Café Rouge group sold to Legal & General Ventures 19 Jan 2005 Tragus Holdings, the restaurant group which operates the mid-market Bella Italia and Café Rouge restaurant brands, has been acquired by Legal & General Ventures (L&GV) in a deal estimated to be worth around £95m.
Champneys enters India 19 Jan 2005 UK-based Spa operator Champneys has expanded to the subcontinent with the opening of its first spa in India – at the Grand Resort Hotel in Goa.
Prem Group announces 350m euro expansion 19 Jan 2005 Hotel chain the Prem Group plans to open 18 new hotels in Ireland and 50 in the UK as part of a 350m euro investment programme which will take place over the next five years.
Workers bare all for railway charity 19 Jan 2005 Marston Hotels’ Crewe Hall property, in Cheshire, was the host venue for a nude calendar shoot featuring 21 female rail industry workers.
Jowell says Olympic bid needs sprint finish 18 Jan 2005 English culture secretary Tessa Jowell said yesterday that London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was good enough to win but that the contest will “go down to the wire”.
World’s largest indoor rainforest opens in Germany 10 Jan 2005 The world’s largest indoor rainforest, called Tropical Island, opened its doors inside a giant zeppelin hangar in Brandenburg, near the German capital Berlin, on 18 December.
PATA launches recovery fund for tourism employees 10 Jan 2005 The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a Tsunami Recovery Fund which will be dedicated to a recovery programme for the benefit of tourism employees in Asia Pacific resort destinations affected by the disaster.
Scottish Executive plans visitor travel research 05 Jan 2005 The Scottish Executive has awarded a research contract to the University of Strathclyde to investigate the travel behaviour of visitors to Scotland.
Wren’s brand lands in Croatia 05 Jan 2005 GS Hotels & Resorts is to roll out its Wren’s health and spa brand in Croatia this year following its successful launch in the summer 2004.
World Class Clubs celebrates EFFIE award 05 Jan 2005 Russian health and fitness chain, World Class Clubs, has become one of the first health club companies in the world to receive the prestigious EFFIE award.
Health club hits the slopes at Austrian ski resort 05 Jan 2005 A 3.3m euro (£2.3m, $4.4m) health club and spa has opened at the five-star Alberg Hospiz at St Christoph – the renowned ski resort in Alberg, Austria’s premier skiing area bordering the Vorarlberg and Tyrol regions.
Tsunami ‘rolls over’ Maldives 05 Jan 2005 The Maldives escaped some of the destruction caused by the recent Indian Ocean tsunami thanks partly to its geography. Its low-lying profile ensured that the massive waves largely ‘rolled over’ the small islands – rather than hitting them with forces experienced in neighbouring Sri Lanka.
Thai resorts hit by tsunami 04 Jan 2005 Resorts and hotels in Thailand's Khao Lak, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket regions were among the worst hit by the Boxing Day tidal waves.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day (GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation experiences.
Crunch Fitness has announced the launch of Crunch Reform Pilates – its own reformer concept designed to bring this fast growing, but rather expensive, modality into the mainstream.
The 20th State of the Industry Report from LeisureDB has revealed a resilient, expanding and competitive sector, the importance of differentiation and the ongoing challenge of tackling inequalities.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-focused care at scale.
Purpose Brands has announced its entry into the Italian market, having sold the franchise rights for four Orangetheory Fitness studios to Icon Palestre.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and 2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given equal access to treatments to prevent discrimination
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Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los Cabos.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Nuffield Health has told HCM that it takes its responsibilities towards its colleagues seriously and is committed to meeting all legal obligations after news of a tribunal has made national headlines.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Technogym has announced the launch of the Run X World Treadmill Championship, the first world championship for running on connected treadmills over five kilometres.
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has unveiled its design for Eve Music Hall in Čepin, eastern Croatia, as construction progresses towards completion ahead of the opening, which is scheduled for March 2027.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius. It's the company’s second Lithuanian site, following a hospital in Trakai, but the first to offer professional medical care in a spa resort environment.
Australia’s fast-growing fitness network, Viva Leisure, is adding a low-cost gym brand to its already extensive portfolio. The Zoo Fit rollout starts in July with two launches.
