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Latest News

HOTEL STRIKES GOLD WITH GREEN TOURISM BUSINESS SCHEME

- only hotel in Bristol and Somerset with gold standard -

24 July 2008: The region's premier hotel, health club and spa has struck gold having proved its green credentials with the country's leading environmental accreditation scheme.

It means Cadbury House Hotel Health Club & Spa in Congresbury, North Somerset will be able to display and use the distinctive Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) gold standard logo which indicates its commitment to promote and use good practice in all environmental issues.

Having impressed assessors on how it's reducing its impact on the environment and improving the management of resources it uses, Cadbury House is now the only hotel in the whole of Bristol and Somerset to have attained the gold standard and one of only 47 hotels from across the UK.

Set up to encourage the preservation of the country's natural assets, the GTBS accreditation allows the business in question to market itself as being environmentally responsible.

Based on the implementation of environmental measures that are connected to a businesses activities they include categories such as water issues, waste minimisation, wildlife and landscape, energy saving and transport.

And the value of attaining a gold grading will allow Cadbury House to establish potential cost saving and environmental benefits and help it market the business as being environmentally responsible.

Mark Hands, group general manager at Cadbury House said: "To achieve the gold standard is a fantastic achievement and proves our commitment to environmental issues.

"To be the only hotel in the whole of Bristol and Somerset to have attained this standard is also great news. Hopefully our success will lead the way and encourage other businesses to follow suit in the local area.

"It will have a huge benefit for the business as more people and businesses want to use products and services that are environmentally friendly. More organisations looking for suitable venues to hold a conference only use those that are GTBS accredited which places us in the very strong position.

"Here at Cadbury House, we are dedicated to minimising our carbon footprint whilst at the same time providing a top class hotel and leisure facilities."

VEALE ACHIEVES SECOND ROSETTE AT CADBURY HOUSE

30 May 2008: therestaurant at Cadbury House Hotel, Health Club & Spa has been awarded a second rosette for the quality of its food.

Awarded by the AA, one of the country's leading guides on the quality and standard of restaurants, therestaurant at Cadbury House is the only establishment in North Somerset to receive such an accolade.

Headed by head chef Mark Veale, it means two distinctive rosette logos will be displayed at the entrance to the four-star hotel providing guests with the reassurance that their visit to therestaurant will be of the highest standard.

Two rosettes are only awarded to the best local restaurants which offer higher standards and better consistency. In addition, greater precision must be apparent in the cooking with an obvious attention to the quality and selection of ingredients.

Having worked for Gordon Ramsay for over three years, Mark joined Cadbury House in March where he set out to attain a second rosette for the restaurant.

Mark said: "This is great news for therestaurant. The team have responded brilliantly and reflects their passion and commitment to make Cadbury House the number one destination restaurant in the West.

"When I arrived I wanted to redefine the menu, serving seasonal British cuisine using local produce. To add a second rosette is part of that commitment and means we've now set the bar really high. We'll now be looking to see how we can improve further and add to people's experiences when they eat here at Cadbury House."

Chris Swire, hotel general manager at Cadbury House added: "This is absolutely fantastic news and we're thrilled to receive such a high rating from one of the country's leading guides on restaurant standards.

"To be the only establishment in North Somerset to get such a rating is testament to our head chef and his team and places Cadbury House amongst a select group of restaurants across Bristol and the surrounding area."

"When you are looking for a place to eat you need a rating system you can trust. The AA ratings are a clear guide of what to expect, in an easy to understand form and is a great testament to Mark and his team."

Tie the Knot at Berkeley Castle

Press Release 21st April 2008

Have you ever wanted to get married in a genuine Norman Castle, or just have your special day at an interesting or unique venue? Do you know someone else who is looking for this type of special place? Well look no further because Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire has just been awarded its Wedding licence for Civil Ceremonies, meaning this historic and ancient family home can be exclusively yours for a complete wedding package.

Couples can tie the knot in the Berkeley Family's ancestral home, (they have been living here since the 12th Century) and then have a reception in the magnificent 14th Century Great Hall, making a complete day or a night of it!

The attaining of a licence is part of the new operating strategy that Berkeley Castle has adopted for 2008, freeing up weekends for weddings and similar functions while still ensuring that the Castle remains open to the public as a visitor attraction on a regular basis.

Marketing Manager Tim Davies said "We are delighted to have the licence as this opens up more function opportunities at the Castle and means we can have more wedding bookings at Berkeley. The Charitable Trust needs the income to fund restoration and repair".

Wedding receptions have been held in the Great Hall, where many English monarchs have been entertained, for a few years and the addition of a Wedding Licence was the next logical step.

Tim Davies continued "We still have spaces for 2008 but we are also taking bookings now for 2009 and even further ahead. Please do contact us so that we may work with you to create a most memorable and individual wedding day."

The Lodge On The Park is Open for Business

Click here for further details

Gold Award for the Aztec Hotel & Spa

Top Bristol tourism businesses were celebrating last night at the glittering South West Tourism Excellence Awards, in association with First Great Western and South West Water 2007/2008, as the regional winners were presented with the prestigious tourism awards.

The awards, known as the 'Tourism Oscars,' celebrate 'the best in the South West' and aim to promote and reward the very best in the tourism industry.

Tourism businesses including attractions, accommodation and other tourism businesses and individuals were left in suspense this year as they had no idea whether they had won the prestigious Gold or Silver Award, until the actual night on Monday 29 October at the Palace Hotel, Torquay,Devon.

Guest speaker and presenter at this year's event was Frank Barrett, Travel Editor of The Mail on Sunday, who shared his anecdotes and perspective on the South West's tourism industry.

Entrants needed to demonstrate exemplary facilities and exceptionally high qualities of customer care, reflecting the demands of today's customers. In addition, it was important that the applicants showed a commitment to sustainability, recycling and the environment. Winners were also commended for their use of regional produce and investment in the local community.

Fourteen of the 18 regional Gold winners will now go on to represent the region at the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in April 2008.

Robin Barker, Deputy Chief Executive of South West Tourism said: "Congratulations to all of the winners. Each year the judging process becomes tougher and tougher as the standard of entries increases and we are proud to say that this year has been no exception. Continual investment in new facilities, staff training, sourcing local foods, a commitment to sustainability and accessibility are major criteria for these awards and the winners should be proud that they are exemplars to the tourism industry.

We now wish the Gold winners the best of luck as they go on to represent the region at the national awards in 2008, which is an accolade that any business would be proud of winning."

Julian Crow, First Great Western's General Manager for the West of England, said: "Judges this year were again deeply impressed with the standard of entries from candidates representing the best in the South West as they strive for quality and excellence for their customers. The scope and integrity of attractions and accommodation represented underlines why First Great Western continues to be proud to support the South West Tourism Excellence Awards."

BUSINESS TOURISM OF THE YEAR
Aztec Hotel & Spa - Gold

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Hotel du Vin - Silver

Chris Hill General Manager The Aztec Hotel and Spa commented

We are thrilled to win such a prestigious award for the region.

This year has been an exciting one for the hotel, with the opening of our Conference Café which includes innovative concepts - such as a smoothie bar and authentic pizza oven - both of which have been very well received by our customers.

But ultimately, this award is about the team at the hotel, who work hard each day to deliver exceptional service. This is what the customer remembers about their visit and hopefully what makes them want to return to a Shire Hotel in the future".

Venue Open Evening at The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum

You are invited to an exclusive reception at the city's landmark events venue, the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum on Thursday 22nd November 2007 4.30pm - 6.30pm.

Take in our acclaimed exhibitors, tour the magnificent function spaces, and enjoy a glass of wine & canapes with our staff, suppliers and clients.

Plus, enter a free prize draw to win a Christmas hamper, full of seasonal treats!

Please contact the team to RSVP by Friday 16th November at events2@empiremuseum.co.uk

New Egypt gallery at Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery now open

Visitors to Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery are now able to step back to ancient Egypt as the museum's amazing new Egypt Gallery which is now open. Over the summer visitors were only able to enjoy previews of the gallery in development. Now they can enjoy the full gallery, and find out much more about the objects on display using the interactive touch screens by the cases.

The Egypt Gallery features over 500 objects, most never displayed before, from one of the best Egyptian collections in the UK. The gallery space is divided by a partition based on the River Nile. On one side, the West, the gallery will explore Belief and Life in ancient Egypt: on the other, the East, displays will cover Death and the Afterlife of the ancient Egyptians. Objects on display include: animal mummies; figurines; offerings; amulets; statues and coffins, plus much more.

This world class gallery was mostly developed and built by the museum's own teams and is a testament to their skills. The museum has an amazing Egyptian collection and the stunning new gallery will enable more people to enjoy more of the collection.

Wedding Evening at Cadbury House

On Thursday 18th October 2007 from 4pm - 9pm you will have the chance to view the hotel and wedding facilities, meet suppliers of wedding cakes, cars, dresses and many more.

Free entry and a glass of fizz on arrival. Goodie bag and prize draw for all brides.

CANCELLATION OF BRISTOL FLOWER SHOW
DURDHAM DOWNS 17TH TO 19TH AUGUST 2007

Bristol City Council, The Downs Committee and the Royal Bath and West of England Society regret to announce the cancellation of next month's Bristol Flower Show due to adverse ground conditions caused by the recent exceptionally poor weather and uncertainty about medium term weather forecasts.

The show was due to be staged at Durdham Down on August 17th, 18th and 19th and this year's would have been the 63rd annual event.

However, grounds maintenance experts are concerned that staging the show on extremely wet ground at this time could potentially pose a risk to the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors, seriously damage the environment and make ground conditions significantly worse for future events.

Organisers are also mindful of the financial and operational difficulties experienced by events that have gone ahead in very poor weather conditions, such as the recent Ashton Court Festival. Already, the downpours across the UK have meant a slow take up of stalls by commercial traders for the show and a number of other similar horticultural shows across the UK have also had to be cancelled.

Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Royston Griffey, Chair of the Downs Committee, said: "It is extremely regrettable that this year's show has had to be cancelled and it has been a very hard decision for the Royal Bath and West Society, the city council and The Downs Committee to take. We know that the many people who enjoy the Flower Show every year will be extremely disappointed. However, all the professional and expert advice is absolutely clear that that the financial, environmental and health and safety risks are potentially too great. It is best to make a decision now and let exhibitors and those planning to travel to the show know exactly where they stand so they can change their arrangements."

Jane Guise, Chief Executive of the Royal Bath and West of England Society, said: "The cancellation of this year's Bristol Flower show is a great sadness to the staff of the RB&W, the organisers of the show. We enjoy working with the City of Bristol and are proud of the event.

" The difficult decision has been made in the light of this summer's weather patterns, and the horrendous financial implications of last minute cancellation or a very wet show. The Downs are a community facility and the effect of holding a wet show on the ground conditions would be awful. We have watched the fortunes of other shows during this unprecedented rainfall, and decided that early cancellation was the best option all round, for exhibitors, contractors and visitors alike."

Tickets already purchased will be refunded by returning them to the ticket office. However they will also be valid for entry to the National Amateur Gardening show being held on the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet from 31 August to 2 September, by kind permission of Amateur Gardening Magazine. This show will go ahead regardless of the weather because it enjoys the huge range of buildings and tarmac roads on the showground, rendering it weather proof.

WWT Slimbridge offers warming soup to all visitors this weekend

WWT Slimbridge Centre is offering visitors warming soup as part of the admission price to Slimbridge this weekend.

The centre remains open to the public with hot water, power and a full activities programme. Despite many parts of Gloucestershire being affected by flooding and clean water shortages.

Veronica Morriss, Senior Operations Manager at WWT Slimbridge said 'WWT Slimbridge is not flooded and our wetlands have been doing their job here. We are delighted to remain open to the public to provide activities for families of all ages. Bearing in mind that many families are currently without water or power we would like offer, included in each admission ticket, a bowl of warming soup.'

'We have lots of fun indoor activities for families of all ages and if the sun shines it's a perfect chance to don a costume and feed our young cranes at the Crane School. There are free nature films being shown all day in our cinema and our summer exhibition Flight, a colourful and exciting exhibition of contemporary textiles by renowned art group the South West Textiles Group will keep the grown ups happy too.'

Media news from Slimbridge Wetland Centre

24 July 2007

Potential Temporary Closure of WWT Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre may be forced to close to the public if mains water supply to the area fails as predicted.

Severn Trent Water has listed Slimbridge among a growing list of areas expected to be affected by mains water failures within the next 24 hours.

Veronica Morriss, Senior Operations Manager at WWT Slimbridge said 'Whilst WWT Slimbridge is not flooded and our wetlands have been doing their job here, we are about to be affected by the water shortages caused by the flooding in the country. If this happens it means we will have to close Slimbridge to the public temporarily.'

Visitors are advised to telephone the centre on 01453 891900 or check our website www.wwt.org.uk/slimbridge before beginning any journey to Slimbridge during the next few days.

WWT's eight other centres situated around the UK are not affected by water shortages and will remain open as usual with superb summer activities for all ages.

LOVELY WEATHER FOR DUCKS!
DESPITE FLOODING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE WWT SLIMBRIDGE IS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

WWT Slimbridge is still open for business as usual despite floods affecting much of Gloucestershire.

The Wetland Centre will be offering visitors the opportunity to don a disguise and enter the Crane School - where young cranes are learning how to behave, meet the flamingos, guided walks to stretch the limbs in the sun, play activities for families including Splashtastic! A giant water based play area which is great fun whether the sun is shining or the rain is falling.

The newly refurbished tropical House is bound to help ease the rainy blues - with brightly coloured trumpeters strolling around and a constant tropical temperature.

Slimbridge is stepping up its catering options in the water's edge restaurant providing a selection of delicious hot and cold food and drinks.

In case of rain, there is a raft of indoor activities including an art gallery - currently showing photographs by BBC's Chris Packham, mini 10 pin bowling and a 90 seat cinema showing wildlife inspired films and documentaries - including unseen footage from BBC's Saving Planet Earth series.

Take a visit to Slimbridge and find out why this weather really is lovely weather for ducks (and swans, and geese...and Water Voles!)

Slimbridge Wetland Centre, its shop and restaurant will be open from 9:30am - 5:30pm with plenty of free parking.

CADBURY HOUSE HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB ATTAINS FOUR-STAR RATING 26th June 2007

Less than three weeks after it was officially opened, thehotel at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club in Congresbury, North Somerset has been awarded a four-star Quality in Tourism rating by VisitBritain, the official website for tourism in Britain.

This means the brand new 72-bedroom Boutique hotel will be able to display the prestigious rose logo featuring four stars, providing guests with the reassurance that their visit to thehotel will be of the highest standard.

Chris Swire, general manager at thehotel said: "To achieve such a high rating so soon after opening is an outstanding achievement. We're all absolutely delighted and are looking forward to providing guests with a stay they will remember."

Opened on 8 June by shadow defence secretary Liam Fox MP, the quality assurance rating provides an independent assessment of what guests can expect to find, giving an invaluable guarantee that their stay will meet their expectations.

Chris added: "When you are looking for a place to stay you need a rating system you can trust. The VisitBritain's ratings are a clear guide of what to expect, in an easy to understand form and is a great testament to all the staff."

In order to attain a rating properties are visited by trained, impartial assessors, so guests can take confidence that the accommodation has been thoroughly checked and rated for quality before they make a booking. Using a simple one to five rating, it puts great emphasis on quality and is based on research which shows exactly what consumers are looking for when choosing accommodation.

To achieve a four-star rating thehotel at Cadbury House had to pass a number of stringent criteria such as the accommodation being of a very high standard and the catering reflecting a serious approach to food and drink. 24-hour room service including cooked breakfast, main meals and lighter snacks and beverages also has to be available.

Taking inspiration from around the globe, no detail has been overlooked in the search for the most contemporary ideas to furnish the new hotel.

Whether it's the oversized shower heads of W-Hotel, New York to the glazed bathrooms of Amsterdam thehotel at Cadbury House is set to bring visitors back again and again.

Chris continued: "We really have travelled the globe in our pursuit for perfection and the interior design reflects this search. Having evolved over time, we have created a non-typical hotel, somewhere where guests will want to come back to again and again

"It was always our goal to attain a four-star rating so the design, furnishings and service were tailored accordingly. But it's the staff that gives a hotel its atmosphere and I'm pleased to say we have a great team here at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club."

Thehotel at Cadbury House is the final phase of a £16.25 million investment that has seen the historic house transformed into the finest venue in the South West. Part of the investment was the building of the region's most advanced health club and spa for £5.5 million in the grounds of the House as well as a £1.5 million refurbishment of the historic house.

ATHLETICS LEGEND REVISITS CADBURY HOUSE AS HOTEL OPENS - 31 May 2007

Just over a year since his last visit, world athletics legend Colin Jackson will re-visit Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club. There he will form part of the proceedings that will see Liam Fox MP officially open the brand new hotel.

Taking place on Friday 8 June, the opening of thehotel is the final phase of a £16.25 million investment that has transformed Cadbury House from a sleepy giant renowned for its hedonistic pool parties, into what is undoubtedly the finest venue in the South West.

Part of the investment was the building of the region's most advanced health club and spa for £6 million in the grounds of the House.

Taking inspiration from around the globe, no detail has been overlooked in the search for the most contemporary ideas to furnish the four-star, 72-bedroom, Boutique-style hotel. Whether it's the oversized shower heads of W-Hotel, New York to the glazed bathrooms of Amsterdam, thehotel at Cadbury House is set to bring visitors back again and again.

The inspiration of local business man Nick Taplin, the quest for excellence has quite literally taken him around the globe to find the best concepts for the new hotel.

Nick, who lives in Wrington, said: "The opening of thehotel is the culmination of a lot of hard work and vision to create a venue that is like no other in the region.

"We really have travelled the globe in our pursuit for perfection and the interior design reflects this search. Having evolved over time, we have created a non-typical hotel, somewhere where guests will want to come back to again and again.

"We're delighted that Colin Jackson will be returning and to see why Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club has become the premier venue in the South West."

As part of the activity Mr Jackson will perform a first dance in the Great Room of thehouse with local dance teacher Lisa Jane of Davies School of Dance and meet local school children who will ask him questions about his career.

The culmination of Mr Jackson's visit will be the official opening of thehotel by Liam Fox MP.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW -27th March 2007

When it comes to a room with a view, nothing will come close to what the new hotel at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club will provide guests when it opens its doors later in May.

With dramatic views across the Somerset levels towards the Severn Estuary and across to the Welsh hills, the new hotel will provide guests with arguably the best vista any hotel in the region can provide.

With work continuing apace, the 72-bedroom, four-star, boutique-style hotel is nearing completion and is the final phase of a £16.25 million investment that has transformed the historic venue into the region's best hotel and leisure complex.

Chris Swire, general manager of the hotel and house said: "We're pretty confident in our claim that the hotel here at Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club will have the best view of any hotel in the region.

"No stone has been left unturned in our pursuit for perfection and guests will be able to enjoy the top class facilities that have been inspired from the best conceptual hotels from around the world."

Drawing inspiration from the 18th century, the decor of the hotel and main house echoes its historical surroundings whilst providing contemporary comforts - a perfect blend of past and present.

It will be somewhere to relax and reinvigorate with individually designed rooms all having their own distinct character.

For those getting married, the two honey moon suites located on the top floor provide every luxury, each with its own lavish design, including feature bath and shower, Queen size bed and mood lighting.

Alongside the hotel, guests will find not only the most advanced health club and spa but also the best conference and banqueting facilities in the South West.

Chris added: "Our proximity to Bristol International Airport makes Cadbury House Hotel & Country Club the perfect venue for flight crews, business people looking for an ideal place to meet, or those who need somewhere to relax before they jet off on holiday and we can't wait to open the doors in May."

Conference Business on the Up - 14 February 2007

Interest in Bristol as a centre for conferences and business travel increased in 2006, with the value of enquiries for meetings and venue bookings through Destination Bristol showing a marked upturn.

Speaking shortly before Destination Bristol launches a new look for its conference marketing guides and two consumer brands, Conference Bristol and Venues West at the UK's biggest business travel fair CONFEX at Earls Court, bureau director John Hallett said 'The business travel sector is highly competitive and it's essential that we continue to refresh the way we present the great conference venues we have in the city. We have decided to split our interests and support these new brands which we know will have a greater resonance with local businesses as well as conference organisers.'

'The type of conference business done in the heart of the city centre is quite different to that which happens on the outskirts and in the rural surrounds. We believe that by developing a new focus on these two quite distinct markets, it will provide all-round benefits'.

With business tourism in Bristol estimated to be worth in excess of £100 million annually, the importance of the sector is not being underestimated. John Hallett said '2006 showed some encouraging signs that business is continuing to grow steadily. Coupled with the increase in the value of enquires we are currently handling, the number of hotel rooms sold in the city in 2006 rose by 9% while average occupancy pickled up well to about 70%. 2007 looks to have got off to a good start and while it is very early days yet, the level of interest in advanced conference bookings into the city is up on last year and we hope to give that a further boost when we exhibit at Earls Court later this month'.

Bristol Prepares to Accommodate 20,000 Ethical Delegates for New Vegan Festival - 13 February 2007

With all the talk about environmental foot-prints and ethical lifestyles there has probably never been a better time to launch an International Ethical Living show. But this has not been an easy task for organizer Tim Barford from Bristol based Hemp food company Yaoh; "We are planning for up to 20,000 people which is 3-4 times the previous number" says Tim.

At previous festivals Yaoh have found it challenging sourcing enough suitable accommodation for all the exhibitors, speakers and visitors. This year the festival has doubled in size over 2 days and has many new attractions such as live bands, a fashion show, a floating bar and a Hemp Expo. It's expected that more visitors will come from outside the Bristol area, including overseas. The event is expected to be particularly popular with Americans where veganism is already a popular lifestyle option.

The organisers of the International Environmental and Ethical Lifestyle Festival approached Destination Bristol for help in finding suitable venues in Bristol for a potential 15,000 Vegetarians and Vegans descending on Bristol for the worlds biggest ever Vegan Festival. The event is set to be staged at Waterfront Square on June 9th and 10th shortly after National Vegetarian Week in May (also set to be the biggest ever). The show organisers may need to find over 10,000 spaces for speakers, performers, exhibitors, nutritionists and visitors who have above average expectations of vegan food.

Helen Davies, Manager of Conference Bristol, part of Destination Bristol said, "We were delighted to be approached by organisers of the Bristol Vegan Fayre to assist in sourcing their accommodation for what is a wonderful event for Bristol. An on-line accommodation booking system has been set up especially for the festival, providing attendees with an efficient way of selecting and researching a hotel specific to their needs and a quick and easy booking procedure"

Tony Bishop-Weston from Foods for Life said, "Destination Bristol has been invaluable in helping us with this mammoth task and have been working hard to research facilities and match them with our delegates specific ethical needs". The ex-hotelier continued; "We think there's an opportunity for the local tourism industry to cash in on this market - many cultural groups such as Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Jews and Rastafarian ital followers also look to vegan food to help comply with their dietary preferences and there are so many great visitor attractions nearby to make a short break very attractive"

An Exciting Transformation

Cardiff-based property developer Rightacres has entered into a second lucrative joint venture with Macdonald Hotels to develop a luxury 4 star hotel in the city centre of Bristol.

Following consultation with local residents and Bristol City Council, the planning application was approved in June this year. With construction work well under way, the £35m project is set to take just 39 weeks to complete with the opening scheduled for March 2007. The hotel will be developed by converting the former Royal Sun Alliance building on Redcliffe Hill, and follows on from the successful Macdonald Holland House in Cardiff which opened in April 2004.

Ian Edwards, Managing Director of Holland House Hotels Ltd said "After the successful launch of Macdonald Holland House in Cardiff, this project seemed like the next natural step towards building the Macdonald Hotels brand. This is an exciting time for us with many challenges ahead and we are looking forward to contributing to the thriving business community of Bristol".

Macdonald Holland House, Bristol will offer guests a choice of 275 luxury and spacious bedrooms with all the mod cons that business and leisure markets demand. The hotel will feature 15 conference and business suites with dedicated break out areas, a stylish restaurant and bar, al fresco dining, luxury spa and state-of-the-art fitness suite.

Destination Bristol's marketing manager Vicky Weir said "Macdonald Holland House will encourage further business visitors and conference organisers to the city as well as provide a luxury accommodation establishment for leisure visitors benefiting both the local economy and regional tourism scene"

The introduction of the hotel into the city will provide local people with 150 full time and 80 part time jobs.