Leisure Report articles from June 2006

Leisure Report archives from June 2006

Regional casino development set to stimulate growth in wider market.
June 1, 2006... Regional casino investment could lead to the development of a raft of new leisure facilities across the country, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The report "Hospitality Directions Europe--Casino gambling: can UK...

'Super-casino' fight is a super farce.
June 1, 2006... So, the deadline for applications to operate the UK's one and only regional casino has passed, and the government is gearing up to present the 17 'new style' casino licences. Millions of pounds have already been spent by operators, local...

New leisure centre focused health and safety management firm comes to the marketplace.(News)
June 1, 2006... Sport and Play, a new company aimed at relieving the pressure of health and safety management on staff within the health and fitness sector, was launched as Leisure Report went to press. The company offers an online system, which allows...

Like-for-likes down 8% at nightclub group Luminar.
June 1, 2006... Luminar, the quoted nightclub group, reported current like-for-like sales down 8% for the first 10 weeks of its new financial year. The company said that the decline was the result of a drop in admissions in unbranded units and its...

Leisure Link spurns PE sale for IPO.(News)
June 1, 2006... UK slot machine operator Leisure Link, which was put up for sale by its private equity owner, Henderson Private Equity, several months ago, has opted for an accelerated public offering instead of a sale to another PE company. Henderson is...

H1 loss as Holidaybreak closes in on sale of its camping division.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Holidaybreak, the UK based holiday operator, reported a half-year pre-tax loss of 6.3m [pounds sterling], against a loss of 8.6m [pounds sterling] in the previous year. Revenue for the six months to 31 March increased by 3.9% from 85.3m...

DLL speculation resurfaces as Whitbread shifts its focus to PTI.(News: Health & Fitness)
June 1, 2006... Rumours of a potential sale of David Lloyd Leisure were rekindled as Whitbread said it was planning to launch its Premier Travel Inn brand in the Gulf region, initially in Dubai. Whitbread said that it would focus its development on PTI and...

Delancey joins De Vere bidding.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The private property group Delancey has emerged as a surprise bidder for hotel and leisure group De Vere, after US private equity group Blackstone pulled out of the bidding Delancey chief Jamie Ritblat is understood to be preparing an...

Academy Leisure puts its health clubs on the market.(News: Health & Fitness)
June 1, 2006... Academy Leisure Group has put its three UK health clubs on the market as it looks to focus on the further expansion and development of its five-star luxury spa hotel, Le Mas Candille in Mougins, France. The disposal of the company's portfolio,...

Leisure division shines again at troubled JJB.(News: Health & Fitness)
June 1, 2006... JJB Sports has reported a 44.7% drop in operating profits for the year ending 29 January, to 34.3m [pounds sterling]. Like-for-like revenue decreased by 4.3%, while gross margin fell by 0.7%, as the company blamed the disappointing results...

London & Regional wins 200m [pounds sterling] race for Next Generation Clubs.(News: Health & Fitness)
June 1, 2006... London & Regional, the private property company owned by lan and Richard Livingstone, has won the race to acquire Next Generation, the racquet and fitness club operator, in a deal worth nearly 200m [pounds sterling]. L&R, which owns sites...

DC puts healthy eating on menu.(News: Health & Fitness)
June 1, 2006... DC Leisure is introducing new menus to offer better balanced meals across its estate. The company has awarded a two-year contract to Pasta King, a specialist provider that uses a mobile pasta bar offering a fast, front-of-house operation...

Increased audience numbers see ukbetting's 'sportal' add to its sports broadcast portfolio.(News: Sport)
June 1, 2006... Following "significant audience growth", ukbetting's leading sports video website sportal.com has announced a number of major online media rights acquisitions, specifically designed for its rapidly-growing broadband audience. After seeing...

Spurs and Mansion sign 34m [pounds sterling] deal.(News: Sport)
June 1, 2006... Tottenham Hotspur football club has signed a four-year shirt sponsorship deal with internet casino group Mansion worth 34m [pounds sterling]. The new agreement, which will start on 1 July, comes just over a month after Mansion pulled out...

Setanta breaks Sky's football monopoly.(News: Sport)
June 1, 2006... BSkyB's 14-year monopoly on Premier League matches ended last month when Setanta, the Irish pay-TV broadcaster, won the rights to show 46 games, but Sky has moved quickly to sign a distribution deal with Setanta enabling pubs, clubs and other...

Leisure Report LR index: football stockwatch May 2006.(News: Sport)
June 1, 2006... Sharp-eyed regular readers of this publication will know by now that this column presents me with an unrivalled opportunity to give the fabled 'kiss of death' to otherwise flourishing football clubs--witness last year's prediction that Celtic...

BETonSPORTS doubles its Asian presence and builds on acquisitions.(China facing sportsbooks Hooball and 777ball)
June 1, 2006... The US and Asian-facing gaming site, BETonSPORTS, said it would double its presence in Asia with the $22m (10m [pounds sterling]) acquisition of Hooball and 777ball, two China-facing sportsbooks. The company will fund the deal with a $10m...

Safeguards sought by UK web gamblers.(News: Betting & Gaming)
June 1, 2006... British internet gamblers would accept additional regulatory and government support of the market in the run up to the 2007 Gambling Act, according to a poll recently conducted by casino games creator Prime Table Games. In addition,...

Stanley in line as sporting results pick up.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Stanley Leisure announced that trading for the year to 30 April had been in line with the market's consensus forecast. The company said that its provincial casinos, including three acquired in January this year in Bristol and South end, had...

William Hill upbeat as Cheltenham provides fillip.(news: betting & Gaming)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Reporting on the 20-week period ended 16 May 2006, William Hill said a string of recent sporting results had gone in its favour, in both horseracing, which benefited from good results at the Cheltenham Festival and an "excellent result" for the...

Ubet2win launches its sportsbook site.(online sportsbook site)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... UK gaming site Ubet2win unveiled its latest offering, an online sportsbook site, which follows "substantial investment in technology" and will allow the group's customers to bets on a range of popular sporting events. The company had hoped to...

Arena on track as increased visitor numbers cover development costs.(Arena Leisure)
June 1, 2006... UK racecourse operator Arena Leisure said it was performing broadly in line with market expectations as increased attendances compensated for redevelopment costs at its Doncaster track. At the group's annual general meeting, Roger Withers,...

Buckingham bingo buys Stardust club.(News: Betting & Gaming)
June 1, 2006... Buckingham Bingo, bought by PE firm Alchemy Partners in December, has purchased the Stardust Bingo Club in Corby from Hamblin Leisure for an undisclosed amount. The bingo chain now plans to invest around 1.5m [pounds sterling] in...

Like-for-like sales ahead at upbeat Talarius.(Talarius slot machine operator)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Talarius, the UK's largest high-street slot machine operator, announced that like-for-like sales for its adult gaming centres in the first 19 weeks of its financial year remained above the 9% increase it reported for the second half of last...

Smoking ban forces Carlton Bingo to stub out its expansion plans.(News: Betting & Gaming)
June 1, 2006... Scottish-based Carlton Bingo, the UK's largest independent operator with 18 halls throughout Scotland and the north of England, has put its expansion plans on hold, as the introduction of the smoking ban hit trade hard immediately after its...

Planning doubts raised over Center Parcs' scheme to build Jersey village.(Blackstone)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Center Parcs UK is rumoured to be facing objections from local planning officers over its plans to build a 160m [pounds sterling] holiday village on the Duke of Bedford's estate near Woburn. Planning refusal would be a blow to Blackstone,...

Cool new attraction gets riverside London launch.(IceSpace)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... London is this month hosting a temporary ice palace that will feature a bar as well as art galleries, a live music auditorium and a skating rink. The structure, called IceSpace, is constructed of 200,000 litres of Canadian water, and...

H20 to bring timeshare to marina market.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
June 1, 2006... H20 Resorts, a new company, is aiming to bring the timeshare concept to the UK's overcrowded marina space. The firm is preparing to launch in June, when the first of its fleet of boats arrives in Salcombe, South Devon. H20 is selling...

Visit London to plug waterways.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
June 1, 2006... Visit London is launching a 500,000 [pounds sterling] marketing and PR drive to promote the huge choice of things to see and do on and around the capital's rivers and waterways. Aimed at a UK audience, the campaign will inspire people to see...

Tourism Alliance welcomes government's new good practice guide to community planning.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
June 1, 2006... Brigid Simmonds, chair of the Tourism Alliance. has welcomed the launch of the Department for Communities and Local Government's Good Practice Guide to Planning for Tourism, and urged every local authority planning officer to read it and use it...

Digital systems 'ready to replace 35mm film' in cinemas worldwide.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
June 1, 2006... The second half of last year saw explosive growth in the number of digital cinema screens globally, a trend which has continued into 2006. A new report from media researchers, Screen Digest--"Digital Cinema: Roll-out, Business Models and...

American gets the Big Apple.(American Amusements acquired The Big Apple)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... American Amusements has acquired its eighth entertainment centre, continuing its expansion in East Anglia and the Home Counties. Edward Symmons Hospitality & Leisure represented American Amusements in its freehold acquisition of The Big...

Georgica continues share buyback as l-f-l sales dip.
June 1, 2006... As expected, Georgica, the UK leisure group, announced a 0.5% drop in turnover and same outlet sales for its first quarter to 2 April 2006 compared to the 13 weeks from 27 December 2004 to 27 March 2005. However, the group's shares continued...

Mobi-tickets let fans into secret Snow Patrol gig.
June 1, 2006... Mobiqa, the SMS-based ticketing supplier, in association with Vodafone Live and mobile marketing agency Enpocket, announced that its unique mobile ticketing technology had been successfully used to send mobi-tickets to Snow Patrol fans for an...

BoS eyes 400m [pounds sterling] Vue deal.
June 1, 2006... Bank of Scotland's integrated finance arm is close to signing a 400m [pounds sterling] deal to acquire Vue Entertainment, the UK's third-largest cinema chain, with 56 UK sites, and an estimated 20% of the home market. BoS is believed to be...

Like-for-likes flat at Greggs.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... High-street baker Greggs said like-for-like sales for the 18 weeks to 6 May had been flat. Derek Netherton, chairman, said that the comparative period in 2005 had been very strong, and warned that profits to date were "materially below the...

Pasty firm keeps it personal.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... West Cornwall Pasty Company says its challenge is to grow beyond 50 shops without resorting to the rigid controls the likes of McDonald's exercises. The 47-strong Helston-based chain, says it is still battling to stick to its ideals by keeping...

La Tasca trades in line.(La Tasca )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... La Tasca has confirmed that trading for the year ending 30 April will be in line with expectations. The company said it had successfully opened 14 new restaurants during its financial year, bringing its total outlets to 64. However, the profits...

Subway opens 650th outlet.
June 1, 2006... Subway, the fast-growing sandwich chain, opened its 650th store in the UK, in Dublin on 12 April. Another 11 outlets have been open since then taking its current total number of Subways in the UK to 661. The company plans to open 2,010 UK...

Starbucks perky in Q2.
June 1, 2006... Starbucks reported a 24% rise in second quarter net revenues to $1.89bn (1.01bn [pounds sterling]). In the 13 weeks ending 2 April net earnings grew 27% to $127m (68.86m [pounds sterling]). to April, net revenue was up 23%, to $597m.

Several London-based fast-food franchises looking for expansion.(News: Food & Drink)
June 1, 2006... A number of recently established fastfood operators are looking to expand their offerings to franchise sites outside Lonodn, following successful launches in the capital. Oi! Bagel, the bagel and coffee chain launched by fast food...

Room to grow in UK coffee shop market.(News: Food & Drink)(Industry overview)
June 1, 2006... Research firm Allegra Strategies has published its sixth Project Cafe report, a pan-European examination into the continent's coffee shop market, which shows that the branded market is far from reaching saturation. According to Project...

New scheme encourages better work-life balance for employees.(News: Industry)
June 1, 2006... A new initiative designed to change Britain's working culture has launched. Work Wise UK aims to encourage British employees to find ways of carrying out their jobs that will not only heighten efficiency, but will also enable a better...

Survey signals recovery for UK economy.(News: Industry)
June 1, 2006... The UK's service sector grew faster in April 2006 than it has since January 2004, according to the Purchasing Managers' Index. The survey, published by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, rated the service sector at 59.71 for...

UK employers warm to staff from EU states.(News: Industry)
June 1, 2006... The number of firms hiring workers from EU accession states is on the rise, according to new figures from employment specialist Manpower. In a recent survey of 2,191 UK companies, 12% reported that they employed workers from countries that...

Croner predicts 'World Cup-it 'is'.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Employee relations firm Croner has predicted that up to one in seven UK employees could pull a sickle this year to watch World Cup matches. YouGov polled 2,191 adults and found that 13% of men and 4% of women said they had previously...

'Green' leisure firms sought for national awards.(News: Industry)
June 1, 2006... Managers of leisure facilities and recreational clubs, hoteliers, caterers, restaurateurs, and landlords across the UK are being urged to shout about their recycling successes in the National Recycling Awards 2006. The category for Best...

Chip and PIN is still not safe and sound warns FBI's fraud expert.(News: Industry)
June 1, 2006... FBI fraud consultant Frank Abagnale has warned of vulnerabilities within the chip and PIN card payment protection system. According to Abagnale, it is easy for determined scammers to use laptops and snooping devices to pick off card details...

Nine-screen Vue multiplex to anchor 25m [pounds sterling] Eastleigh expansion.(News: Property & Development)
June 1, 2006... Vue Cinemas, one of the country's leading cinema chains, is to open a nine-screen multiplex in the 25m [pounds sterling] leisure complex which Cordwell Leisure is to develop in the centre of Eastleigh, Hampshire, as an extension to Prudential's...

New Woodland lodges planned for Trentham.(Trentham Hall )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Seventy-five timber holiday lodges in a woodland setting are planned within Trentham, the UK tourist and leisure destination, to provide the site with self-catering short and long-stay holiday accommodation. Details of the lodges, for...

Berg Legal acts in golf club sale.(Julian Innell)(Ballards Gore Golf)(Country Club)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The corporate team of Berg Legal has advised Southend-based Julian Innell on his 2m [pounds sterling] acquisition of Ballards Gore Golf and Country Club, in Essex. The deal, which was funded by Halifax Bank of Scotland, sees Innell expand...

Fife Leisure Park set for further expansion.(News: Property & Development)
June 1, 2006... The Fife Leisure Park, in Dunfermline, is set for further development following the unveiling of a new expansion phase for the 35-acre site. Fife Council is currently considering a planning application for a 50,000 sq ft, 7m [pounds...

The Brains of the operation: David Minton gets the inside track on the changes afoot at Holmes Place from Nick Burrows, the group's sales and marketing director.(Insight)
June 1, 2006... I've just had lunch--well if you call two smoothies lunch--with Nick Burrows, group sales and marketing director of Holmes Place. Nick reminds me of Brains from Thunderbirds, and just like the famous series, he seems to have developed a bit of...

The health club industry, but not as we know it: Ray Algar looks at trend developments in the future of the sector.
June 1, 2006... Presently, there are 2,900 private health clubs in the UK, which is one for every 15,000 adults. Let's now move forward to 2016. Do you think there has been significant consolidation? Has there been a steep rise in the number of clubs? Do you...

Fit mums make fit babies, and fill up your club! Melinda Nicci says operators could benefit from targeting this niche market.(Pre-and post-natal exercise)
June 1, 2006... In our celebrity-obsessed culture there is not a day that goes by without some skinny ingenue claiming that three weeks after giving birth she is back on the red carpet, in her skinny jeans and looking as glamorous as ever. This kind of media...

Profile: Brett Jefferson-Stott, founder of Shootexperience.(Interview)
June 1, 2006... Last month Leisure Report introduced Shootexperience, a new concept in leisure, combining the traditional elements of a treasure hunt with the 'flashmob' concept and widespread use of digital cameras. This month, we talk to Brett Jefferson...

Bye bye, to the American pie? CMS Cameron McKenna's Jason Zemmel asks: is prohibition a possibility?(legal: online gaming in the United States)(CMS Cameron McKenna LLP )
June 1, 2006... The bumper returns enjoyed by operators and owners in the e-gaming sector last year show little sign of abating in 2006. This booming sector has, for some time now, been characterised by very strong market performance on the capital markets...

Pay for Performance 2006: Janet Salmon presents the annual study of leisure firms' performance against executive pay.(report: pay for performance)
June 1, 2006... Pay for Performance, the annual study and review, has monitored 20 leading leisure companies over eight years, 13 from 2000 and 16 from 2002. This year, author Janet Salmon has concentrated on individual company's financial data and performance...

Rank.(appointment of David Boden)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... David Boden, executive director at Rank and managing director of its gaming division, has stepped down from the board with immediate effect. Ian Burke, Rank's chief executive, has taken over management of the division, which has...

888.com.(appointment of Gigi Levy)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... 888.com announced the appointment of Gigi Levy, who will join the board as chief operating officer from 18 June. Levy boasts a strong technology background and joins from Amdocs, a public company traded on NYSE, which provides software and...

betinternet.com.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... At betinternet.com, Simon Ian Nicholls has been appointed as an executive director with responsibility for the group's Pari-Mutuel operation, European Wagering Services. Nicholls joined the group in March 2005 as chief operating officer of EWS....

Travelocity.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... Travelocity named Ian McCaig as the new chief executive of its European online travel and leisure group, lastminute.com. McCaig, who is currently chief operating officer at lastminute, replaces co-founder Brent Hoberman, who will become...

Shaun Woodward, formerly parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office, has been appointed as the UK's new minister for media and tourism, following the recent cabinet reshuffle.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... Shaun Woodward, formerly parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office, has been appointed as the UK's new minister for media and tourism, following the recent cabinet reshuffle. He replaces James Purnell, who has moved...

Exergenics.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... Exergenics, the manufacturer and supplier of home fitness equipment, has stepped up its international expansion drive with the recruitment of James Mair to maximise on its trading practice. His role is to identify and secure distributors...

McDonald's.(appointments)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... At McDonald's, chief operating officer Steve Easterbrook is to replace Peter Beresford as UK chief executive. He will spearhead a three-year turnaround programme that will cost 140m [pounds sterling], and will include moving 76 under-performing...

Hilton UK & Ireland.(appointment of Katrina Jones)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Hilton UK & Ireland has appointed Katrina Jones as its new director of communications. Over the last two and a half years, Jones has directed the London office of Seal Communcations, working across a range of travel, food and health...

Fitness First.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... The UK's largest health and fitness operator, Fitness First, has appointed John Gamble, the former managing director and director of sales for Technogym UK, as its new managing director. Gamble will replace Peter Boddy, who stepped down two...

Clapham House Group.(appointment of Nicholas Wong in Clapham House Group)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Clapham House Group, the restaurant operator, has announced the appointment of Nicholas Wong to the board of Urban Dining. Wong is an executive director at Clapham House, and according to the company will bring with him "operational,...

Million-2-1.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... Mike Luckwell is to become the new chairman of mobile gaming and low-bid lottery company Million-2-1. Luckwell is the former head of Carlton Communications.

DC Leisure.(appointment of Alex Blackwell as a lifeguarding manager )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Alex Blackwell has been appointed to the new role of group lifeguarding manager at DC Leisure. Overseeing more than 2,000 full and part-time lifeguards across 63 pools, he will be responsible for maintaining standards in lifeguard training,...

Millwall Holdings.(appointment of Heather Rabbatts )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Millwall Holdings announced the appointments of Heather Rabbatts CBE, as executive deputy chairman and Stewart Till CBE as non-executive director. Rabbatts is currently head of education at Channel 4, responsible for commissioning...

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.(People on the move)
June 1, 2006... Hyatt Hotels and Resorts has appointed Julie York as its new UK leisure sales manager. York will be responsible for working with tour operators and the travel trade to boost the chain's profile. York started her career at Hyatt in 2000, but...

LR Index leisure stockwatch May 2005.(Sharewatch)
June 1, 2006... The index of listed leisure stocks is one down this month, as Center Parcs has delisted, following its sale to Blackstone. The US private equity firm had also expressed an interest in taking De Vere Group off the market, although we understand...

Diary dates: June.(Diary dates)(Calendar)
June 1, 2006... Event: HOTEC 06 Date: 1-4 Location: Mohegan Sun, Connecticut, USA Description: The third annual North American business forum for the hospitality and catering industry. Contact: +1 954 942 8143 or +1 954 942 7077...