Hotel News & Gossip

[SteveH]

A HOTEL in the Conwy Valley which has been providing emergency accommodation to asylum seekers will reopen to guests next month.

Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia posted on Facebook on January 11: "The time has finally come? we?re excited to get started on a new chapter in our Snowdonia story.

"The Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia will welcome guests back from the 6th February 2023. On the same day, Wave Garden Spa] will reopen the doors to its sanctuary of wellbeing.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23243809.dolgarrog-hilton-hotel-housing-asylum-seekers-re-open-guests/

[Hugo]

What's happening to the illegal migrants that are there now?         Would you really want to pay and stay at that place while the illegals are still there?
Perhaps they should open their doors to Conwy's homeless instead

[Meleri]

There is talk in the Media at the moment to house them on Luxury Cruise ships, Hugo 

[Dave]

There is talk in the Media at the moment to house them on Luxury Cruise ships, Hugo 

Perhaps a sneaky way of sailing back to France!

[mull]

I think you will find they are already doing this : -

Cruise ship " Ambition " moored in KGV Dock ,Glasgow since last August .

[norman08]

Hugo. Robin Millar has put up on his page about the Hilton opening up to guests again as soon as people put a comment up on their site it?s taken down,   He was asked what his mate David Jones thinks about the hotel on his patch signing a 5 year deal with this gov,,,,,, won?t answer that.

[Helig]

I hear from people all over the country who report their local hotels are being used for housing illegal immigrants. I know of towns with empty offices, large blocks of office accommodation in some cases, which are in use as housing for illegal immigrants. The latest plan (or false information publicity stunt) is to move them from hotels to holiday parks and student digs. Where will the holidaymakers and students go?

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1719060/cabinet-minister-chris-heaton-harris-illegal-channel-migrant-hotel-village-double-update

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rishi-sunak-has-said-asylum-seekers-will-be-put-up-in-former-holiday-parks_uk_6398933ce4b09e0de496c4f9

I suggest they legislate to house them in the homes and properties owned by Tory MPs and members of the House of Lords. Most of them own numerous properties and they can be paid a peppercorn rent for them. Having said for years that they will do something to fix the hordes crossing the channel without success, I conclude they have no intention of stopping this invasion. So perhaps if we fix the Tories something might be done. The Tory millionaires and billionaires could be made to pay for the costs of accommodation for illegal immigrants as well. They can afford it after all.

[Hugo]

It seems to be that current legislation favours illegal migrants over homeless people in the UK and the situation is getting worse. 
The numbers coming over here will reduce because of the Winter storms but the Government should have plans in force before the invasion of Migrants in the Spring/ Summer.
There is a backlog on processing these migrants that are already in the UK and the Government should employ sufficient staff to reduce the backlog but stop any more from coming here.
If any migrants arrive here in the Spring then they should immediately be returned back to where they have come from, that would be a deterrent in itself.
Before anyone says you can't do that, well in 1991  15,000 illegal Albanian migrants arrived in Bari in eastern Italy.   They were rounded up, put in a football arena and then escorted back to the ships and sent back to Albania.     As far as I am aware there was no repercussions for Italy so why doesn't the UK do the same?

[SteveH]

Hospitality businesses in Wales offer perks to lure staff

Discounted accommodation and shorter working weeks are some of the perks being offered to hospitality staff as it faces a recruitment crisis.

Unsociable hours and low pay have been cited as reasons behind an exodus of staff after the Covid pandemic.

And insiders say staff retention could be the difference between staying open and shutting up shop in 2023.

The Welsh government said it had announced ?460m in non-domestic rates support for struggling businesses.

Figures from industry body UK Hospitality say the sector employed 140,000 people and contributed about ?3.6bn a year to the Welsh economy pre-pandemic, but it is believed these figures have since shrunk.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64263003

[SteveH]

An historic mansion hotel that has been shut for over three years will reopen this spring according to an announcement on social media. Caer Rhun Hall hotel in the Conwy Valley was bought by Gavin Woodhouse?s company, Northern Powerhouse Developments (NPD), in 2015 for ?1m.

But issues were raised over the finances of the NPD chain and the high court appointed Philip Francis Duffy and Sarah Helen Bell, of Duff & Phelps Ltd, as administrators of the hotel in August 2019. Three NPD hotels in Llandudno - Belmont, Llandudno Bay, and Queens - were also placed in administration.

The Conwy Valley site closed in January 2020 and went up sale for ?1.95m. As with NPD?s other hotels there were issues with leases attached to the property from the investment model created by the company.

However the site sold for ?760,000 towards the end of 2021 - although details were not released at the time on the new buyer. Now the hotel's Instagram account has announced the site will reopen.

They wrote: "Caer Rhun will be welcoming guests back again this Spring! We?re currently adding the finishing touches and quirkiness to this eclectic Manor House. Every detail forms part of the narrative of the interior and guarantees surprises and a touch of adventure in the heart of Snowdonia."

North Wales Live has found the new owners on Land Registry documents. They are Tokyo Industries (Snowdonia) Limited.

The company is run by Aaron Mellor, who started Toyko Industries in 1997. The firm says it operates 47 bars, clubs, venues in the UK and seven International sites in Dubai, Palm Springs, LA, Croatia and Ibiza.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/historic-caer-rhun-hall-hotel-26023337?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Llandudno guest house up for sale after revamp
The luxury holiday let is part of Comfy-Stays and is on the market with Christie and Co

A recently converted guest house in Llandudno has gone up for sale. The Comfy-Stays site on Deganwy Avenue is a 19th century four storey terraced property.

It has eight bedrooms and has with space for a maximum of 17 guests. The holiday property is on the market with Christie and Co for ?550,000.

The site is close to the centre of Llandudno, which has performed well since the pandemic on the back of a boom in UK staycations.

A spokesperson for Christie and Co said: "The property has been extensively refurbished and now provides good quality accommodation throughout. If more letting rooms are required, the two snug rooms can be easily converted in to an extra two single bedrooms.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-guest-house-up-sale-26014521

[SteveH]

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, a new law that will benefit millions of workers to keep their tips and gratuities, was first introduced by Watford MP Dean Russell and sponsored by Ynys M?n MP Virginia Crosbie.

It was voted through the House of Commons on Friday, January 20. This means it is now a step closer to becoming law.

The overhaul of tipping practices will ensure millions of UK workers will be able to take home more of their hard-earned cash by preventing employers from withholding tips from their staff.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23268816.new-tips-bill-sponsored-anglesey-mp-reaches-major-milestone/

[SteveH]

A Llandudno hotel with near perfect reviews has been put up for sale. Bryn Y Mor is a Grade II Listed Victorian property that sits on North Parade - with stunning views across the bay.

The hotel comes with brilliant reviews on TripAdvisor. Out of around 350 guest reviews on the site it has 315 that rate it as excellent - with another 31 ranking it as very good.

It is on the market with commercial agent Christie and Co. They say there is potential to increase turnover at the site.

The agent said: "The hotel currently operates a bed and breakfast service for 11 rooms with a stunning owners apartment on the top floor. The hotel is in excellent condition with our clients having taken advantage of lockdown to redecorate, and update the boiler system, presenting a good overall impression.

"The hotel presents an ideal business opportunity for a new owner operator, with the accommodation allowing for the business to be suited to a young family. Alternatively, there is an opportunity increase the number of letting rooms by converting the top floor apartment, and utilising the downstairs rooms into owner's accommodation.

"There is room to increase upon the current turnover by expanding on the marketing, pushing the website, operating the bar, and taking full advantage of the patio, as well as introducing lunch and dinner menus."

Pre-Covid the net turnover was consistently over ?150,000. The site is on the market for ?745,000.    ref DP

[SteveH]

LLANDUDNO'S HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION ZONES AND HMOS
Conwy County Borough Council are reviewing their county wide planning strategy, and part of this review includes their policies around Houses of Multiple Occupation and Llandudno's Holiday Accommodation Zone.

Houses of Multiple Occupation are usually flats with shared bathrooms and kitchens similar to much privately rented student accommodation. At the moment the council restricts the development of new HMOs in an effort to drive up the standard of privately rented accommodation and resists the conversion of hotels and guesthouses in parts of Llandudno into flats to ensure that the town retains a thriving hospitality trade.

We were very surprised to find out that the council's leadership plan to relax their planning rules, allowing more properties in Llandudno to be converted into HMOs. This potentially includes hotels and guesthouses, which risks a knock-on effect on the jobs and businesses supported by the local hospitality trade.

The council leadership's plans at a recent council meeting, and were delighted when the committee agreed not to support these new plans.

I only wish CCBC had a better track record of learning by their mistakes...........

Conwy Council bedsit ban to be lifted in bid to solve 'homelessness crisis'
The rules around flats of 'multiple occupancy' will be eased as cabinet member accepted there was 'nervousness' around their impact on seaside towns

The council ban was initially introduced to regenerate seaside towns such as Colwyn Bay    after years of socio-economic problems linked to absent landlords, squalid conditions and crime. But cabinet member for housing Cllr Emily Owen proposed a lifting of the ban as a solution to its housing crisis, presenting a 100-page report by independent consultants ata meeting in Bodlondeb this week.

"I really do appreciate the previous desire to have as few HMOs as possible. I would like to acknowledge the wider changing circumstances relating to planning legislation, the increase in unaffordable housing, and the role HMOs have as part of a balanced housing solution. As with everything, things change all the time, and we need to be brave enough to adapt.

"I appreciate there is a lot of nervousness regarding HMOs as they have proven to be difficult to manage in the past, but as with everything, times change, and the need for that lower market rent in Conwy is huge. We have a very large number of people in affordable housing need. HMOs would help meet this need in some circumstances."

The same report was rejected by the economy and place scrutiny committee before Christmas. Cllr Owen said she understood the concerns of having "streets full" of HMOs but said rules introduced as part of the plans would prevent such an over-concentration.

As part of the plans, limits will be put on how close HMOs can be in terms of their radius from one another. Two HMOs also won?t be allowed to ?sandwich? another residential property.

Cllr Owen said the policy change would instead give Conwy more control, rather than losing appeals made by developers to the planning inspectorate. Cllr Owen added, ?It is absolutely not reverting back to how things were.?

She said all large HMOs would need to have a management plan, including an upper limit of residents.

full story https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/conwy-council-bedsit-ban-lifted-25947298

Conwy County Borough Council have agreed to a Call in of the Cabinet Committees decision to plan to relax the rules around HMOs in Llandudno. 

minute no 534 2022/2023 cabinet  PDF available in next few weeks?

[SteveH]

A DECISION to ease a blanket ban on bedsits in Conwy could be reversed after a group of councillors called it in.

Last month, Conwy?s cabinet backed a study that proposed allowing developers to again submit plans for bedsits in the county.

Previously Conwy had imposed a blanket ban on all bedsit planning applications, to stop large homes in towns such as Colwyn Bay from being broken up into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).

HMOs are houses in which residents with no connection share toilet and kitchen facilities. 

An influx of HMO accommodation in some towns was thought to be responsible for bringing a range of socio-economic problems.

Consequently, Conwy introduced a blanket ban on HMO applications, a ban that the cabinet wanted to relax after the planning inspectorate overturned several planning applications rejected by Conwy.

But cabinet members admitted Conwy was struggling with, what is now, a ?21m funding gap in the next year, coupled with a homelessness and housing crisis, and councillors said lifting the ban and introducing strict guidelines would give the council more control. 

The cabinet then backed the 100-page study in January, despite Conwy?s economy and place scrutiny committee rejecting the report before Christmas. 

Now a group of worried councillors have called the decision in. 
The councillors who called in the decision in the letter, dated January 18, are councillors Harry Saville, Louise Emery, Samantha Cotton, Frank Bradfield, Anthony Bertola, and Thomas Montgomery. 

The decision is set to be re-debated at the scrutiny committee on February 15.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23293486.decision-ease-bedsit-ban-conwy-reversed/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589