IH&RA congress
The 40th International Hotel & Restaurant Association annual congress, in Cairo, is fast approaching and registrations have already surpassed expectations. The three-day conference, on the theme of "Managing through rapidly changing times", takes place on 5-9 December and features speeches from industry leaders including Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organisation, Fathi Nour, president of the Egyptian Hotel Association, and Stefan Breg, food and beverage director of Hilton UK & Ireland.
Rhatigan names hotel
Simon Rhatigan is buying the three-star, 17-bedroom Feversham Arms hotel in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, following his departure from Seaham Hall in County Durham. Rhatigan will pay in the region of £1.5m when the sale completes next week. Funding is through bank loans and private equity. The hotel will remain open throughout a six-week refurbishment of the bedrooms, scheduled for completion in January 2004. Head chef is Charlie Lakin, formerly at the Star Inn in Harome.
Entrepreneurs' guide
The Hotel and Leisure Best Practice Forum has teamed up with insurance giant AXA to launch a free guide for hospitality entrepreneurs. The Business Survival Blueprint (available at www.axa4business.co.uk) gives advice on starting up a hotel, restaurant or bar and managing a business efficiently.
The UK hospitality industry is one of the most difficult sectors in which to start a new business, with 36% of all new hospitality businesses folding within three years, according to the Small Business Service.
Internet bookings up
The number of people booking accommodation in the UK over the internet has increased by 80% since September 2002, according to the latest figures from online reservations firm Active Hotels. The growth was particularly strong in the provinces, where booking volumes doubled over the period.