxy Reseller Web store. the children’s tree house adventure A web-based PoS application, the park, BeWILDerwood, Norwich, UK. product allows operators to save The web-based booking system time and money thanks to a range of not only allows visitors to pur- automated processes, such as rec- chase admission, but also to buy onciliation and a print-on-demand merchandise and gift vouchers. function. The application also pro- Meanwhile, full gate admissions vides up-to-the-minute sales reports technology has also been built into to let operators track revenue imme- the Time Pursuit program. On site, diately rather than at the season end. wireless scanners have been in- leisure-kit.net keyword leisure-kit.net keywords stalled, enabling advance bookers gateway open frontiers to use a fast-track entrance. 64 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2009 log on to www.leisure-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’ Gamma moves into Chatsworth House Chatsworth House in Der- byshire has chosen to install a number of integrated modules from Gamma Data- VENPoS helps ware’s LeisurePOS platform. Blenheim Palace sell At the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Blenheim Palace has implemented Gamma will be supplying the VENPoS Online e-commerce plat- solutions for admissions and ticketing, gift aid, bookings and event man- form from visitor attraction software agement, membership CRM as well as a web booking interface. specialist Vennersys. In addition to these, Gamma is also providing an Integrated Chip & PIN Through VENPoS Online, Blenheim and back offi ce ‘customer not present’ credit/debit card software solution. Palace will sell tickets, memberships, In further news, the company has also completed a Point of Sale instal- merchandise and experiences, from lation at the BugWorld Experience in leisure-kit.net keyword cream teas to fi shing memberships. Liverpool, which opened last year. gamma Blenheim Palace already uses VEN- PoS to manage physical admissions and retail operations. One of the key Cashless factors in the decision to deploy VEN- solutions from PoS Online was its integration with National Ticket the rest of the application, especially the CRM and Bookings modules. For places looking to introduce Vennersys is developing a range cashless automation solutions, US of product enhancements for 2010 company National Ticket offers a The designed to increase functionality in selection of bar coded wristbands cards and the areas of CRM and e-commerce, and plastic cards. the wristbands one of which is the launch of VENPoS The wristbands are available in are suitable for a BoxOffi ce. This will work in conjunc- plastic, vinyl and hi-res versions range of climates and tion with VENPoS Online to allow and can be used to allow entry, weather conditions. customers to choose their seats at access lockers and also enable visi- the point of online purchase. tors to add cash on to them to pay leisure-kit.net keyword leisure-kit.net keyword for food and activities. national ticket vennersys Pick and choose your own itinerary Omniticket’s Connect program has seen its pick-and-choose technol- ogy used for the fi rst time by the Pikes Peak Country Attractions As- sociation in Colorado, USA. With the Pikes Peak Pick-N- Choose Ticket, visitors can select, online, only the attractions they want to visit. When a visitor has se- lected their venues, an overall price is then calculated. Once payment has been made, leisure-kit.net keyword omniticket visitors print a confi rmation page to retrieve their all-in-one pass. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 65 SENIOR’S SOLUTIONS NUMBER 15 It’s tough out there, but that doesn’t mean leisure businesses can’t improve their lot. Grahame Senior offers some advice on making the most of the opportunities of the current market How to Succeed in a Low-Growth Environment A diffi cult economic climate doesn’t have to be all bad news. Clear-sighted thinking can help you survive the hard times while building your business o one in the Low growth Barack Obama’s much vaunted slogan leisure and hos- doesn’t have to ‘Yes, we can’ was possibly not so well N pitality business mean no growth judged in its implied confi rmation that we can be under Interestingly enough, can just keep on having more. ‘No we the impression that the such a climate does not can’t’ would have been a more realis- current market is easy. have to be all bad news. tic suggestion – but of course it wouldn’t After a year or so of There are ways to suc- have won the election. No matter how recession, we’re just ceed despite the lack of many times we are told that things can about getting through an any upward trend in over- go down as well as up, we still have a appalling winter in which all revenues. It is possible seemingly unshakable belief in the fact retail sales have hit their to enrich the margin in a that good times can go on forever. They lowest level for many business without increas- can’t and they won’t but the same real- years. The great British ing the turnover. The ity check underlines the more reassuring public have rediscovered the delights of starting point for this process is to review fact that, whilst good times may be on staying at home. January weather cre- every aspect of the business to ensure hold, it’s not going to be all doom and ated something of a whiteout for many that it’s working to its optimum result. gloom. People will still continue to do hospitality businesses and February the things they need to do, celebrate the wasn’t all that much better. Be realistic and occasions they think are important and February has traditionally been the review everything set some of their hard-pressed budgets time when cashfl ow problems really bite Being realistic starts with recognising the aside for the civilised pleasures of life. and it’s a month when an increasing fact that the overall economic climate We are a very long way from a situ- number of businesses throw in the towel is likely to continue creating diffi cul- ation in which all that our society can and put up the shutters. ties for some time to come. There are no afford are the bare necessities. Without being quite so drastic, spring easy options – money is tight for both is also a good time to reappraise your businesses and individual budgets and Don’t wait for things to get business practices and think through the people are increasingly worried. Paying better – make them better best way to operate effectively in a mar- off debt has become the new hobby at The key discipline is to make a realistic ket that offers low or even no growth in every level and taking risks is something review of every aspect of your busi- overall volumes of business. we would all rather avoid. ness; look at the areas where you can A CHECKLIST FOR REVIEW – SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS TO SHARPEN UP 1 Costs. All suppliers are increasingly people are more willing to be fl ex- with you are the people who are willing to review their charging lev- ible and add that little bit extra. already your customers. Make sure els and to make a better offer. If it’s 4 The competitive edge. Take the time your database of guests and pros- tough for you, it’s tough for them and to check out your competition. Do it pects is bang up to date and accurate. most businesses will share the pain. objectively and look at their weaknesses Communicating with people per- 2 Customer offer. Look at the way your so that you can build your strengths. sonally and effectively is the best products and services are structured 5 Don’t look tired. Engage some- way to make them choose you. and add value rather than cut costs. one to do an audit of your premises 7 Promotional calendar. Review last 3 Your top team. Look at the way and ensure that you come across year’s performance and look at the your key staff are motivated and as customer-focused rather than cool spots when business was bad. engage with your business and share penny-pinching and dilapidated. Plan offers and promotional initiatives your plans and risks with them. A 6 Sharpen up your database. People to fi ll in the gaps and build a stronger more realistic climate means that most likely to spend more money business performance year-round. 66 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 ‘The Den’ at Howard’s House in Wiltshire provides a cosy spot for guests to relax in Howard’s House Hotel – A Winter of Investment As I mentioned in this column before, every aspect of the business and build- which hopefully will bond together and I’ve stepped away from the safety of ing a base for a year of excellence in build a stronger business. simply offering advice and stepped 2010/2011. Of course, the timing wasn’t In summary, we’ve listened to our into the real risks of running a hospi- ideal and like everybody else, the snow customers, engaged and energised our tality business. We took on Howard’s this winter came at exactly the wrong staff and spent a little money in a hope- House Hotel in Wiltshire (‘Britain’s time for us to maintain our bookings fully wise direction. Time will tell! Most Romantic Hotel 2010’ accord- and make the most of the end of the The next big thing is the new dining ing to the Good Hotel Guide) in April shooting season. That said, we car- terrace – opening 1 May – part of our 2009 and have spent the last year or ried out our own reality check and put strategy to improve our onsite spend so getting things together, reviewing together rather a lot of small actions via a better guest experience. cut costs and improve margin; deliver the to solve problems now – and you’ll be different groups in different weeks. service levels which increase customer amazed how it simplifi es and cuts costs. There’s no doubt that the value for satisfaction and generate better footfall Direct conversations with your custom- money offered by short-distance breaks and repeat business. ers – remembering to be appreciative for is increasingly attractive. Why waste val- The important thing about such a the fact that they still are your customers uable time, money and energy on travel review is to ensure it’s conducted objec- – is the best way to keep in touch with when you can stay closer to home and tively. It’s very easy to let yourself off the reality of the business. get great food and a friendly welcome. – you know the reasons why things are In summary, 2010 is unlikely to be done a little bit this way or a little bit that. Using sterling’s weakness much of a bumper year for any in the However, customers won’t sympathise. to build on our strengths leisure sector. However, there is increas- Use a friend or perhaps even a new col- There seems little end in sight to the ing evidence that today’s market is very league to review things for you and get weak pound. With that and the continu- resistant to missing out completely on a clear-eyed view of all the things you ing disruption to fl ights and most forms its holiday and leisure opportunities, no could do better. It may be a slightly pain- of foreign travel – the ‘staycation’ seems matter how tough times get. ful shock but you’re certain to fi nd ways here to stay. By stratifying your markets Pitching your particular offer at the to deliver a better business offering and into families, couples, groups and spe- right people with the right temptations will almost certainly stop wasting money. cial interest guests, you can quite easily in terms of added value can still pay off. A simple rule on that front is to ‘do build a calendar of offers and attractions Attention to service detail and making things once’. We all know the habit of to suit the current season. July can be sure you talk to your customers about picking something up, looking at it, think- a surprisingly diffi cult month to fi ll, as it what they really want from their visit can ing about it and putting it down again falls between the excitement of spring create increased margin and a satisfacto- for another day. That kind of indulgence breaks and fully fl edged summer holi- rily stronger bottom line result. leads to woolly thinking and almost days. At Howard’s House Hotel (see box When the great leap forward isn’t avail- always wastes money. Make decisions above) we’re planning to try a month of able, small steps in the right direction now – and in particular make phone calls added-value offers for July and aim it at can get you where you need to be. ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 67 leisure-kit.net LEISURE-KIT.NET Wherever you are in the world, fi nd the right products and services 24 / 7 by logging on to Leisure Management’s free search engine www.leisure-kit.net New Clarins mousse For more information, or to contact any of these companies, log on to www.leisure-kit.net and Clarins has launched its Delectable type the company name under ‘keyword search’ Self Tanning Mousse for those look- ing to give their skin a healthy, tanned glow. The mousse contains oil from the mirabelle, a small golden plum, The Deep and charity which is high in fatty acids that have Pump Aid join forces anti-dehydrating properties. The to help African villages product is applied a day after exfo- liating the skin and is placed on top The Deep aquarium in Hull, UK, has of a moisturising cream that acts as teamed up with Thirsty Planet water a base. The almond scented mousse and charity Pump Aid. can then be spread across the face So far, staff and visitors to the and body – avoiding the eyebrows – attraction have helped to provide to create a bronzed look. more than 38.5 million gallons of leisure-kit.net keyword clean, disease-free water for some clarins of the poorest people in Africa through sales of Thirsty Planet in The Deep’s cafe and restaurant. For every 500ml bottle of Thirsty Planet sold, a 5p donation is made to Pump Aid, which works with communities in Malawi and Zimba- bwe to give access to sustainable leisure-kit.net keywords supplies of uncontaminated water. waterbrands Waterproof televisions Resistance series of for wet environments educational charts New from Aquavision comes the Se- Drawn by graphic artist Matt Lam- ries4 range of waterproof televisions bert, IDASS charts provide vitally designed for the bathroom and other useful information for both personal wet environments. trainers and their clients to bet- Available in three fi nishes includ- ter understand the exercises being ing mirrovision, which becomes a performed. Each chart features mirror when the tv is switched off, the clearly-drawn images illustrat- televisions are slim in profi le and can ing both the exercise and then the be fi tted into any stud or solid wall. stretch performed after plus a few They come with a waterproof remote lines of script that qualify the action. control and stereo speakers and are Latest to be released is a resistance available in sizes from 17-42in. series, which includes 10 exercises, leisure-kit.net keyword leisure-kit.net keyword an anatomy chart and a ‘personal aquavision idass trainers tip’ advice box. 68 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 log on to www.leisure-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’ Orly’s Sweet and Bloom collections Nail care and beauty product supplier Orly International has released de- tails of its two new collections, called New sports nutrition Sweet and Bloom. range from Lucozade The Sweet range was inspired by A new low calorie sports drink called sweets and the Lucozade Sport Lite has been un- 18ml nail lacquers come in a choice Bloom is a range of six limited veiled by GlaxoSmithKline, (GSK) of six colours including pixy stix (a edition shades including a poison joining the company’s popular Luco- vibrant pink), gumdrop (a soft green) ivy green called Wandering Vine zade Sport® product. and snowcone (a vibrant blue). and Thorned Rose, a rich burgundy. The 500ml drink is available in two fl avours – lemon and lime and sum- mer berries. Lucozade Sport Lite is formulated to deliver electrolytes as Orbana help well as energy-releasing B-vitamins Eddie Izzard’s and contains 70 per cent less sugar marathon effort than regular sports drinks. GSK also has three new ‘impulse The Orbana energy drink, which re- products’ for operators to consider cently launched into the UK, was – Pro Muscle ‘All in One’ Carbohy- used by comedian Eddie Izzard drate Protein & Creatine Bar; Body during his Sport Relief marathon Fuel Carbohydrate Energy Bar and challenge, which saw him run an in- Body Fuel Jelly Beans. Each of the credible 43 marathons in 51 days. three new products has been devel- A mixture of vitamins, minerals, oped with help from top athletes and amino acids and electrolytes, the is intended to effectively deliver fuel, drink is purchased in powder form so power and strength to sports and ex- that the ingredients don’t dilute over ercise participants while adding to a time while sitting in a liquid solution. venue’s incremental impulse sales. leisure-kit.net keyword leisure-kit.net keyword orbana glaxosmithkline (GSK) The L-shaped ventless leisure-kit.net keyword planika fi replace from Planika Planika’s L-shaped ventless fi re- places are an innovative addition to a range of different spaces. A transpar- ent piece of furniture, the L-shape is available in dark oak or white, lac- quered MDF that resembles the letter ‘L’, with an open fi re hearth. Also suitable for use in spas and hotels, the L-shape runs on a bio- fuel, which is said to emit only water vapour and CO2 when burnt. Mean- while, double-sided glass intensifi es the fl ame and stops the user from burning themselves. ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 69 leisure-kit.net LEISURE-KIT.NET Interactive solutions from AnimaLive AnimaLive’s technology spans a wide range of bespoke live anima- tion solutions, including creating a custom-made character. Installa- tion options include a ChatterBox Mini, an animated character that interacts live with an audience of Oakworks maxx out any size, said to be an ideal way to greet guests. Other concepts From Oakworks comes the Celesta leisure-kit.net keywords include a ChatterBox Party Room, Maxx, a fully electric spa treatment animalive allowing interaction between guests. table said to blend beauty and func- tionality. Offering fl at, upright, recline and zero-gravity positions, the table/ Deaf Alerter receives chair is ideal for use with roll-away IFI recognition pedi-spas, within multi-functional spa rooms and medi-spas. The Deaf Alerter® DA2000 System Key features include a maple has been selected as the fi rst prod- base, an electric three-section con- uct to be awarded Inclusive Fitness tour top, Aero-Cel™ padding with Initiative (IFI) Recognised Product UltraTouchII™ fabric, foot and hand Status. Designed to aid those with controls, a QuickLock(™ Face Rest hearing diffi culties in the swift and and removable side armrests. safe evacuation from buildings, the leisure-kit.net keyword product is to be listed under Fire oakworks Evacuation Safety Products within the IFI portfolio of products. leisure-kit.net keywords When the Alerter receives an deaf alerter Overboard’s emergency evacuation alert such Dry Tube bags as a building’s fi re alarm, the unit Additionally, during an emergency vibrates and displays the message. situation, the Alerter also emits a OverBoard The Alerter will also continue to vi- loud audible tone to help emergen- has unveiled a brate until the person is completely cy rescue staff to fi nd the person if blue version of outside the building. trapped in a room with low visibility. its 20 and 40- litre Dry Tube bags, suitable St. Tropez introduce for watersports, new Pro Spray System camping trips and outdoor fi t- St.Tropez has revealed its new ness activities. spray tanning booth as well as a Described as limited edition ‘dark mist’ treatment hard-wearing, the to coincide with the launch. bags are con- Called The Pro, the ergonomically structed from designed booth has a cocoon-like 600D PVC tarpaulin and thanks to silhouette. Featuring a patented the ‘Fold Seal System’, is said to be warm air fl ow, said to minimise 100 per cent waterproof. The bags overspray and maximise drying include a heavy-duty grab handle and time, The Pro also has low energy removable shoulder strap and are consumption. The booth is also fully also available in red and yellow. transportable and simple to build, leisure-kit.net keyword leisure-kit.net keywords while all moving and electrical parts overboard st.tropez are away from the main structure. 70 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 log on to www.leisure-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’ Decléor launches range of luxury suncare products Aromatherapy-orientated to boost skincells’ defences. luxury skincare brand Decléor The three-step pro- has unveiled a range of sun- gramme includes an care products. Aromessence™ Solaire Tan Technogym launches Called Aroma Sun Expert, Activator Serum and a Hy- green treadmill the new products contain drating Milk with SPF30. active plant ingredients There are also two pre- A new environmentally-friendly tread- said to draw their vital- and post-sun treatments mill, which designers claim reduces ity from the sun. Extracts that can be promoted to energy consumption by 40 per cent, used include Egyptian accompany the Aroma has been launched by Technogym. jasmine, Tahitian vanilla, Sun Expert range. The Run Now machine has been extract of rea (oceanic gin- certifi ed by TUV, which corroborates ger) as well as the essential leisure-kit.net keyword Technogym’s claims that the treadmill oil of Damask rose – all intended decléor offers the same or better performance as others in the same category, but consumes less energy. Run Now is the result of a year’s Get on your worth of research and has been eBike with launched as part of Technogym’s the Tailwind Excite+ line. Other new features in- clude an adjustable display stand – to Facilities that supply bikes for improve visibility and reduce dazzle guests’ use might consider invest- – and the ‘ready to run’ safety device, ing in Schwinn’s latest electric which uses a light system to tell users model: the Schwinn Tailwind, incor- when it’s safe to step on the belt. porating Toshiba’s Super Charge Technogym says that the machine ion Battery (SCiB). Thanks to the is part of a wider plan to develop SCiB power technology, the eBikes comes in four sizes for standard green products with a view to creat- can be recharged in 30 minutes frames and three sizes for step- ing a self-suffi cient gym, powered by through a standard electrical outlet. through frames. people doing physical exercise. Riders will typically be able to travel leisure-kit.net keyword leisure-kit.net keyword 25 to 30 miles per charge. The bike schwinn technogym Football club scores with events solution Clarity Commerce has supplied an events management software solu- tion to Middlesbrough FC’s special events team to help boost non-match day revenue at the club’s Riverside Stadium. The new event manager solution gives the club’s events team the opportunity to customise sta- tionery and documentation to each specifi c event without the help of the support desk. The software’s diary checklist option also ensures the ef- leisure-kit.net keyword clarity commerce fi cient and effective managements of sales with follow-up calls. ● ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 71 TO BOOK YOUR SPACE CALL THE SALES TEAM ON TEL: +44 (0)1462 431385 FAX: +44 (0)1462 433909 LEISURE DIRECTORY BE SEEN BY OVER 14,000 ACTIVE BUYERS in the most exciting full colour buyers guide in the leisure industry architects consultancy (continued) BOXALL SAYER Leisure Project Specialist leisure-kit.net Project Management www.strategicleisure.co.uk Quantity Surveying L Building Surveying Planning Supervision L Access Consultancy Making your vision The website, email and search ... Reality engine for leisure buyers Tel: 01243 861631 boxallsayer.co.uk WEST SUSSEX LONDON ST ALBANS LIVERPOOL av/sound products health & fitness Services include: Now over • Strategic Planning leisure • Feasibility Studies 5,000 leisure suppliers Contact us to discuss your • Greenspace/PPG17 sport listed on our needs and requirements: • Facility Strategies NEW improved t: 01925 855 550 • Procurement spa search f: 01925 858 769 • Funding Bids e: [email protected] • Interim Management Tel: 01945 476973 hospitality www.abaudiovisual.co.uk Email. [email protected] attractions ]]]N[SHKXZYRKOY[XKIUS :VKIOGROYZYOTYVUXZYGTJRKOY[XKRKJ theme parks VXUVKXZ_JK\KRUVSKTZ museums ■ 77. YVUXZOTMTKKJGYYKYYSKTZY ■ 7RGTTOTMGVVROIGZOUTY GVVKGRY ■ 7XUPKIZ\OGHOROZ_ LKGYOHOROZ_ ■ 6VZOUTGVVXGOYGRY SGYZKXVRGTTOTM ■ -[TJOTMHOJY ■ ,IUTUSOIOSVGIZ 6LÀIKYOT!3UTJUT5UXZN:U[ZN,GYZ:U[ZN:U[ZN>KYZ >GRKY K!SGXZOTZG_RUX'N[SHKXZYRKOY[XKIUSZ! consultancy design and build flooring LEISURE BUSINESS CONSULTANCY (since 1988) & Leisurexecutives Ltd. (senior interim placements) L Strategies L Facilities L Funding L Services Reviews L Catering SPORT ARTS HERITAGE COMMUNITY EDUCATION insurance Visit leisure-kit.net for the [email protected] 07976 259152 latest news about products www.rqa.com and services for the leisure industry and subscribe to the FREE fortnightly product report finance To advertise your product CONSULTANTS AND and reach over 20,000 INTERIM MANAGERS leisure buyers call now on L Management Options Appraisal +44 (0)1462 471908 or email L Procurement - facilities & services [email protected] L Projects - Feasibility to Completion L Performance review – NPDO specialists 01785 211616 subscribe online at [email protected] www.leisuresubs.com or call +44 (0)1462 431385 www.c3consultants.co.uk 72 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Visit the Leisure management directory online at www.leisuremanagement.co.uk lockers saunas spas sunbeds sports flooring The Nationwide Sports Hall floor refurbishment specialists Tel: (01684) 567504 Fax: (01684) 563101 Email: [email protected] www.peterdorrell.co.uk ski slopes & ice rinks Book your Units 2 & 3, Torbay Business Park Woodview Road, Paignton TQ4 7HP advert on our Tel: 01803 555885 Fax: 01803 556767 website and be lighting personal badges seen by over 14,000 buyers every month. No.1 for personalised badges soft play L range of designs and finishes L competitive prices across orders of all sizes L ‘call off’ system means we personalise badges as and when membership and you need them - no wasted stock bookings solutions For more information call 020 8614 8880 or email: [email protected] www.biggroup.com Call the Sales Team Today AUSTEN-LEWIS LTD to Discuss Your Booking play inflatables Market leaders in the hire of big tops, tiered seating and associated products. 01462 431385 Chelworth Park, Cricklade, Swindon, Wilts SN6 6HE Tel: (01793) 750599 Fax: (01793) 752072 www.leisuremanagement.co.uk uniforms and corporate workwear Member Satisfaction Surveys Online Member Satisfaction Employee Climate Surveys www.sasta.ie Design, Development & Analysis play equipment Phone: + 353 1 6102221 E-mail: [email protected] PLAY SOLUTIONS FOR MAJOR ATTRACTIONS To book your % "! $ % $ advert CALL % # !" To subscribe to Leisure Management log on to www.leisuresubs.com email: [email protected] tel +44 1462 471913 John +44 (0)1582 607970 % $ !! ! fax +44 1462 433909. Annual subscription rates are UK £38, Europe £49 rest of world £69, students UK £19 % Leisure Management is published four times a year by The Leisure Media Company Limited, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Jan +44 (0)1462 471909 Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK and is distributed in the USA by SPP, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Julie +44 (0)1462 471919 Western Log Group Periodicals postage paid @ Manchester, PA POSTMASTER. Send US address changes to Leisure Management, Forest Products Centre, c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437 USA Nadeem +44 (0)1462 471902 Cwmafan, Port Talbot, SA12 9AB The views expressed in print are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher The Leisure Media Tel: 01639 896715 Company Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted Tessa +44 (0)1462 471903 in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded or otherwise without the prior permission of the www.westernloggroup.com copyright holder. Printed by The Manson Group Printers. © The Leisure Media Company Ltd 2010 ISSN 0266/9102 ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 73 ODD JOB Converting coffee drinkers and ensuring the tea is served at the precise correct temperature is just part of Catriona Grant’s job as head tea sommelier at the Turnberry. She tells us more Tea sommelier What does your job involve? I am the head tea sommelier at the Turnberry Hotel on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. I’m also the manager of the tea Catriona Grant lounge and I make all the decisions about heads up a team of which teas we have in the hotel and run four tea sommeliers training for our four tea sommeliers. Our job is to fi nd out a bit about what type of tea a guest would normally drink The Turnberry Resort tasting the leaves when dry and once and help advise them what tea will work A £30m refurbishment of the they had reacted with the water. We best with what they are eating. Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire was all had to shout out different words to We usually try to encourage guests to completed in July 2009. describe what we were getting from try something a bit different – we have Architects 3DReid and design- the teas. Then we wrote down how the 30 teas, and these are changed regularly. ers Fox Linton Associates were taste changed and how the tea felt in our We also ensure that they are served cor- responsible for the refurbish- mouths. For example, Assam can be very rectly, as different teas need to be served ment, which aimed to restore the dry in your mouth, whereas Darjeeling is at different temperatures. hotel to its original glory. The great for quenching your thirst. Turnberry opened in 1906 and Why did the Turnberry decide was originally designed by archi- Afternoon tea is currently to introduce tea sommeliers? tect James Miller. quite fashionable. Why The hotel underwent a major refurbish- Following the refurbishment, do you think this is? ment in 2009. Part of the aim of the the Grand Tea Lounge is now I’ve seen a huge rise in the popular- refurbishment was to return this his- a member of the Tea Guild, an ity of afternoon tea. I think people like it toric hotel to the way it was when it was organisation that requires affi l- because it’s a real occasion and it’s not originally built. When the Turnberry fi rst iates to brew and serve tea in rushed, so they can sit and relax. People opened in 1906 the Grand Tea Lounge accordance with the United don’t always want to go out at night, and was at the heart of the hotel. Guests Kingdom Tea Council. children can enjoy it too. People also would step off the train from London, and love the ceremony of it all, the way the would sit and enjoy afternoon tea while tea is brewed in traditional samovars and their servants were preparing their rooms. brought out on tea trolleys, the cake stand and the beautiful tea We wanted to restore the original tea lounge and introduce a boxes. Our American guests particularly love this aspect of it. really special afternoon tea experience. The Grand Tea Lounge is very relaxed with a huge fi replace and comfy seats looking What makes your afternoon tea different? out onto the spectacular views of the Irish Sea and the Isle of We offer two alternative afternoon teas here – the traditional Arran, and we have a live pianist to enhance the experience. Turnberry tea, with scones, sandwiches and pastries – and a speciality afternoon tea, which we change every month or so. How do you choose which teas to stock at the hotel? We had a healthy, revitalising tea in January, with strawberry It involves a lot of tea smelling and tasting and meeting with soup and prawn wraps, and we offered a Burns afternoon tea suppliers. When selecting tea, it’s important to taste it at differ- for Burns Night with locally produced Scottish food including ent times because our taste buds change throughout the course Arran cheddar, Scotch eggs and Scottish smoked salmon. of the day. Also teas have different effects – a tea that is right for The Turnberry has developed a really good reputation for its the morning might be too stimulating for the evening. afternoon tea and we are now a Grade A member of the Tea Guild. We recently had two guests who fl ew up from London What training did you undergo? specifi cally for our afternoon tea. I was lucky enough to go on a course run by [renowned tea specialist and author of several books on tea] Jane Pettigrew. What's your favourite part of the job? I learned about the different types of tea, how to taste the tea It’s satisfying when you encourage people to be more adventur- effectively and what you should be looking for. ous and send them away realising there’s more to tea than PG We studied the colour and scent of each tea, smelling and Tips. Converting a coffee drinker is the ultimate achievement. ● 74 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 NEWS Diary Dates 14-16 APR 2010 conclude with an assessment of the real 07-10 MAY 2010 opportunities for visitor attractions dur- International Congress ing the 2012 Olympics. 10th Annual International on Club Management Contact Michael Emmerson Conference on Sports Villaitana Golf Resort and Spa, Spain Tel +44 (0)1462 471932 Location TBA This congress will feature educational Fax +44 (0)1462 433909 This conference will cover the economic, presentations, forum discussions, Email [email protected] management, marketing and social keynote speeches from club indus- Web www.leisurepropertyforum.org aspects of sport. Areas covered dur- try leaders and social and networking ing the event will include the impact of opportunities to meet with fellow club 20-22 APR 2010 the 2012 Olympic Games, professional managers from all over Europe. sports, sports tourism, sports psychol- The Club Managers Association of Sustainabilitylive! ogy, sport technology, violence in sport Europe’s Annual General Meeting of NEC, Birmingham, UK and computer applications members will be held on 14 April, and Trade show for the water, environment, Contact Gregory T. Papanikos there will be an optional golf competi- energy, land and sustainable busi- Tel + 30 210 36.34.210 tion for delegates and spouses after the ness sectors. Taking place at the NEC Fax + 30 210 36.34.209 congress has fi nished. Birmingham, Sustainabilitylive! brings Email [email protected] Contact Jerry Kilby CCM together experts in the fi eld and deci- Web www.atiner.gr Tel +44 (0)1428 606466 sion makers across a range of industries, Fax +44 (0)1428 606466 from large multinationals to SMEs and 12-13 MAY 2010 Email [email protected] the public sector, all shaping the UK Web www.cmaeurope.org business approach to move to the low Museums and Heritage Show carbon economy of the future. Earl’s Court, London, UK 20 APR 2010 Highlights include a political debate The Museums and Heritage Show is with all three major parties giving the UK’s leading trade exhibition for the Parks for Youth their perspective on what happened in world of museums, galleries and cultural Watershed Media Centre, Bristol, UK Copenhagen, and what is to follow, with and heritage visitor attractions. The Parks for Youth is a one-day confer- Colin Challen MP (Labour), Lorely Burt show features an extensive programme ence focusing on successfully engaging MP (LibDem) and the Right Honourable of free seminars and expert advice, young people in parks and green John Gummer MP (Conservative). as well as help and support from key spaces. The conference will cover a Tel + 44 (0)20 8651 7100 industry bodies. range of different topics, including how Fax + 44 (0)20 8651 7117 Tel +44 (0)1905 724734 to consult with young people, methods Fax +44 (0)1905 724744 of establishing strong and effective part- 22 APR 2010 nerships with other organisations that 13 MAY 2010 provide youth services, and how to ena- ISRM Cymru Wales CPD ble young people to feel proud and take Seminar & AGM Building Schools for the Future ownership of their local environment. Machynys Peninsular Golf Burntwood Leisure Contact Caroline Carsey Club, Llanelli, Wales Centre, Lichfi eld, UK Tel +44 (0)1189 469068 ISRM–CYMRU WALES is open to all. During this seminar, Partnership for Fax +44 (0)1189 469061 This spring training seminar will feature Schools (PfS), the organisation estab- Email [email protected] some of the leading leisure managers lished to deliver Building Schools for the Web www.green-space.org.uk in Wales. The seminar, coffee on arrival Future (BSF), will outline the process of and a buffet lunch is free of charge to all engagement upon formal entry into BSF. 20 APR 2010 ISRM members and students. Guests Contact Leigh Griffi ths are very welcome to attend for the nomi- Tel 0118 929 8355 LPF Seminar – nal fee of £10 per person. Email leigh.griffi [email protected] The London Eye and Merlin Contact Kevin Harding Web www.ispalevents.org.uk London Aquarium, London, UK Tel 01874 623330 An early evening seminar which Email [email protected] 20 MAY 2010 includes a tour of the London Aquarium, Web www.isrm.co.uk a 4D show of the London Eye and a TMI Hot Topic 2010 fl ight on the London Eye with wine and 04 MAY 2010 The Roundhouse, London, UK canapes. The seminar itself will cover TMI Hot Topic 2010: from Strategy to the history of the London Eye and an LPF Annual Members Dinner Successful Delivery. This event is the analysis of its fi nancials, its performance One Lombard Street, London, UK fi rst national opportunity for those and the related property issues of the Annual meeting for LPF members and involved in destination management to attraction. There will be a review of the their guests, limited to just 150 spaces. hear about the plans emerging from the London market – what’s working and This event is now fully booked. new England Tourism strategy. what’s not – and a look at how Merlin is Contact Michael Emmerson Contact Rob Uphill keeping Tussauds, The London Dungeon Tel 01462 471932 Tel 01454 262 242 and its other attractions relevant for Email [email protected] Email [email protected] tomorrow’s visitors. The seminar will Web www.leisurepropertyforum.org Web www.tmi-hottopic.co.uk ISSUE 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 75 DANCE MAT SYSTEM ❘ VIRTUAL DANCE INSTRUCTOR ❘ INTERACTIVE GAMING NOW THENOW UK’S NUMBER 1 DANCE MAT SYSTEMSYSTEM www.Cyber-Coach.co.uk ❘ [email protected] ❘ Tel: 0845 869 2848