Luxury Hotel Room Investment

Although it's one of the strangest forms of property investment, it could just catch on. The idea is simple. You buy a hotel room on a 999-year leasehold. Prices range from �50,000 to well over �250,000. In return, you get 52 nights a year free accommodation at the hotel; the rest of the time the hotel lets out the room on its usual terms.

You typically earn 50% of the income from occupancy, and can put it into a self-invested personal pension (SIPP), so any income and capital growth are tax-free.

Guest Invest was the first company in the UK to promote this scheme in several central London hotels. Owner Hotel is now selling rooms in two four-star hotels in Hull and York, and is building a low-cost hotel with much smaller rooms in Hull.

Four Pillars is running the Cotswold Water Park scheme, where it is selling buy-to-let hotel rooms aimed at the tourist market. And developer Galliard Homes is building a 900-room buy-to-let hotel opposite the House of Commons in central London. It sounds like a good alternative to investing in a flat or house in city centres, where there may be a saturated market for renting.

But there are risks. First, there is no established resale market to prove if hotel rooms appreciate over time. 'Studies in the U.S. suggest capital appreciation will mirror the mainstream housing market,' says David Galman, of Galliard Homes.

He points to a study showing hotel rooms in Manhattan rising in value by 25% over four years, and another by UK hotel analysts The Bench, predicting increases in London room rates.

Second, it may be hard for investors to get a mortgage. 'There's not much appetite among lenders for this investment, which, in the past, has been considered riskier than conventional buy-to-let,' says Melanie Bien, of Savills Private Finance, a mortgage broker. 'We have a pool of lenders, among which there used to be three willing to give mortgages on hotel rooms. Now they've withdrawn those deals.'

But Guest Invest and Owner Hotel have their own finance deals. 'We sold rooms in York and Hull in a very short time. The interest rate we offered was 4% above base rate, but still we sold well because of the high returns on offer,' explains Andy Woodcock, the developer behind Owner Hotel.

'We're now re-arranging deals at between 1.4% and 2% above base rate.'

A third danger is a possible slump in hotel usage. Although Owner Hotel offers a 10% guaranteed rental income for the first two years of ownership, the investor must then rely on the market.

If there is a global shock - another September 11, for example - leading to reduced business and tourism, then occupancy could drop dramatically.

'That's why we haven't chosen the sexiest locations such as London, Paris or New York,' says Mr Woodcock. 'We're looking at new schemes in Halifax, Gloucester, Glasgow and Bath, where we reckon there's a shortage of goodquality, mid-cost business hotels. We think these will withstand any slowdown.'

Buying a hotel room may be for the brave, but this room service may well work in your favour.

Visit Guest Invest website to find out more details of investing in a hotel room: http://www.guestinvest.com

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The Golden Ticket to London Arts Events

According to Samuel Johnson ?When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.? Three hundred years on this adage still holds true; to be tired of London is to be tired of life. From gorgeous architecture and galleries, to world class shopping there is enough to keep even the most discerning visitor or cynical Oyster card-holder entertained.

Beyond this, the entertainment scene has never been more vibrant and the number of world-class events in London grows daily ? if there is any criticism, perhaps it is just that there?s so much to choose from.

Looking for things to do in London isn?t difficult. In fact, it?s probably fair to say that whilst you?ll be spoilt for choice finding events in London, experiencing the capital can be an event itself. However, since quantity doesn?t always equate with quality it?s a breath of fresh air to come across a new concept from the Guest Hotels group. Membership of their Concierge Club guarantees you a ?golden ticket? into the cream of cultural events in London. Whether you love theatre, music, art, literature or fashion, they?ve opened the door to a whole new way of enjoying the best that London has to offer in beautiful surroundings.

Music lovers, for instance, can indulge in everything from large-scale symphony performances to world famous stadium gigs in London. However, whist big may be beautiful, it?s worth remembering that many renowned musicians, from rock to classical, started out their careers in, and often prefer the intimacy that comes from playing smaller venues. Classical musicians perform in eclectic venues around the city, from restaurants, to galleries to tube stations. The number of pub gigs is endless ? you might well witness the next Amy Winehouse or Radiohead before a rock and roll life style and/or giant ego have taken over. But, all too often these gigs are either jammed to the rafters or take place with minimal advertising. Blink, and you?ve missed them.
With this in mind, who wouldn?t jump at the chance to be regularly invited to the best concerts in intimate surroundings? Imagine if every visit to London, or regular nights out for those who live there, included a guarantee to catch the best of cultural events whether music, theatre, art or literature? Membership to The Concierge Club offers exactly this.

The concept of these arts events does not so much involve jumping any queues as rather negating the need for them in the first place and leapfrogging the mediocre. If a fast track ticket to top quality events seems to good to be true, perhaps it?s time to re-evaluate your expectations. After all, with such diversity of cutting edge cultural activity taking place in the capital, isn?t it time that innovation was applied to the ways audiences experience the arts?

They say that New York is the city that never sleeps, whilst this may be true, there is no doubt that London is the city that never bores.

Arts Club Hotel London

Nest is an ambitious, even audacious, transformation of Victorian townscape into a sophisticated, but easy-going, contemporary arts club hotel in London. It opens 1st September 2008.

Guests become members of the Concierge Club, offering access to the V&A, ICA, Tate, Photographers Gallery and Gate Theatre as well as exhibitions, music, book launches and shows throughout London. Nest will host continuously changing photographic exhibitions, turning five floors of hotel into gallery space.

Nest is in one of London?s landmark garden squares: leafy, quiet and dignified. 157 bedrooms are arranged over six floors. The transformation of the original John Nash design is by Dream Architects, a collaboration with luxury boat builder Pendennis which ensures an ingenious use of space and a sleek, streamlined feel.

Restaurant, bar and lounge balance form and function to create a simple, yet stylish, setting. Le Petit Oiseau restaurant will be overseen by Oliver Peyton. The hotel bar is a generous and relaxed informal space serving drinks and food throughout the day.

Bedrooms have private entrance lobbies and are lined with East African Wenge, a sustainable hardwood. Wall panels slide away to reveal wardrobes, storage, entertainment, internet and minibar. Shower rooms feature REN products, a power shower and full length mirror. The result is an uncluttered space whose neat ambience gave rise to the name: Nest.

The hotel is in the heart of Bayswater, an area alive with its own local restaurants and bars. Hyde Park and the West End are a short walk. Nest is close to Paddington Station with rapid access to Heathrow, the London tube system and the national rail network.




Capital Culture July 2008
Your Sneak Preview Of What?s Hot And Happening In London - July 2008

Capital Culture is your new one-stop-shop for cultural London. Created especially for Guest Hotels and Concierge Club, by the ICA ? this is a unique collaborative project presenting to our guests a privileged monthly video preview of what?s hot and what?s happening in London?s cultural heartland. And, if you join Concierge Club at Guest Hotels, you?ll get exclusive tickets to all the events previewed here ? and much more?

Guest Hotels have teamed up with the ICA to co-produce a unique new concept, especially for our guests ? Capital Culture! Presenting a monthly series of short films, interviews and behind the scenes tours of new exhibitions, films, performances and everything else that?s hot and happening in our very cultural capital!

What?s more, if you join Concierge Club at Guest Hotels, you?ll get exclusive tickets to all the events previewed here ? and much more?

Richard Rogers at the Design Museum
Richard Rogers shares insights into his work and career, as a major retrospective opens at the Design Museum to celebrate his achievements in architecture.

The Supremes at the V&A
Victoria Broackes, Head of Exhibitions at the V&A, discusses original girl band The Supremes and their influence on music and civil rights.

Capital Culture Events in London July 2008 Video: