New Opening – Fairmont Windsor Park

A new hotel opening to me is more exciting than receiving 50% off in a Chanel sale. It is truly magical and the fact that this particular hotel opening is right on my doorstep well, that’s on par with 75% off.

The Fairmont Windsor Park is set to open in Summer 2020, adjacent to the stunning Great Windsor Park and Savill Gardens it is going to be something quite special and I cannot wait for it to open.

The property becomes the third Fairmont property in the UK of which The Savoy and the Fairmont St Andrews are part of and is situated on the site of the former Savill Court Hotel and Spa. 

The property will boast 16 meeting and event spaces with a ballroom spanning 800 square meters (pillar-free no less).  Coupled with natural daylight throughout, some spaces with outdoor terraces and able to fit up to 700 guests, the property is going to be something of an event planners dream.

The Fairmont will have over 200 bedrooms in total (including a Royal Suite) all of which will be opulent in design and as the press release advised will “redefine luxury in the UK hospitality market”.

I am not going to pretend that this is not what I am most excited about and I do feel a little disloyal with what I am about to say to some of my favourites in the region, however… The Fairmont will also have a spa will be a very impressive 2,500 square meters in size. That’s huge and apologies hubs, I can see myself spending quite a bit of time there as it is literally, on my doorstep. I have heard a rumour that there will also be a Japanese Foot spa, a salt room and a hammam.

Equally important to the spa for me is the dining options and the property will have a tea lounge, a champagne bar, a gin bar, an all-day dining restaurant and its own speciality restaurant. So many exciting options for corporates and leisure alike. 

I cannot wait for this property to open and am really hoping for an invite to the launch party!

Do also make sure you subscribe to the Event Consult YouTube Chanel here where we will shortly be talking to John Swift, Head of Sales of The Fairmont Windsor and Windsor Mice in anticipation of the hotel launch.

Photo credit: The Fairmont Windsor

Gleneagles – perfect for groups

With each season spent at Gleneagles, you can experience a different hotel. This was my third time to the property however my first time hosting a FAM with there and I must say seeing the faces of our members experience the property for the first time certainly cemented a sense of pride in not only a network for the experiences we can bring our members but in Gleneagles it’s self for the vast changes it has undertaken over the years and for being privy to them.

Gleneagles first opened its doors in 1924, it is an institution in Scotland and was described as “Riviera in the Highlands”. It is now a member of the Leading Hotels of the world and indeed it is, it is just stunning and whether you are there for leisure, business or a bit of both (as we are) you will most certainly fall in love with this property and its unrivalled and unparalleled grounds, views, activities, people and everything in between.

Our FAM started on a Sunday with members making the short flight up from either Gatwick, Heathrow or Luton. I did the trip via Heathrow from my home to Gleneagles in 4.5 hours (door to door) which is not what you would have anticipated. A short, flight with just enough time for a coffee and 40 winks sees you land in Edinburgh within 50 minutes and just a short 45-minute drive to the property.

On arrival, our members checked into their gorgeous rooms before a short site visit of all the meeting and events spaces on offer at Gleneagles and even though I had been to the property previously AND had arrived a day earlier and thought I had seen them all it turns out that I in-fact hadn’t and there was about 20 more I had yet to see. 

I will be honest, I would like to write about each and everyone but there are simply too many so I will share a link here –  I will say our favourite spaces were The Glendevon which is as opulent as it is grand and has some pretty amazing views whilst dining along with The Cellars where you can fit up to 20 for a private dining experience.

After our site visit, it was a couple of hours to sample the very decadent spa where we sampled the sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, heated lounge chairs, back in the jacuzzi, a quick snooze and then it was time to get ready for pre-dinner drinks and dinner. The food and beverage at Gleneagles are as vast as they are delicious with nine separate dining experiences one of which Andrew Fairlie, the only restaurant in Scotland to hold two Michelin stars. Unfortunately, the Michelin starred restaurant was closed however we were lucky enough to eat in The Strathearn which was outstanding.

After dinner, it was off to The American Bar where we had a couple of cocktails and I may or may not have had one too many absinthes and made up my theme song?! Before we were off to bed, ready for a full day of activities.

On Monday morning we were up bright and early for a group breakfast which was a breakfast of dreams, the hotel serves the most outstanding breakfast buffet ever and I did not stop talking about the four different types of sausages, the five different types of nut butter and the children’s dedicated buffet station. Your delegates would love it, the options on offer are vast and as with the rest of the outlets at Gleneagles, the service is outstanding.

After breakfast, it was off to sample the activity options and for your delegates there really are an abundance. Of course, Gleneagles is synonymous for its three championship golf courses but there is so much more than golf. Our group were lucky enough to try our hand at clay pigeon shooting, falconry, learning about the gun dogs and visited the golf clinic. Whilst it was only a snippet of each we got to see and feel what our delegates would and it is fantastic. Such wonderful options to suit any group.

After our activities, it was more food, a quick nip back to the sap and then into cars for the short drive back to the airport.

We LOVED our Gleneagles FAM. The group has come back with some amazing ideas for their events and we can’t see how they all pan out. Huge thanks to Dan for hosting the group and arranging the snow for us (and hail at one point) you did go above and beyond to make it memorable. You can reach out to Dan here for more information or email us and we will put you in touch.

Spotlight on The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead venues…

Great Fosters is one of those properties you have heard of and, if you are a local like me, have some of the best memories of weddings, parties and family celebrations that have taken place there over the years. What you need to know about Great Fosters is that it is also the perfect property for corporate events and I am going to tell you why!

Not only is Great Fosters a four-star luxury property with its own Michelin Star, it has some of the most stunning meeting and event spaces and grounds just made for those all-important team building activities but, before I go on, I need to start from the beginning, from the journey your delegate would take and that ultimately is how they get there.

Great Fosters is a short taxi ride from Egham Station and only 42 minutes on the train from London’s Waterloo – mid-week, there tends to train every 30 minutes and the journey a pleasant one via South Western Trains.

On arrival into the 50 acres of beautifully appointed, landscaped gardens, Great Fosters stands glorious in all seasons, your arrival sets the tone for what’s to come and it is indeed beautiful.

The property boasts 43 bedrooms (a mix of suites), all individually styled and each more beautiful than the next with the majority having beautiful four-poster beds. 

When it comes to meeting rooms, as mentioned above you have a range of choices and the property can take up to 120. You can find the capacity chart here.

Great Fosters is a fabulous choice for your offsites, conferences and retreats and their rates are super competitive.

 For more information, reach out to the team here.  

HuffPost is reportedly on the auction block | TechCrunch

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Late last night the Financial Times reported that HuffPost, arguably one of the crown jewels of Verizon Media Group’s remaining network of media properties (which includes TechCrunch), is up for sale. Verizon has been shedding media properties in a retreat from the strategy that it had begun to execute with the acquisition of AOL for […]
— Read on techcrunch.com/2019/10/19/huffpost-is-reportedly-on-the-auction-block/

LinkedIn gets physical, debuts Events hub for people to plan in-person networking events | TechCrunch

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LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned social network for the working world with around 650 million users, is known best as a place where people connect with each other online either to build work connections, for recruitment, or for professional development. Now, the company is taking a step to bring its networking features into the physical world: the […]
— Read on techcrunch.com/2019/10/15/linkedin-gets-physical-debuts-new-events-hub-for-people-to-plan-in-person-networking-events/

Laurent at Cafe Royal

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My family and I were lucky enough to be one of the firsts to try the new brunch on offer at Laurent at Cafe Royal and what a treat.

Laurent is the grill restaurant and sushi bar by Chef Laurent Tourondel who is internationally renowned but best known in America where his restaurants in New York, Miami and Charlotte all share the same relaxed approach to casual fine dining that he has brought to London and for that, we are thankful!

We Londoners are a little obsessed with bottomless brunches and Laurent is way up there. I am not a fan of prosecco which is what the majority brunches include so when I find one offering champagne – it’s a yes from me.

You can choose from a Bloody Mary or Mimosa Brunch (£45) or a Veuve Clicquot Brunch (£65) which includes a choice from the extensive menu.  I went for Truffle Popovers Benedict which was outstanding and I keep eat with the best of them but I literally couldn’t finish it, it was huge.  Two others in my party went for the Avocado and Smoked Salmon which I am assured was delicious and the final choice, Pork Kimchi Fried Rice to which I had bloody food envy. It was gorgeous and something that I am obsessed with eating recently!!!

Live jazz with a three-piece band and some of the most attentive waitstaff ever made for a wonderful afternoon and I can’t wait to go back.

Whilst I was there for leisure, this is the perfect spot for a corporate meeting, whilst its location by Picadilly Circus is certainly a busy one when you are in the restaurant you feel a million miles away. It is the perfect spot and can be taken exclusively for private events.

Menu items from £17 – you don’t need to go bottomless.

Click here for more information