Roomzzz aparthotels assist business travellers in beating bad eating

Struggling to beat the bulge? Business travel could be to blame, with over a third of UK workers who travel regularly claiming healthy eating goes out of the window.

Whether it’s grabbing a pastry between morning meetings or sitting down to a three-course meal with clients, business travel spells bad news for the usual healthy eating habits of UK workers, according to new research by Roomzzz, the Parklane Group’s aparthotel brand.

The recent study of 1,000 UK workers, who regularly travel with their job, claimed that it was their diet that was worse hit when away from home. In fact 36 percent of respondents believed it was the aspect that suffered the most during time away. Disruptions to sleep patterns come in close second, with 33 percent of those questioned saying a really comfortable bed was at the top of their wish list when it comes to choosing a room for the night.

Extra snacks and blow-out meals quickly rack up the calories, 58 percent of the regular travellers questioned believed they easily consumed anywhere between 250 and a whopping 1500 extra calories each day, compared to a normal working day. That’s potentially 50 percent over the recommended daily calorie intake for men and women. Out of the 1,000 respondents questioned, it was North West workers who admitted splurging the most during business trips.

a business traveller working in their Roomzzz Aparthotel

Naveen Ahmed, Managing Director at Roomzzz says:

“Travelling with work can mean a major disruption to your usual daily routine. Staying in a traditional hotel often means that you are often forced to eat out and have a lonely table for one, when all you want to do is get a take-away or prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal, put on your PJs and enjoy some down time in the comfort of your own room.

At Roomzzz we encourage our guests to use the room as they would their own home; we offer a kitchen and living area as standard, giving guests the space to spread out and relax and certainly no need to sneak food or drink into our properties! So many of our guests tell us they love the space and additional living areas, which means they don’t have to work ‘in bed’ with their laptops on their laps, which allows them to keep a bit of normality while away, whether that’s preparing their own meals, doing some yoga in the living area or simply chilling out on the sofa after a hectic day.”

Jo Cox, a frequent traveller says about her time staying in hotels:

“I used to stay away about three nights a week in hotels up and down the country and I would crave simple foods. It got so bad that one night I went down to the kitchen with a tin of beans and some bread and asked them to cook me some beans on toast! I was so fed up of eating out on my own or having the same choices from the room service menu.”

Naveen adds:

“Business travel is tiring – for the mind and body, so it’s not surprising that those questioned ranked a super comfy bed as an important feature of their room. We pride ourselves on offering the best beds in the market…so much so our guests often ask us where they can buy one for their own home!”

Roomzzz is revolutionising business travel, one city at a time. There are currently nine aparthotels within the Roomzzz portfolio and the brand has ambitious growth plans in 2019 with further developments in the pipeline for Edinburgh, Harrogate and York.

Roomzzz celebrates prestigious industry award win

Leeds-based aparthotel brand Roomzzz, part of The Parklane Group, has picked up the coveted Serviced Apartment Marketing Award at the 2018 ASAP Serviced Apartment Industry Awards.

Judged by a panel of industry experts, Roomzzz beat off tough competition to win the award. The brand was recognised for the exciting new identity, recently launched by the team, which aimed to elevate Roomzzz from price focussed to experience focussed. The rebrand allowed Roomzzz to create a really distinctive tone of voice and brand identity which is unique, individual, memorable and evocative.

The ASAP Serviced Apartment Industry Awards

The awards are in their sixth year, 2018 being a record year with entries coming from more than 19 countries. The aim of the awards is to recognise excellence, innovation and best practice at individual, team and company level throughout the growing serviced apartment industry.

The winners were announced at a glitzy awards ceremony held at etc venues, 155 Bishopsgate London, on Thursday 6th December. Comedian and compere, Ian Irving presented the 12 awards.

Robert Alley, Chief Operating Officer at Roomzzz, commented:

“The team has put a huge amount of effort in developing the brand story and brand identity of Roomzzz, so it’s fantastic for this to be recognised by industry figures. It’s been an exciting year for Roomzzz, with the launch of two new aparthotels in Manchester’s iconic Corn Exchange and London Stratford; we’re very much looking forward to moving into 2019 with this prestigious award under our belt.”

ASAP 2018 eye edit crop

 

Andy Durma, General Manager at Roomzzz Newcastle City was also recognised at the awards, winning Highly Commended in the Rising Star Award category. Anyone who has stayed at the Newcastle aparthotel will wholeheartedly agree that this recognition is well deserved, Andy goes above and beyond.

Andy said, “I’m humbled by the award and very proud to be part of such an amazing team. I’ll continue to lead my team to deliver the greatest guest experience around.”

2019 is set to be another exciting year for the Roomzzz brand with a new development opening in York and an expansion at the Newcastle City aparthotel. Find out more, here.

Work continues on new Roomzzz and IconInc developments

The Parklane Group are due to open three new developments during 2019. Luxury student accommodation brand, IconInc, will continue to expand with a new location in Lincoln, Roomzzz Newcastle City will benefit from an extension, and the group are set to open their tenth Roomzzz aparthotel, in the historic city of York.

With work now well underway at all three sites, read on for an update about how the builds are progressing.

IconInc Lincoln

A team of 16, from Broadley, have been working tirelessly since January to demolish three existing structures which once stood on the site – that of an old school, a parish hall and a coffee warehouse. The deconstruction was especially challenging as three important facades of these old buildings, are to be maintained and incorporated into the new structure.

Following the clearing of the site, a reduced level dig for archaeology was completed, before work on the foundations commenced. The building will sit on pile foundations (these foundations are deeper than usual and are used for extra strength) so a pile mat platform was then created for the huge piling rigs to travel around the site on.

The piling works are now complete and sub-structure works are beginning with pile caps (thick concrete mats) and concrete ground beams being cast. A vast 900m3 of concrete will be used for the foundations in total – that’s 82 concrete mixers full. Below ground drainage has also been installed.

The Parklane Group are due to open three new developments during 2019. With work now well underway at all sites, here's how the builds are progressing.

Roomzzz Newcastle City

Works began in November 2017 to extend the aparthotel in Newcastle city centre. And Broadley are currently working to erect the Cross-laminated timber structure, having completed two of the six floors now. This method makes for a quick build and is more environmentally-friendly than other building methods due to the use of the renewable materials.

The city centre location has created challenges for the team of sixteen so far as space is tight on the site. There is also only one road which allows access to the site so it’s been difficult delivering materials and manoeuvring machinery.

Prior to the timber works, piling works have been completed using a 32m jib, and 200 tonnes of concrete foundations have been laid. 80,000 bricks have been ordered to complete the exterior of the building. The extension will create 74 new apartments, and facilities such as a lounge and coffee zone, which the aparthotel currently lacks.

The Parklane Group are due to open three new developments during 2019. With work now well underway at all sites, here's how the builds are progressing.

Roomzzz York

It’s no secret that York is prone to flooding so care has been taken to minimise the risk every step of the way at the newest Roomzzz development. The main areas of the aparthotel are being built four meters above ground level and the existing flood defences on the site have now been reinforced with concrete too. The reinforcement proved difficult for the Broadley team as they worked around the current defences, to avoid disturbance.

All ground works and the concrete structure are now finished, and the Cross-laminated timber frame is in progress. The frame for the smaller wing of the building is all in place at this point so, for the first time, we can see the apartments taking shape. Not only is this non-traditional timber construction technique quick, it’s also considered a safer way to build with wood.

Roomzzz York will consist of 97 apartments, a gym and a café/deli. The build promises to be the most picturesque Roomzzz location yet.

The Parklane Group are due to open three new developments during 2019. With work now well underway at all sites, here's how the builds are progressing.

 

Are you intrigued? Take a look at the IconInc and Roomzzz websites to find out more about our current locations.

New Head of Developments appointed at The Parklane Group

The Parklane Group, has welcomed Campbell Carruth as its new Head of Developments to aid ambitious growth plans.

Bringing more than two decades of experience to the role, Campbell has a background in senior management including being head of property for the Humber area for Associated British Ports and a director at both Harworth Group PLC and Clugston Estates. Recognised in the industry as a change leader, he was part of the executive team that turned around the UK Coal mining land and income portfolio leading to a successful IPO and the creation of Harworth Group PLC.

In his new role, Campbell will take control of the development and property pipeline for The Parklane Group and manage the land and property aspects of the Company’s growth strategy. The Group has a substantial property portfolio in the UK with brands ranging from Roomzzz boutique aparthotels to luxury student accommodation provider, IconInc, leading estate and letting agent, Parklane Properties, and Leeds Golf Centre.

Commenting on the appointment, managing director of the Parklane Group, Naveen Ahmed, said: “Campbell is a fantastic addition to the Parklane senior management team, and we look forward to working with him. He brings years of experience in the industry and an infectious enthusiasm, which he will be using to help create an effective platform from which to meet our ambitious growth aspirations.”

Campbell’s role will include taking the IconInc brand and offering forward, expanding its footprint across the UK with the aim of establishing a presence in all of the ‘red brick university’ cities across the country. Current IconInc developments are known as the most covetable spaces in the cities they’re in and with plans to expand across the UK, the IconInc developments are changing the shape of student living for the foreseeable future.

Campbell added: “I’m very much looking forward to working at The Parklane Group, which is a dynamic and entrepreneurial business with bags of character and ambition and passionate, forward thing people. My vision is to drive the expansion across its established hospitality brands, throughout the UK and beyond, whilst ensuring the business adapts to the increased level of activity and encouraging a productive ethos. It’s an exciting time to be joining the company and I plan to utilise my existing networks and longstanding relationships in the commercial property market to identify purchase opportunities for the Group. I’ve already identified a number of target cities for the IconInc brand and I look forward to overseeing the planned expansion of Leeds Golf Centre and increasing the footprint of the Roomzzz brand, which has its first opening planned outside of the North of England in London Stratford in early 2018.”

Leeds Golf Centre Wins Club Of The Year 2018 At The England Golf Awards

Leeds Golf Centre has won the much coveted “Golf Club Of The Year 2018” award at the England Golf Awards. The awards celebrate everything that’s excellent about the game of golf in England, they recognise leading professionals, elite amateurs, top coaches, and the stars of the club and county golf who do so much to inspire others to play the game.

Club of the year award email2-01 (2)

 

After The Parklane Group made a significant investment into Leeds Golf Centre in 2011, the club has gone from strength to strength. There was a vision to make the club a go-to destination for both beginners and professional golfers. And we’ve achieved just that.

Judges at the awards were impressed with the infectious enthusiasm from the “Home Of Modern Golf” to develop the games across all ages and abilities.

The Operations Manager, Nigel Sweet, was in London with fellow colleague and PGA pro, Joe Feather, and said “We are open to everyone, that’s what is special about Leeds Golf Centre and we want to get more people into the game of golf.”

Juniors have been a huge focus of the club too with Leeds Golf Centre’s PGA pros visiting local schools to introduce the game of golf to youngsters. This has been really successful as we now have more than 50 young golfers taking part in our Tiger Cub challenge every Sunday.

From young to old, Leeds Golf Centre was chosen as the host venue for the Leeds Senior Masters, an event for golfing professional over the age of 48 years. It was the first time that Leeds Golf Centre played host to a high-key professional event since the Ryder Cup reunion in 2009.

Other achievements that helped Leeds Golf Centre win this award, is our partnership with the legendary David Leadbetter. We’re the UK headquarters for The Leadbetter Golf Academy, and it’s amazing to see how this golf tuition can help golfers turn their game around with the use of our facilities.

Naveen Ahmed, the Managing Director of The Parklane Group, says “This is a fantastic achievement for our club and we are delighted to win this award. We took over the club on the verge of bankruptcy and members were leaving at a rapid rate. Our experience is property, so our first challenge was to get our staff and existing members to believe in our vision for Leeds Golf Centre – which was to make golf at our club accessible to everyone.”

And, it looks like Leeds Golf Centre is doing just that. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Naveen Ahmed Wins National IoD Award

Naveen Ahmed, Managing Director of The Parklane Group, has been recognised at the prestigious Institute of Directors (IoD) awards in London. Following success at the Yorkshire region awards earlier in the year, Naveen saw off competition from nine other finalists from other areas of the UK, to pick up the title for Family Business Director of the Year. The judges recognised his ‘leadership and family values’ when deciding on the outcome, calling The Parklane Group’s story “inspirational”.

Whilst the award recognised the strong heritage of the group, it also highlighted its forward-thinking and innovative nature, as well as its “vision and strategy” for the future.

Of the award, Naveen Ahmed said: “My parents are a great source of inspiration to me and have proven to be a driving force in the success of the business. My father came to the UK in 1976 and built himself and his family a life here, whilst my mother has been brilliantly supportive in encouraging me to remain focussed on scaling up and pushing ahead. This family element has run through everything The Parklane Group does and remains a defining factor of our successes to date.

 

“As Managing Director, I’ve overseen the expansion of the company as we have diversified from student accommodation to a variety of dynamic brands, which are helping to shape new communities and foster innovation in the property sector. As a family of directors, we have guided the organisation through every challenge, including the recession, and I continue to take enormous enjoyment from leading The Parklane Group forward as we launch new brands like Livinc and workinc that will revolutionise and redefine how the next generation live and work.

“I’m delighted to have won this award and take particular pride in helping to move the agenda forward for Leeds and Yorkshire. The Parklane Group is truly a family operation, and my three sons are now continuing that tradition, two of whom are leading the UOWN business – a fact I’m incredibly proud of. Being a close-knit family business, it’s fantastic to be able to share this achievement with my sons and help to inspire the younger generation of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.”

The IoD National Awards brings together the winners from regions throughout the UK and helps to celebrate success and achievement amongst business directors. The Awards were held at a gala ceremony in central London on the 18th October. The Awards aim to raise awareness among IoD members, the wider business community and public of the significant contribution business leaders can make to society and economic prosperity.