Black Book’s Hotel Host Programme to put London’s luxury hotels in the spotlight
Black Book is bringing together an all-star line-up of London hotels as part of its Hotel Host Programme, giving attending travel advisors the chance to experience some of the capital’s leading properties first-hand during the event.
Any agent attending Black Book is entitled to a one-night stay on 21 October almost 30 hotels, but the host programme has been designed to do more than just provide accommodation for Black Book’s 150 visiting advisors. By staying at these host hotels, advisors get the opportunity to experience the properties as their clients would – getting a feel for the rooms, service, facilities and the neighbourhoods they are located in.
Understanding the benefits of the capital’s hotels for potential client stays will add to the overall Black Book learning experience, and help with future travel queries, whether it be leisure stays for a couple in town, a special multi-generational celebration or need of a business night in town.
“We believe the Hotel Host Programme is one of the things that makes Black Book quite different,” said April Hutchinson, Head of Luxury at TTG Media. “We want our advisors to experience London properly, which includes staying across a range of hotels. As an agent, there is no substitute for staying somewhere yourself – understanding the atmosphere, the service, the rooms and what makes a property work for a particular client. Our hotel hosts are not simply providing a bed for the night; they are giving our advisors the opportunity to continue becoming genuine experts in each luxury hotel – and often, by extension, the hotel brand – and ultimately to recommend London options with much greater confidence.”
In its debut year, this Black Book programme brings together an eclectic mix of established London names, boutique properties and newer arrivals, reflecting the breadth of the capital’s luxury hotel offering.
Hilton Luxury Brands is Platinum Hotel Partner for Black Book, with agents set to be hosted across Conrad London St. James, The BoTree, and London Hilton on Park Lane, all of which will also be exhibiting at the show.
Sharing further updates across its London luxury properties and the wider brand, Hilton Luxury Brands is also a key lunch sponsor for Black Book. As an official show hotel, the Hilton London Angel Islington - adjacent to the Black Book venue of Business Design Centre - is also set to become home to some exhibitors and attendees of the show, many of who will be able to benefit from special show rates.
Among other hosts are some of London’s best-known luxury addresses, including COMO Metropolitan London; Corinthia London; Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane and Four Seasons Tower Bridge; Hotel Cafe Royal; and The Berkeley, alongside more intimate properties such as The Emory, 11 Cadogan Gardens, The Chelsea Townhouse and One Aldwych.
The programme also provides an opportunity for advisors to discover some of the newer and evolving parts of London’s hotel landscape. Hyatt Regency London Olympia, which opened in July, brings a new option to the rapidly developing Kensington Olympia area, while The Shepherd Mayfair is set to open in September in Shepherd Market.
Elsewhere, the Firmdale collection will host advisors across its distinctive portfolio, including Charlotte Street Hotel, Covent Garden Hotel, Ham Yard Hotel, Haymarket Hotel and The Soho Hotel – properties known for their highly individual design and strong sense of place.
Other design-forward hotels hosting agents will include ME London, Nobu Hotel London Portman Square and Middle Eight, as well as W London and EDITION, part of Marriott International Luxury Group. The Park Tower Luxury Collection and the legendary JW Marriott Grosvenor House will also host agents, and Marriott will also be able to provide further updates across its London luxury properties as another key lunch sponsor for Black Book.
In addition some agents will also stay at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, also part of the wider Marriott portfolio across London. The hotel’s glittering Art Deco ballroom will become the host dinner and ceremony venue for the Top 20 Luxury Travel Agencies, on 21 October.
