Latest news with #Hoxton
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solo travel is on the rise, and hotels are responding
Hotels worldwide are redesigning their offerings to better accommodate solo travellers, a group that is steadily growing across age ranges. Industry forecasts show nearly 10% annual growth in solo travel through 2030, driven by millennials, Gen Z, and retirees alike. This shift is prompting hotels to rethink their approach, with many now prioritising safety, flexible room design, and built-in social opportunities for guests travelling alone. For years, the hospitality industry catered primarily to couples and families. However, solo travellers are no longer an afterthought. 2024 survey found that 59% of travellers plan to take a solo trip, and hotels are responding with targeted amenities and design changes. At the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, the Artist Tower offers sleek, open-concept rooms designed to resemble modern studio apartments. 'It's perfect for someone travelling alone,' said Leon Bolivar, the hotel's Director of Marketing. Across the Atlantic, The Hoxton hotels have introduced compact "Shoebox" rooms for single occupancy, along with open lobbies and curated local events to foster social interaction among guests. Marriott's Moxy Hotels have replaced traditional check-ins with casual bar counters and host regular communal events, specifically catering to solo travellers seeking informal ways to connect. Safety remains a top concern, especially among younger and female solo travellers. Some hotels are offering measures like optional phone check-ins, staff training for approachability, and increased monitoring of public spaces. Bella Bucchiotti, a solo traveller and writer, described how a Paris hotel's proactive contact during her trip provided reassurance in an unfamiliar setting. Community-focused dining is also gaining popularity. At the Omni Boston, solo diners can join group wine tastings and trivia nights at on-site restaurants, while other brands like Freehand Hotels and Moxy feature bar seating and casual layouts that remove the stigma of eating alone. Hotels are also integrating programming that gives solo guests structured ways to explore and connect. The Omni Boston doubles as an art gallery and offers rooftop fitness classes and seasonal events. This summer, the hotel is launching a package featuring solo-friendly activities, including boat tours and museum visits. Eaton DC and Kimpton Hotels offer similar experiences with a focus on wellness and culture, including yoga sessions and wine hours, which serve as informal meetups for guests. These low-pressure environments are designed to give solo travellers the choice to engage socially without obligation. The rise in solo travel shows no signs of slowing, and hotels are increasingly tailoring their experiences to meet this demand. Features like private yet sociable spaces, safe environments, and inclusive events are becoming standard in the effort to meet expectations. Bolivar notes that feedback from solo guests has directly influenced new initiatives. 'The Artist Tower was built with solo travellers in mind, and the positive response has helped us expand our programming,' he said. As solo travel becomes more mainstream, the hotel industry's evolution signals a broader shift: travelling alone no longer means being left out. "Solo travel is on the rise, and hotels are responding" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
09-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Augustine priest hails ‘icing on the cake' as one of their own becomes Pope
An Augustinian parish is rejoicing as the new Pope shares their spiritual heritage. Father Gabriel Hassan, parish priest at St Monica's Church in Hoxton, east London, said the election of Pope Leo XIV was especially meaningful to Augustinian Catholics across the world. 'Just like any other Catholic, we're delighted to have a new pope after the passing of Pope Francis,' he told the PA news agency. 'Personally, being an Augustinian priest, it's the icing on the cake.' 'The Holy Spirit works in a very mysterious way – before his election, he was the only Augustinian cardinal at this conclave. 'We don't root for candidates, we pray for the cardinals to be led by the Holy Spirit, but many of us were very happy to see he was selected.' The Augustinians are a Catholic religious order founded on the teachings of St Augustine. Many practitioners hail from the Philippines, the United States, Nigeria and parts of Latin America. Father Hassan said the order had a long and rich history, but it was rare to see one of their own elevated to the highest role in the Church. He recalled meeting the new Pope as a young seminarian in Nigeria around 16 years ago when he was just 26. 'He was the general superior of the Augustinians at the time, and I was a student in Jos,' he said. 'He was very soft spoken. 'One thing I will say about him, he was a great listener, he has empathy, and a deep love for the Church.' Since the news broke, Father Hassan said the phones at his parish have not stopped ringing. 'People are so delighted to be associated with this parish. There's a real feeling of joy, pride and prayer.'
Times
06-05-2025
- Times
22 of the best affordable hotels in London under £200
London might be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but there's no need to blow your entire travel budget on a hotel. Forget tatty rooms and shabby surroundings: in recent years, a wave of smart openings across the capital has tapped into the growing realisation that good value shouldn't mean compromising on excellent design. Increasingly, destination restaurants and buzzy, neighbourhood bars (quite rightly) come as standard too. Want to hang out with the creative set in Shoreditch or in the cultural hub of the South Bank; at a sweet, up-and-coming spot in the suburbs or slap bang in the centre of the city? There are plenty of places that won't scrimp on service or style, or dip too heavily into your holiday spending pot. Here are the best affordable places to stay in London, all offering room-only doubles at under £200 a night. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Best for a spot of shopping Forget Oxford Street: the newest Hoxton hotel is right by Westfield shopping centre for a spot of retail therapy. A 20-minute stroll takes you to Holland Park (and Notting Hill is one Tube stop further on). You'll want to head back to the hotel for dinner at the Thai-Americana restaurant, Chet's, where you can feast on firecracker lobster noodles or sea bream, coconut and lemongrass fish curry. Stylish rooms have peach-toned walls, scallop-edge headboards, terrazzo-topped bedside tables and copper finishes and eight categories range from Hideout (with no windows but a king-size bed) to Biggy, with a freestanding tub. • Discover our full guide to London Best for a great jumping off point The Australian-born hotel brand TRIBE landed in Canary Wharf in 2022, bringing a smart, wallet-friendly place to stay in the financial district. Brass lamps and funky cityscape artwork add character to the bedrooms while all-day dining happens at California-inspired Feels Like June (tuna steaks, cobb salad, chipotle half chicken), and there's a 24-hour grab-and-go counter for coffee and snacks. Best of all, though, is the buzzy outdoor terrace with canal views for sundowners. Hop on the Jubilee line west to Bermondsey for the Maltby Street food market held on weekends or take the DLR to Cutty Sark to stroll up One Tree Hill for panoramic views of the capital. Best for refinedvillage life The Thames setting — and the restaurant's wraparound balcony overlooking the water — are the biggest draws to this south London hotel and members' club. The executive chef Vanessa Marx (previously a guest judge on Celebrity MasterChef South Africa) emphasises wild, foraged and sustainable ingredients; oyster mushrooms grown from recycled coffee grounds and microgreens such as radishes and rainbow chard cultivated at Rooftop Farm Wimbledon. Rooms are pared-back and neutral with handmade beds and wooden floors; the best have copper baths. Drop into yoga classes, book a guided paddleboard session on the river or a massage in the new treatment room. Richmond Park is on the doorstep and glorious Kew Gardens is a 15-minute drive away. • Best Airbnbs in London Best for soul-soothing stays A calming antidote to the chaos of the outside world (and nearby Paddington station), this Scandi-style haven is centred on wellness — from the plant-centric menu at Kitchen restaurant, curated by the health brand Yeotown, to the noise-free library and wooden boxes in rooms that encourage guests to lock their phones away at night. Plus, there is a changing wellness programme that could include morning meditation, vinyasa yoga and guided runs in Hyde Park. It's a 20-minute walk to the independent boutiques on Marylebone High Street in one direction and Little Venice, where the Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal meet, in another. • Best boutique hotels in London Best for home-from-home appeal A budget-friendly hotel in upmarket Belgravia? Incredibly, yes, at this long-established, boutique within walking distance of the neighbourhood's fancy delis and galleries, with Buckingham Palace and Sloane Square also nearby. The 26 rooms are split across a pair of Georgian townhouses with bold, feature wallpapers, Pooky lampshades and geometric cushions — downstairs you can tuck into brunch at the Buttery, where the likes of shakshuka and warm beetroot salads are served until 3.30pm, or while away sunny afternoons with a book and an Aperol spritz in the walled garden. • Best things to do in London Best for living like a local With the V&A and the Natural History Museum on the same road, this beautifully designed aparthotel couldn't be better placed for a weekend of culture. There's a mix of art deco and 1960s influences in the rich jewel-like colours and retro tassel lampshades in the rooms, studios and suites; the last come with a kitchen kitted out with a microwave and dishwasher if you want to tuck into a takeaway from restaurants such as Thali, an Indian institution on Old Brompton Road (it's a 15-minute walk or order on Deliveroo). There's also everything you might want on site, from a laundry and gym to a co-working space, garden and EVE, a coffee shop, bar and restaurant rolled into one. Best for smart, contemporary design Fresh from refurbishment at the end of last year, this hotel is a two-minute walk from magnificent St Paul's Cathedral, and less than ten minutes from the Thames. Its location also makes it the perfect place for long weekends, with Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane and Shoreditch just two Tube stops away. Mid-century pop art prints and fluted headboards give nods to the building's postwar heritage while handy touches such as self-check-in iPads save time and there's a co-working space in the Living room for relaxing with coffee or cocktails from the Counter. • Great things to do in London when it rains Best for entertainment valueYou can't miss the bright red lights of the Bedford — just a five-minute walk from Balham station — and you wouldn't want to either. This 15-room pub with boutique rooms charms you with its circus theme downstairs and wows you upstairs in the bedroom: expect bold wallpapers, Instagram-worthy tubs and loud but stylish interiors. A stay here will put you in very good company: the likes of Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini and KT Tunstall have all performed in the club room before they hit the big time. It's a hotbed for new comedy talent too, having hosted a young Harry Hill and Frank Skinner. There's always something happening in the five bars, be it a swing dance or an open mic night, and the buzzing pub guarantees a good time, a great meal (food is half-price on a Tuesday) and plenty of tempting cocktails. Best for smart technologyBrilliantly positioned just behind the South Bank and a few minutes' walk from London's renowned Borough Market, this is a smart hotel in both senses of the word. Everything from check-in to browsing menus for the canteen M bar is done on an app. All rooms are the same; compact but with all the necessities you need for a good night's sleep: coloured mood lighting, blackout blinds, king-size beds. There's a help-yourself breakfast and a stylish living room hangout space furnished with Vitra chairs, a curated collection of books, modern art and for a laid-back vibeA pub, restaurant and hotel rolled into one, the Culpeper is a stone's throw from buzzing Spitalfields Market and Liverpool Street. Expect virtually the same menu — comfort classics such as beer-battered fish and chips — in the light-filled pub and the smarter bistro on the first floor. Rooms are rustic-luxe, with wooden bedheads and wicker lights, tree-trunk tables and cosy throws on the beds. In the summer, the best spot for dinner and drinks is the rooftop, where produce for the kitchen is grown in the garden. Best for rooftop garden views Named in homage to the local 19th-century anti-slavery campaigner and social reformer Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, this characterful pub and hotel sits right on Brick Lane (it's the younger sibling to the Culpeper down the road). The 15 pared-back but functional rooms feature handwoven artworks, rugs and blankets (another nod to Buxton, who also raised money for the weaving community) and a selection of books chosen by the nearby bookshop Libreria. The ground-floor bar serves low-intervention wines, local beers and a bar menu of nibbles such as artichoke hearts, Ortiz sardines on toast and a Mons cheeseboard. There is also a guests-only rooftop garden, which delivers knockout views of the City. Read our full review of the Buxton Best for family weekendersThere's a loose sports theme to Moxy London Stratford — a reference to its location, a ten-minute walk from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park — from the silhouettes of athletes swimming, skipping and playing table tennis, printed on wood panelling, to a light fitting designed to imitate gymnastic rings. There's also a mural by illustrator and street artist Alex Lucas depicting east London landmarks. Table football, books and board games (as well as the bar) encourage families to stay put, while the 24-hour grab-and-go is perfect for stocking up on provisions before heading out. Best for visiting museumsIt's the convenient location of the Rockwell in west London, close to blockbuster museums and boutique shopping in Chelsea, that makes it a winner. Inside the Victorian townhouse, the look is classic (rooms are furnished with floral wallpapers and oak furniture). Another boon is the walled garden, dotted with pretty plants and ideal for alfresco summer drinks, while the restaurant serves an all-day brunch menu that covers everything from soups and salads to fish and chips and steak. Best for creative typesA social enterprise hotel for the arts opposite Wood Green Tube station (it's just 12 minutes to King's Cross), Green Rooms has discounted rates for artists and creatives. Chairman Kurt Bredenbeck founded the Hoxton in Hackney and advised on the design here: expect original art deco period detailing complemented by a stripped-back, rustic aesthetic in the 24 rooms. Some have shared bathrooms, and there are also 12-bed and 14-bed dorms). The restaurant, Oita, specialises in Japanese food in a relaxed atmosphere. Best for seeing the sights The no-frills, function-first Z Hotel group has 11 outposts dotted around the capital but this one, in a red-brick house that backs onto St Paul's Church behind the Piazza in Covent Garden, stands out for its buzzing, brilliant location. Rooms are compact (some categories have no windows) but come with crisp linens and comfy beds. There's a café for a continental breakfast, toasties and pizza lunches, and wine in the for stylish breaksThis grade II listed Victorian pub with rooms is perfect for those who want a boudoir they'll remember. Forget plain walls and soulless furnishings; the decor here is a tasteful clash of bold wallpapers, velvet curtains and vintage furnishings. Downstairs there's a lively restaurant and well-stocked bar, while every spare wall is covered in a mix of quirky photographs and paintings. Food is a cut above standard pub grub and the Sunday roast is one of the best in London. Here on a summer evening? Tuck in on the terrace: it's perfect for warm evenings with an Aperol in hand. • Best dog-friendly hotels in London Best for an East End escapeHoused in a former textiles factory in Whitechapel, this New York-inspired hotel nods to its industrial past with exposed brick walls and huge metal-framed windows. Even the smallest rooms come with a king-size bed; the best loft room has its own hot tub on the roof. Social spaces include a games room with a pool table, a library and yoga studio, while the menu at Mr White's English Chophouse restaurant, which centres around halal steaks, grills and chops, is devised by the chef Marco Pierre White. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are within walking for exploring south of the river This hotel, a ten-minute walk from London Bridge Tube station, provides a great base for those who want to explore the South Bank — the Tower of London and Borough Market are both a short stroll away. Rooms are comfortable and surprisingly spacious and the best come with excellent views of the Shard. There's plenty of choice at breakfast and the mood-lit bar is the perfect place to put your feet up after a day of walking around the city. Best for couples getawaysThe design-centric chain Mama Shelter's London outpost is in the heart of Shoreditch so there's no shortage of things to do nearby. But if you're thinking about staying put, the hotel has a busy restaurant and bar serving an eclectic menu ranging from fish and chips to peri peri chicken burger, plus some banging cocktails. Guests can also make use of the gym — and the hotel even has its own karaoke rooms. Bedrooms here are on the cosy side but they have everything you'd need, from a mini-fridge to a desk. A USP for the brand is that free movies are included as part of your stay, even X-rated ones. Best for sustainable stays If you want somewhere to stay with eco-friendly credentials, look no further than Room2. On the roof, there are solar panels as well as 75,000 bees creating local honey and contributing to biodiversity in the area. Inside, all energy comes from renewable sources and the showers use 40 per cent less power (with a promise that they don't scrimp on water pressure). Climate-friendly measures extend to the decor, with pieces made locally wherever possible and carpets created from fishing nets. There's a café serving breakfast and light bites — or you can make use of your room's handy kitchenette. Best for solo travellersThis hotel is housed in a slick, post-war office building, around a courtyard just off Fleet Street, once the home of some of Britain's best newspapers ‚— you'll be less than ten minutes' walk from St Paul's and only a little further from the theatres of Covent Garden. Rooms, decorated in greys and emerald greens, manage to feel both comfy and upmarket and bathrooms are kitted out with Antipodes products. Chambers restaurant, a nod to the courts nearby, serves hearty classics and steaks and spills out into a courtyard during for music loversThis hotel will hit the right note with music lovers. Formerly the Hard Rock Hotel, there's memorabilia everywhere and guests will find vinyl record players and black-and-white shots of big-name rock legends on the walls. Live music takes centre stage each evening — best enjoyed between 5pm and 7pm when the cocktail happy hour is in full flow — and hearty American favourites are dished up at the Sound Bar: sizzling fajitas, stacked burgers and sides of mac and cheese. You'll struggle to find somewhere more central too. The hotel is a few minutes' walk from Marble Arch tube station and Oxford Street is moments away. Additional reporting by Lucy Perrin, Alexandra Whiting and Qin Xie • Most romantic hotels in London• Best London hotels with a view
New York Times
07-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
How to Get a Great Rate on a Hotel Room
With the cost of hotel stays generally trending upward — 2024 saw the highest recorded average daily rates in the U.S., for starters — the luxury hospitality world may not seem the most fertile bargain-hunting ground. But you can still find deals, and they go well beyond those you can obtain by converting your credit card and loyalty points into discounts. Here are six ways to get the best prices at some top hotels. When a hotel first opens or signs up with a new booking site, room rates are sometimes heavily discounted. A good starting point is the boutique and luxury hotel membership program Dis-loyalty, run by the Ennismore Lifestyle Collective. For a membership fee of $18 per month, you'll get deals and perks at 10 hotel brands (Mondrian, SLS and the Hoxton, among others) that include 50 percent off any of the site's new hotels within the first three months of opening day. One current example: At the Hoxton, Florence, in Italy, which opened in March, members can book a late May stay for a starting nightly rate of $235, compared with the standard $470. Another membership-based hotel collection, Design Hotels, offers free membership and various discounts — among them, 50 percent 'debut' savings on certain properties that are new to the collection, including Xela Tulum, a 12-room hotel on Mexico's Caribbean coast that opened in late 2023. At press time, a sample starting rate in May on the Design Hotels site was $266 per night — half the standard $532. Image Credit... Ilya Milstein Roberto Cowan, a co-founder of the Desert Vintage boutiques, which has outposts in Tucson, Ariz.; New York; and, later this year, Paris, suggests calling the hotel directly for the best rates. You never know where a politely asked 'Is that the best you can do?' will lead, he says. Among his biggest successes was a New Year's trip to Harmony Nosara, an upscale surfing and yoga retreat in Costa Rica. After the website showed there wasn't any availability on the days he was hoping to visit, he phoned the front desk and was told that the hotel could accommodate him if he were willing to change rooms during his stay. 'I was in the most beautiful place, I didn't mind having to move [rooms], and they were willing to work with me because of the inconvenience,' he says. In the end, he saved about 40 percent on rooms that typically run about $1,000 per night at that time of year. Wendy Perrin, the founder of a travel advice website, thinks front desk diplomacy may also work to your advantage in other scenarios: say, when you're already at a hotel and trying to extend your stay, or you're showing up last-minute, late at night, without a reservation. 'The closer you get to the time when the value of the room is going to perish,' she notes, the likelier you are to get a discount. Many hospitality brands, marketing consortiums and booking sites have newsletters you can sign up for with a complimentary membership. Though these dispatches are meant primarily as travel inspiration, they also tend to direct subscribers to a wide range of discounts. Small Luxury Hotels, for example, recently offered up to 20 percent off suites at about 168 properties, such as Torralbenc, a farm turned luxury retreat on the Spanish island of Minorca, and the Gaia Riverlodge, a cluster of thatch-roofed cabanas in Belize. And Mr. & Mrs. Smith promoted up to 35 percent off last-minute hotel stays over Easter weekend in destinations including Denver and Buenos Aires. Membership can confer other money-saving perks, too, says Perrin: upgrades, late checkouts, free meals and even the occasional free night. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Zawya
24-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai-based Hoxton Wealth expands app functionality with crypto account organisation and enhanced asset management
Dubai-based International financial advisory firm Hoxton Wealth has introduced powerful new features to its Hoxton Wealth App, further strengthening its position as a comprehensive financial management platform. These new updates, available starting today, offer users greater control and visibility over their assets and liabilities. Key New Features: Multiple Crypto Accounts – Users can now organize their cryptocurrency holdings into separate accounts, enhancing visibility and streamlined management. Expanded Account Linking – The app now supports linking additional asset types, including crypto accounts, personal loans, vehicle loans, and mortgages, with automated updates for seamless financial tracking. Auto-Deduct for Loans – Users manually adding loans can now set automatic monthly deductions, making it easier to track outstanding balances and manage repayments. Currently, the Hoxton Wealth App tracks over £115 million in assets and liabilities through its open banking integrations. The Hoxton Wealth App provides easy access to a consolidated view of users' entire net worth on mobile or desktop—regardless of whether they are Hoxton clients. Leveraging open banking technology, the app aggregates financial data from over 20,000 global sources, including bank accounts, brokerage accounts, crypto exchanges, pensions, and cash accounts. Users can also track static assets like real estate and monitor investments in stocks, shares, and cryptocurrencies. Financial liabilities, including credit cards and mortgages, are seamlessly integrated for a holistic wealth overview. The platform is available on both web and mobile. Beyond financial tracking, WealthFlow empowers users to visualize their financial future by mapping out their wealth trajectory based on key inputs like net worth, retirement plans, and major financial events. Users can explore multiple scenarios, adjust assumptions, and gain a clearer understanding of their long-term financial outlook. Whether planning for retirement or major investments, WealthFlow helps users take control of their financial journey with confidence.
