Hotel and restaurant news

Tomorrow’s colloquium hosted by the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH), within the Faculty of Management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), will highlight the invaluable role that tourism and mega-events can play in destination growth and development. The 2011 STH Colloquium, with the theme “Building leaders and managers for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry”, scheduled for 14 September 2011 at the UJ’s Auckland Park Bunting ...

Tallying the final figure for raised funds for the Bidvest World Chefs Tour held last week revealed that R8-million had been raised by 250 international chefs to help feed hungry children. This will amount to 821 250 meals over five years for needy children. The Tour, which began on 20 August and ended in with a gala dinner in Johannesburg last week, saw chefs from as ...

Lamb's Conduit Street, BloomsburyA partially pedestrianised street in bookish Bloomsbury, this is as civilised as shopping gets in the capital: it's not unusual for shop owners to dispense a free glass of wine to customers. First stop has to be Darkroom (52 Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1, 020-7831 7244, darkroomlondon.com), a geometric palace full of exquisite modern craft: handmade accessories for men, women and home, lovingly ...

10 Greek Street, Soho Getting a table at the legion of hip "no booking" places that have opened in recent years in Soho – the five restaurants in the Polpo stable, among others – can often mean queuing for an hour. Not so, for now at least, at 10 Greek Street, the place to go for polenta with girolles and burrata (?13), or vine leaf wrapped ...

Aside from work, my London life revolves around food and fitness. Or trying to work fitness in to make up for enjoying the indulgent lifestyle this great city offers. On my perfect day, I'd wake up well-rested and without a hangover. I'd try and pre-empt the hedonistic strike ahead by going for a run. Starting at Victoria Park, I head down Regent's Canal, passing the ever-excellent Palm ...

Air travel can be a stressful and sometimes dangerous experience for pets, especially if they travel in the excess baggage or cargo holds. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which governs air travel for pets along with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), estimates that half a million dogs and cats travel on commercial airlines in the United States each year. Of those, a reported ...

In which country would one find the world's most famous bike race? Now there's an easy point in the pub quiz. But, of course, there's a catch. The Tour de France has often strayed over the borders of La Republique and even, on three occasions, made it into Britain, although always in the south of England. But now, at last, there is a bid to ...

Visit the easternmost city in the United States -- Eastport, Maine. Where: Eastport, about 240 miles from Portland, Maine, is America's easternmost city. It's scattered across several islands, most of which can only be reached by ferry. The downtown area, on Moose Island, is connected to the mainland by a tidal-dam causeway. Why: Still undiscovered by the sunburnt crowds that jam Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor ...

Emirates reinforced its commitment to support the growing trade and tourism relationship between Dubai and South Africa by landing its first scheduled A380 service at O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Saturday. The 489-seat superjumbo was welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute as South Africa became the 16th destination in Emirates’ global network to be served by the environmentally advanced aircraft. Emirates is proud ...

In this issue: Hong Kong, San Juan, Malibu, South Beach, Shanghai, and Buenos Aires... In this issue: Hong Kong, San Juan, Miami, LA, Buenos Aires, and Shanghai Eat: A Hong Kong trifecta After five years of additions and renovations, the InterContinental Hong Kong is finally ready for business. Among the many fine new features of the place are three world-class restaurants: Spoon, serving contemporary French cuisine (try the ...

The joint travel and tourism industry conference, which was scheduled to take place from 23 to 25 October 2011, has been postponed to next year. The conference will be hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) in collaboration with five of its member associations: Association of South African Travel Agents (ASATA), Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa), National Accommodation Association of South ...

London is arguably the most diverse metropolis in the world, with more than 300 languages spoken and over 30% of the population born outside of the UK. A world in one city. Travelling across it, via its neighbourhoods and communities, is exciting, eye-opening, surprising, sometimes frustrating, but never staid or boring. It does pomp and ceremony like no other - as the world will see this ...

Sandton City shopping centre in Johannesburg has been undergoing massive refurbishment and expansion for some time now. Its new expansion is set to launch on 10 November. Added to the already comprehensive shopping options will be a number of leading international retail brands. The super-regional shopping centre’s landmark expansion and refurbishment project involves interior refurbishments and 30 000sqm of newly built retail space. “Sandton City is one of ...

In terms of why people visit York – history, atmosphere, romantic seclusion – Grays Court could be the city's quintessential bolthole. You will find it down a narrow cobbled street, in the shadow of the Minster, its entrance – a heavy, seemingly ancient wooden door – recessed on a quiet courtyard. The whole thing is a rare portal into that York beyond hog roasts, ghost ...

45 minutes west of Marseilles lies this undiscovered gem of rustic charm... Where: Beaucaire, in the heart of Van Gogh country, mid-way between St. Remy de Provence and Nimes. Why: For hundreds of years this pretty little pleasure port, at the intersection of the Rhone and the Canal du Rhone a Sete, hosted the richest commercial fair in Europe. Fabulous 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century town mansions crowd ...

TheatreYou Me Bum Bum Train, Empire House, E15, to 19 Sep, bumbumtrain.co.uk Not for the faint-hearted, but if you choose to take part in this "physically challenging interactive experience" you'll be left dazed and confused by this singular spectacle. The London Open, Whitechapel Gallery, E1, to 14 Sep, whitechapelgallery.org This busy snapshot of the city's art scene features 35 up and comers, including feted sculptor Alice ...

The second, and largest phase, of the Protea Hotel Vineyards Estate in Cape Town’s northern suburbs is set to open on 1 October. This phase comprises 64 apartments; 32 one-bedroom units and 32 two bedroom units and brings the total number of rooms to 125 in 93 units. The new hotel in Tyger Valley, surrounded by the vineyards of the D’Aria Wine Estate, first opened its doors ...

The finalists in the 2011 FASA Awards for Excellence in Franchising, presented by the Franchise Association of South Africa, have been released ahead of the awards taking place on Saturday 15 October at Montecasino in Johannesburg. Finalists this year are: Vera Valasis, FASA’s executive director, applauds those franchisors and franchisees who entered the awards despite the tough economic conditions. “It is natural, that in good times, franchisors ...

Porthmeor Beach Cafe, St IvesIf indeed the much-bandied-about concept of "cool Cornwall" exists, the Porthmeor is a good place to come looking for it. This beachside terrace in front of Tate St Ives offers a kind of casual eating that fills the gap between the seriously priced offerings of Fifteen, Porthminster Beach Cafe et al, and the cheap but not always terribly cheerful fish 'n' ...

Priceless London Wonderground, South Bank Among the cabaret, circus shows, collection of preserved freak animals and other Coney Island-style attractions at the South Bank's Priceless London Wonderground is a terrifyingly high-spinning swing ride, the Star Flyer, the tallest travelling ride in the country at 60 metres, offering amazing views (tickets ?7, minimum height 1.2 metres). Or see children's shows such as Handa's Surprise, a theatre production ...

The winners of the 2011 World Luxury Hotel Awards were announced on Friday, 16 September at a gala dinner at the Regent Esplanade Zagreb Hotel in Croatia. Hotels are recognised for their commitment to the highest standards of quality service and the awards, founded in 2006, congratulate hotels that had taken extra steps to provide guests with outstanding experiences. Marinique Truter, manager of the World Luxury Hotel ...

Editor Andrew Moth says in his Viewpoint of then called Hotelier & Caterer: “Trade unionism, with all its irritations for people who want to run a business and make a living, is a fact in the hospitality industry. It will not be long before every single hotelier in the country finds that he has to devote part of every day to it. The paperwork will ...

Picture yourself sailing all summer aboard a $10 million yacht with one of Italy's wealthiest couples. Money is no object, and the itinerary takes in the poshest ports along the Côte d'Azur, the Italian Riviera, and Capri. There's no one on the boat but you, the tycoons, a small crew, and a brave chef who has agreed to the owner's conditions, namely that he prepare ...

Africa Albida Tourism has recorded its best July in nine years at its flagship establishment Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, with the property as well as The Boma – Place of Eating recording increased bookings. Ross Kennedy, chief executive, says, “At Victoria Falls Safari Lodge we’ve had the best July occupancy in nine years at a 70% increase, and at the Boma Place of Eating, only July ...