LGH Hotels Management, formerly known as LHM UK, has announced a multi-million pound refurbishment plan across its portfolio of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels throughout the UK.
The revamps will be starting with the Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4, Jct 4, the Holiday Inn Brentwood and the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes – Central.
Now under new ownership, LGH will invest heavily to reinvent the guest experience from the very first moment of entry, with a brand new open lobby concept. This will transform the typical work, social and living space, as well as introducing a new contemporary food and drink offering.
The new open lobby concept, which will be rolled out across the entire LGH Hotels Management Ltd portfolio, will revolutionise how guests eat, drink, work, meet, relax and socialise by providing one cohesive space to fit their individual lifestyles. The open lobby will merge the traditionally separate zones of a reception, lounge, bar and restaurant to create one relaxed and multi-faceted area with no barriers, so that guests can blend work and leisure instinctively.
Starting with the Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4, Jct 4, the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes - Central and the Holiday Inn Brentwood, for which works are already underway, the hotels will adapt to meet the demands of the modern and forward-thinking guest, by providing a fully functioning and flexible space to work, meet, socialise, eat or drink at any time of day.
This will include free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and a ground floor accessible To Go Café for quick and wholesome take-away bites, available 24 hours a day, for those very early morning starts or late midnight snacks.
The new open lobby will include a media lounge, replacing the traditional bar area, for guests to make themselves at home during their stay. Designed like a laid-back living room, guests will find comfy seating, games, TV and magazines to enjoy at their leisure.
For those who need to prep for a meeting, work remotely or make a long-distance Skype call, the new E-Bar will offer a great space to plug in and get connected with lots of power points and a wireless printer.
The new open lobby dining area will also be a flexible and informal space with a range of high and low tables and booths to suit everyone, be it a working lunch or relaxed group meal.
Omar Nicholls, Development Director, has been tasked to oversee and execute the refurbishment plans for each hotel and has worked closely with external design agency Design Coalition to achieve the new Holiday Inn open lobby concept.
Nicholls explained, “Our main goal with the new open lobby design is to create a space in each property that feels familiar, like an extension of home, and has a logical flow so guests can truly relax and utilise each corner in a way that makes sense to them and accommodates all of their work and relaxation needs.”
Simon Teasdale, Managing Director, commented: “We are incredibly excited to be upgrading our hotels, not only will these refurbishment plans revolutionise the Holiday Inn guest experience but will set a new standard in the mid-scale hospitality industry for accommodating the business and social lives of todays guests, whose work/life balance and schedules are evermore intertwined and not limited to a set routine or timetable.
'This is an incredibly important step in our business development and economic growth for 2018 and beyond, not only to improve and expand our services but to open the door to brand new guests.”
The open lobby concept is unique to the Holiday Inn brand and will be extended to properties across Europe to become a brand-defining feature. Refurbishment plans are already underway for the Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4, Jct.4, the Holiday Inn Brentwood and the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes – Central, to be completed and unveiled towards the end of 2018.