Britannia Hotels

Infobox Company
company_name = Britannia Hotels
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 1976
location = Hale, England
key_people = Alex Langsam CEO
Robert Ferrari CFO
area_served = United Kingdom
industry = Hospitality
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees = 4000+
parent =
subsid =
homepage = http://www.britanniahotels.com
footnotes = Britannia Hotels is currently the largest privately owned hotel chain in the UK.

Britannia Hotels is a UK based hotel company with 33 hotels across the country. They are currently the largest privately owned hotel chain in the UK.

Overview

Britannia Hotels started in 1976 with the purchase of a hotel in Manchester, The Britannia Country House Hotel in Didsbury.

The company employs over 4,000 people. Britannia don't build hotels, instead preferring to buy existing hotels, and to refurbish and up-date them, restoring original features where possible. In some cases Britannia have taken an existing structure and converted it into a Hotel.

Some hotels maintain their original name, without the addition of the word Britannia. In such cases, flags displaying the Britannia Hotels logo and name are erected outside.

Britannia generally operate at the budget end of the market, hotels vary in price and star ratings around the country.

Britannia Hotels' head office is based in the old Town Hall in Hale, Manchester. A large cluster of Britannia Hotels are located in and around Manchester.

Britannia Hotels make great use of email. Senior hotel staff members are provided with their own addresses, departments have their own address, hotels have several addresses and contact can only be made through email on the company’s website.

Unlike other companies, bookings can even be made through email as well as online or phone. Each hotel is assigned a three digit number, in front of which, the word ‘res’ is placed. This allows bookings to be sent straight to the correct department. A similar process is used to send enquiries direct to hotel reception desks, banqueting departments etc.

Rooms

Unlike most hotel companies, Britannia Hotels don't all have a continued theme, each hotel being individual. Bedrooms have different furnishings in each hotel, although rooms recently refurbished are all in the same style. Many Hotels still feature old fashioned bedspreads, but these are now being replaced by duvets.

Some hotels still don't use keycards to gain access to the guest rooms, they use traditional keys. Most hotel companies have chosen to phase out keys in favour of keycards as they have many more benefits and are generally cheaper and safer.

Even though the company operates in the budget sector, upscale features such Jacuzzi Baths, trouser presses, room service and balconies are found in a number of their hotels..

Events

In the mid-1980s, Alex Langsam, owner of the Britannia Hotel Group, acquired the Grade II* listed London Road Fire Station in Manchester. Despite repeated assurances that the building would be redeveloped into a hotel, it has been allowed to fall into disrepair. Its condition has deteriorated so much it is now on English Heritage's register of "at risk" historical buildings. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/204/204130_allaction_station.html Manchester Evening News - All Action Station] ]

In 1997, A fly on the wall TV programme named "Hotel" was created, documenting the daily management problems faced at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. The programme focused on General Manager, Eileen Downey and other staff members. A quote ‘just cook will yer!’ made by the Deputy Manager made the hotel famous.

In 2004, Grand Hotels Group sold their four resort hotels to Britannia Hotels. These hotels are undergoing extensive refurbishment, with millions of pounds being spent to restore them to their former glory. These Hotels offer Entertainment Breaks, with live entertainment each evening in the Ballrooms.

In 2005, Britannia Hotel introduced free wireless LAN throughout all it's hotels, available in public areas. Coverage has been extended into some bedrooms, as hotels have been refurbished.

In 2006, Britannia celebrated their 30th anniversary by adding their 30th Hotel (Britannia Bournemouth) to the chain, this number has now risen to 33 UK properties.

Also in 2006, Tripadvisor released a list of the UK's dirtiest hotels based on guest cleanliness ratings. Out of the 10, 5 were Britannia Hotels, with Britannia Stockport being rated as the dirtiest. [ [http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i9612-TripAdvisor_s_Dirtiest_U_K_hotels_in.html Tripadvisor's dirtiest UK hotels] ]

In 2007, many properties have undergone total refurbishment, including the Britannia Manchester, and the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool.

In 2008 as part of the Capital of Culture celebrations a musical has been written based on the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. [ [http://www.britanniahotels.com/iCMS/images_site/source%20files/ADELPHI2.jpgAdelphi Hotel Play] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.britanniahotels.com/ Britannia Hotels Official Website]