Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) has announced the opening of three boutique hotels in Sweden under the JdV by Hyatt brand. Story Hotel Riddargatan and Story Hotel Signalfabriken in Stockholm, and Story Hotel Studio Malmö in Malmö, Sweden– all join Hyatt’s independent collection portfolio, significantly increasing Hyatt’s brand presence in Sweden. The three hotels join Hotell Reisen bringing the total number of Hyatt properties in the country to four.

Deeply rooted in the culture of its local neighbourhood, each hotel is as unique as the individuals who enter through its doors, providing guests with a range of locally inspired programming that allows them to connect authentically with the surrounding community during their stay. With modern, Scandinavian design that reflects the edgy nature of both Swedish cities, the hotels offer amenities for business and leisure travelers alike.

“We are truly passionate about the neighbourhoods in which our hotels are located – so much so that we ensured the design of each hotel was a true extension of its surroundings and authentically reflected the local culture”, said Alexander Hederstrom, general manager of Story Hotel Riddargatan and Story Hotel Signalfabriken. “This is why we are so proud and excited to be joining JdV by Hyatt – a brand that truly recognizes and celebrates the importance of local community.”

“We are excited to welcome guests through our doors and share with them the spectacular views of the ocean and the beautiful city of Malmö from our rooftop. Story Hotel Studio Malmö is at the heart of the city, only a five minute walk from the Malmö Central Station,” said Sebastian Kamieniarczyk, general manager of Story Hotel Studio Malmö. “With each hotel’s unique location, there really is no better place for guests to stay when coming to explore the city and immerse themselves in the local culture”.

Story Hotel Riddargatan, Story Hotel Signalfabriken and Story Hotel Studio Malmö all feature individually designed boutique guestrooms, vibrant public spaces and food and beverage offerings for both visitors and residents.

Story Hotel Riddargatan, Stockholm

Rooms

The 83-room hotel is designed with an industrial theme to reflect the building’s former life as an apartment complex, a famous hair saloon and garage. The rooms are perfect for urbanites looking for a stylish place to stay, featuring distressed walls, sleek furniture, and rustic exposed pipework.

Food and drink

The Bar & Lounge is a distinct space, popular with local residents as well as hotel guests, serving a wide menu of cocktails, and offering DJ sets several evenings a week. The hotel also has a fantastic restaurant, Ling Long, specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Location

Located in the trendy area of downtown Stockholm, Story Hotel Riddargatan is just around the corner from the business and shopping district of Stureplan – appealing to both business and leisure travelers. For those interested in immersing themselves in the vibrant city center, the hotel is close to most key tourist attractions, ferry boats to the archipelago and designer shops and boutiques.

Story Hotel Signalfabriken, Stockholm

Rooms

Story Hotel Signalfabriken features 83 individual guestrooms, all chic and contemporary in their design. With copper plating, brick walls and rainfall showers, the hotel is perfect for those who prefer a modern industrial vibe.

Food and drink

Guests can grab a delicious burger at the in-house restaurant, Phil’s Burger, or enjoy a drink as the bustling bar which hosts DJ sets throughout the week.

Location

Located inside the listed Signalfabriken building, formerly a fire station and town hall, the industrial-chic hotel serves as the perfect home base for both business guests attending meetings in the surrounding areas of Solna Business Park, and leisure guests who want quick access to Stockholm’s city center. The hotel is ideal for those interested in exploring the Friends Arena and Mall, Scandinavia’s biggest shopping center, which also has an IMAX theatre, and can be reached by car in about 10 minutes.

Story Hotel Studio Malmö

Rooms

Story Hotel Studio Malmö features 95 unique guestrooms, all designed to reflect the distinct look and feel, and vibrant nature of the local neighbourhoods. With an airy and modern finish, each bedroom offers guests a beautiful view overlooking the city center and/or ocean glass windows.

Food and drink

The hotel features a restaurant on the 14th floor, Kasai in the Sky, with views overlooking Malmö and the Oresund – showcasing both the ocean and city skyline. The restaurant serves delicious modern Japanese cuisine, paired perfectly with one of the many cocktails available at the bar. The rooftop comes alive during the evening, with great music and a lively atmosphere.  

Location

Story Hotel Studio Malmö is located by the water at Universitetsholmen, a few minutes walking distance from the Malmö Central Station and city center, making it the perfect springboard for guests to explore the city. The hotel is located within the STUDIO building, which also features conference and meeting facilities, corporate offices, retail outlets, several restaurants, and a café. The best way to explore the city is by bike, which is perfect as Story Hotel Studio Malmö offers free cycle hires for all guests.

The JdV by Hyatt brand is known for its collection of vibrant, independent hotels that welcome all vibes, tribes and unique souls. Each property looks to embrace the local culture of the neighbourhood in which it is situated and welcomes guests to explore, celebrate and live in the moment. Already present in 15 locations in the U.S., and with a property recently opened in China, the brand is expanding its presence in Europe with these openings, as Hyatt looks to build its lifestyle portfolio in the region.

For more information about the hotels, please visit: Story Hotel Riddargatan http://storyhotelriddargatan.com, Story Hotel Signalfabriken http://storyhotelsignalfabriken.com, and Story Hotel Studio Malmö

http://storyhotel-studiomalmo.com.

Well known kbb industry professional Toby Griffin is to work with leading kbb and merchant service provider Simon Acres Group – SAGL as a training consultant. Toby is a business consulting expert with 17 years of experience with kbb companies.

SAGL director Simon Acres says, “We are thrilled that Toby has joined us.  He shares our passion for excellence and will be a great asset to our business, as we continue to service our growing kbb retail and merchant client base.

Toby Griffin added, “I am delighted to be working with Simon and the team.  It’s a great time to be joining as we come out of lockdown and take advantage of the lessons learned and the new ways of working that have evolved.

“I am looking forward to getting back out into showrooms to work face to face with clients and share the extensive portfolio of training that we can offer together.”

The IBC Group has created a series of IBC branded entities for the bathroom sector. Established in spring 2021, the IBC Group helps bridge the design-gap between modern and traditional bathroom interiors with a keen focus on sustainable innovation.

The IBC Group comprises of British designer and manufacturer, Imperial Bathrooms, and contemporary Italian-designed sanitaryware brand, Whiteville Ceramics, which made its debut to the UK in April 2021. 

Inspiring an exclusive mix of styles, products designs, innovation and technology for the British bathroom, the IBC Group is dedicated to broadening its scope in product development.

Graham Bucktrout, Managing Director at IBC Group says, “Given our high degree of business investment, we are excited to introduce the Group brand to the market. We have created a series of IBC branded entities within the bathroom sector, all of which are clearly defined by their individual style and origin. Innovation is at the heart of everything we do – be it product, brand or service – and so the launch of the IBC Group has been a significant move for us internally and more importantly, on a commercial scale too. We look forward to watching the group identity grow and to build on our brand story within the global market.”  

The IBC Group represents The Imperial Bathroom Company and has been introduced as a way to mark the company’s continued evolution. With the acquisition of Whiteville Ceramics, the group aims to unite its brands without compromising on its unique offering and progressive role in the bathroom sector. The group name and logo have been created in recognition of the company’s enduring market development, with each coloured ring representing a different stage of growth for the brand and it is excited to continue the journey towards greater brand development and investing in tomorrow.

As an organisation, IBC appreciate the support and market acceptance already shown throughout the industry and it promises to do all it can to provide best-in class product design and innovation for the latest bathroom interiors.

For further information on Imperial Bathrooms and/or Whiteville Ceramics, contact the IBC Group:

0870 606 1623

www.ibcgroup.co.uk

IBC Group: Unit 1-7, Empire Industrial Estate, Brickyard Road, Aldridge, West Midlands WS9 8UD

New research into the long-term implications of IR35 shows that more than half of managers in the construction industry are concerned about how the legislation will affect its workforce.

The research, from multi-disciple recruitment experts, Search Consultancy, highlights that 56% of managers believe the changes to tax legislation will leave them with a significant skills shortage as end clients veer on the side of caution when recruiting contractors.

Coming into play on 6^th April 2021, responsibility will now fall on the end client to determine whether contractors are self-employed or employed for tax purposes. Confusion surrounding the legislation means end clients are taking a conservative approach to hiring contractors, significantly reducing the talent pool available to them.

With 83% of managers within construction believing the industry already suffers from a skills shortage, IR35 could worsen an already difficult situation.

Paul Kynaston, managing director of construction & property at Search, said: “It is impossible to determine the impact changes to IR35 legislation will have on the industry just yet. However, the concern we have with companies going down the route of a low risk blanket ban on personal services companies means there could be restricted access to particular unique skill sets. Workers could also be panic pigeonholed into PAYE when they might legitimately continue to operate through a PSC.

“IR35 needs to be managed with balance against other risks, such as losing top talent in the industry, or finding that a company’s approach to IR35 sends PSC contractors in the direction of the competition.”

To support businesses and workers unsure about whether IR35 affects them, Search Consultancy has curated advise from tax experts and is sharing this in  its “Ask the Expert” hub. 

To access, visit https://www.search.co.uk/ir35.