Leisure Report articles from May 2006

Leisure Report archives from May 2006

Government's fitness facility building targets miss the point.
May 1, 2006... The headlines surrounding Deloitte's annual Health of the Nation survey concerned the 487m [pounds sterling] saving to the UK economy that could be made if just 70% of the population managed to meet the government's target of 150 minutes of...

ADDleisure hoping Fitbug will start an epidemic.(ADDleisure)
May 1, 2006... ADDleisure, the AIM-traded company formed to develop products and services in the health and leisure sectors, announced an improved set of interim results for the six months ended 31 January. The company said it expected to see strong growth...

The great outdoors--open for business.(inside track)(Editorial)(Event overview)
May 1, 2006... Like many people, I suffer from Seasonal Adjustment Disorder, or to put it another way, I hate the long dark winter, so I'm always delighted when spring finally arrives and I can 'cast off the clouts' and get out and about again. And now...

Leisure Report awards 2006 set to open for nominations next month.(News: Health and fitness)
May 1, 2006... Leisure Report is holding its annual awards ceremony in Claridge's Hotel London on 7th November 2006. The awards are designed to commend the very best practices within the leisure sector, and this year we will be opening up the awards to a...

Hard Rock shines as gaming divisions struggle at Rank.(financial report )(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Rank Group's Hard Rock division out-performed the firm's bingo and casino divisions during the 16 weeks to 16 April, posting an impresive 9% increase in like-for-like sales at its company-operated outlets. Food and drink sales rose 12% in...

Empire strikes back as non-poker sites drive profits.(financial report Empire Online )(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Following its legal wrangle over 'skins' with PartyGaming, Empire Online bounced back with a steady first quarter trading update, lifted by the performance of its non-poker offering. While total company poker revenue in the first quarter...

Stanley Leisure wins licence to open Sheffield casino, plans more.(News: Health and fitness)
May 1, 2006... Stanley Leisure, the gaming group, has been granted permission to open a 30,000 sq ft casino in Sheffield. The announcement of the planned casino, which is expected to cost 7.75m [pounds sterling] and open in early 2008, comes two weeks...

Village fate in balance as three suitors linked to De Vere approach.(news: health and fitness)(Village and Green chains)(De Vere Group)
May 1, 2006... Hotel and leisure operator NH Hotels of Spain, Blackstone Group and Permira have all been linked with a possible approach for De Vere Group, which operates the Village and Greens chains, in addition to its hotel business. All the of the...

L&R tipped to win Next Generation game.(London and Regional Properties Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Strong rumours suggest that the race to buy Next Generation Clubs has been won by London & Regional, the property firm owned by brothers lan and Richard Livingstone, dashing expectations of consolidation at the premium end of the market. ...

Online fitness dub appeals to large audience.(News: Health and fitness)
May 1, 2006... A new online lifestyle club, www.bigandfit.com, is launching a campaign targeting the fitness industry, claiming that it is wrong to focus on weight loss and that fitness should not take weight into account at all. The online health club,...

Two franchises to close as energie begins to feel the pinch.(News: Health and fitness)
May 1, 2006... Health club franchisor energie fitness clubs has been forced to close two of its operations, in Bromley and Peterborough, after both clubs called in the receivers. Jan Spaticchia, chief executive, said: "Unfortunately, in the case of the...

HHC considers LivingWell sale.(News: Health and fitness)
May 1, 2006... Hilton Hotels Corporation is reported to have appointed advisors to sell the LivingWell chain in a deal that could be worth up to 110m [pounds sterling]. HHC acquired the group as part of its 3.3bn [pounds sterling] purchase of Hilton...

Esporta results unaffected by fire.(News: Health and fitness)
May 1, 2006... Full-year results of premium health club chain Esporta will not be affected by a fire at its flagship club in west London, according to the group. The Esporta Riverside Club in Chiswick, reportedly used by several TV stars plus tennis...

Struggling Newcastle United sees profits drop.(financial report)(Financial report)
May 1, 2006... Announcing interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2006, Newcastle United posted a reduced profit of 2.7m [pounds sterling] before player trading, compared with 8.5m [pounds sterling] in 2005, but was buoyed by sharp increases in...

Licensee wins in TV football case.(News: Sports)
May 1, 2006... Licensees, who breach copyright laws and screen live football matches on a Saturday afternoon, could escape conviction, after a former licensee won his appeal against such a conviction Representatives of Brian Gannon highlighted the fact...

Hornets' sting in the tail.(financial report Watford Leisure )(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Watford Leisure has been left hoping for a fairytale end to the season, after a string of good results has secured the football club a guaranteed place in the playoffs for the final Premiership place. Promotion to the top flight would end...

'Tap-and-go' beats queues at sports grounds.(News: Sports)
May 1, 2006... Sports fans could soon be able to pay for their half-time drinks and food simply by tapping their debit cards on a touchpad. The new "tap-and-go" technology has just been rolled out at Major League baseball stadiums in the USA. Fast-food...

Leisure report LR index: football stockwatch April 2006.(Report)
May 1, 2006... As the season draws to a close, you can be sure of several things. Firstly, that listed clubs which are relegated will suffer a nose-dive in their share price. Millwall provides us with evidence of this, with the Lions seeing 17% wiped off...

Sportingbet to share purse with developer.(contracts between Global Interactive Gaming Ltd. and Sportingbet PLC)
May 1, 2006... Paradise Poker owner Sportingbet has signed an innovative agreement with Global Interactive Gaming (GIG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Interactive Systems Worldwide (ISWI), which will see the technology firm provide Sportingbet...

Uncertainty over gaming groups' futures continues.(News: Betting & gaming)
May 1, 2006... Investors in Rank Group and London Clubs have been subject to a number of ups and downs since the turn of the year, as uncertainty over the future of the gaming operators continues. Despite recent reports that Blackstone was close to making...

AIM-listed Betcorp reports 58% increase in first quarter turnover.(News: Betting & gaming)
May 1, 2006... Betcorp, the AIM-listed Australian online gaming operator, announced a 58% increase in first quarter total betting turnover, to US$287m (173m [pounds sterling]). Betcorp's unaudited results for the three months ended 2 April showed sports...

Hermes buys Mayfair Bingo from Risk Capital Partners in 30m [pounds sterling] deal.(Hermes Private Equity acquired Mayfair Gaming)
May 1, 2006... Hermes Private Equity has acquired Mayfair Gaming, a bingo operator with eight clubs across the UK, from Risk Capital Partners, in a deal worth close to 30m [pounds sterling]. Mayfair operates bingo halls in Aberdeen, Pudsey, Streatham,...

Garber takes helm of steady ship as PartyGaming's KPIs impress again.(News: Betting & gaming)
May 1, 2006... PartyGaming confirmed the appointment of Mitchell Garber as chief executive, replacing Richard Segal. Garber takes control of a group in rude health, as fears of US legislative action over online gaming have subsided, and the firm unveiled a...

32Red raises 5.3m [pounds sterling] through institutional share placing.
May 1, 2006... 32Red, the UK-facing online casino and poker operator, has raised approximately 5.3m [pounds sterling] before expenses in a placing, primarily with new institutional investors, arranged by Numis Securities. The shares were issued at a price of...

Sportech signs Littlewoods distribution deal.(distribution agreements between Littlewoods Gaming and PayPoint Ltd)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Sportech, owner of Littlewoods Gaming, announced it has secured a distribution partnership for its Littlewoods Football Pools and Lotto offerings, with PayPoint, the UK retail network. Customers can make a payment at any of the 14,000 PayPoint...

Isle of Man takes a punt on online gamblers.
May 1, 2006... The Isle of Man is relaxing its licensing regulations in a bid to woo online gaming operators. The tax haven wants them to set up "disaster recovery operations" there. Six gaming firms are said to be in talks with the Manx government.

Holidaybreak shares up on bid speculation.
May 1, 2006... Shares in Holidaybreak, the European specialist holiday group, rose by 58p to an all time high of 788p after the company confirmed that it had received several expressions of interest ill its camping division, although the shares eventually...

School kids 'go sick' to visit theme parks.
May 1, 2006... A new survey suggests that up to 40% of children who visit theme parks with their parents during school term time could be playing truant. Organisers at Flamingo Land, North Yorkshire, and Pleasure Island, East Lincolnshire, calculate that up...

Cheaper tickets to ride from online source.
May 1, 2006... A new website: www.themeparkticketsdirect.com, is promising to beat the standard cost of tickets for more than 50 theme parks in Florida, France, Spain and Britain. The website is currently offering cut price tickets for Legoland, Chessington,...

BALPPA sets out key issues for the future of UK attractions industry.(news: tourism)(British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions)
May 1, 2006... A level playing field with overseas competition on VAT levels, the lack of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other award making bodies in relation to the private sector, and a call for double British Summer Time to help the visitor...

Palamon completes 135m [euro] Star Parks refinancing.(News: Tourism)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... Palamon Capital Partners, the European mid-market private equity firm, has closed a global refinancing for Star Parks Group, fully underwritten by Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein for a total of [euro] 135m (94m [pounds sterling]). The...

60m [pounds sterling] 'Vertical Entertainment Centre' planned.(news: tourism)(Birminghan Pinnacle)
May 1, 2006... An innovative new tourist attraction could become a new feature of the Birmingham skyline after multi-million pound plans to develop a 'Vertical Entertainment Centre' were unveiled. The Birmingham Pinnacle--a 175m tower and the first of its...

Tussauds Group will be first in UK to offer YourDay DVDs.(News: Tourism)
May 1, 2006... Venue Solutions Holdings, the venue technology specialist, and YourDay Video Technologies, have secured a world-first deal with The Tussauds Group to deliver the 'YourDay in the Park' DVD system to Alton Towers. The offer, as detailed in...

Vue's future could shake up UK cinema market.(News: Cinema & Entertainment)
May 1, 2006... The UK cinema market could be set for another reshuffle as executives at Vue Entertainment choose between a projected 400m [pounds sterling] floatation or a merger with Cineworld, following the appointment of investment bankers. Vue has...

Bowlplex targets good community relations.(news: cinema & entertainment)(Bowlplex inc.)
May 1, 2006... With competition for the leisure pound becoming more fierce, operators are increasingly learning that building a sense of community around their offering can bring benefits, and that customer 'ownership' of a facility drives loyalty, and...

Georgica adds value as comparatives deceive.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Tenpin and cue-sports operator Georgica reported a 0.5% drop in same outlet sales for the 13 weeks to 2 April, but saw its share value rise sharply over the month as investors moved to take strong positions in the company, which is widely...

VIP card sharps.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... UK poker website Purple Lounge, aimed at the 'rich and famous' end of the market, has teamed up with private members' club company Quintessentially, to launch a loyalty reward programme. The Purple Ace Card scheme offers selected members...

Consumers leading the drive for locally-sourced, healthier foods.(News: Food & drink)
May 1, 2006... As the nation grows ever more health conscious and environmentally aware, consumers are increasingly bringing their weight to bear and demanding more ethical and socially responsible behaviour from their suppliers. Operators of motorway...

Meal auction site goes live.(News: Food & drink)
May 1, 2006... A new website is offering Glaswegians the opportunity to eat at top restaurants for as little as 99p. Priceyourmeal.com is an online auction for dining out. Restaurants state what they have on offer, and customers bid on the meals. In...

Make Your Own concept set for national roll out.(news: food & drink)(MYO Ltd.)
May 1, 2006... A new company has acquired the licence to Mr Bird's Make Your Own (MYO) self-service sandwich bar concept, with a view to rolling out 100 outlets across England and Wales. Neil Rankin, who owns the licence for the MYO concept in Scotland,...

Starbucks in airport deal.
May 1, 2006... Starbucks has signed a deal with SSP to open outlets in three UK airports this summer. Cliff Burrows, president of Starbucks UK and Ireland, said: "We are confident this will prove to be a successful entry into new markets enabling us to bring...

GBK to open 10 new sites.
May 1, 2006... Upmarket fast-food chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen is to open ten new outlets during its current financial year. The company, which currently owns nine sites, is to open its tenth on April 18 in Kingston-upon-Thames, with a further restaurant in...

BK loses Brennman.
May 1, 2006... Greg Brennman is stepping down as chairman and chief executive of Burger King after just 20 months with the company. John Chidsey, finance chief, will replace him as chief executive and director Brian Swette, as chairman. Ben Wells will become...

Doughnut firm to sell UK arm for up to 50m [pounds sterling].
May 1, 2006... Troubled American doughnut maker Krispy Kreme has put its UK division up for sale. It has outlets at Bluewater and Lakeside, as well as at various mainline London railway stations. Analysts believe the business could fetch up to 50m [pounds...

Employment law confusion and red tape still strangling small firms.(News: Industry)
May 1, 2006... Skills, red tape, dealing with employment legislation, and crime are the main barriers to small business growth, according to the Federation of Small Businesses' Lifting the Barriers to Growth 2006 survey. The fourth biennial survey of the...

Tobacco firms pay for 'smoker shelters'.(News: Industry)
May 1, 2006... Tobacco companies are planning to spend thousands of pounds helping licensed premises convert outside areas so that customers will be able to carry on smoking next year. Car parks will be turned into gardens while "ramshackle seating...

European deals increase 115%.(News: Industry)(Report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Merger and acquisition deals totalling Eu260.2bn (181.646bn [pounds sterling]) were completed during the first quarter of 2006, according to Merger Market, M&A analyst; a 115% increase compared to the same period last year and a 5% increase on...

Room for improvement in CR, says PwC.(News: Industry)
May 1, 2006... The European hospitality industry still has room for improvement in tackling corporate responsibility issues according to research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. In its report: Hospitality Directions Europe--Corporate Responsibility...

Immigrant workers receiving mixed receptions across the UK.(News: Industry)
May 1, 2006... Increasingly looking like the saviours of the British hospitality industry in some areas, immigrant workers, mainly from Eastern Europe, are making their mark on some communities, but questions of their contribution to the "authenticity" of the...

NHS tie-ins with leisure could be the future.(News: Property)
May 1, 2006... Two new ventures that will see health facilities provided at the heart of local leisure venues are being heralded as benchmarks for the future integration of public health and the leisure industry. Eric Wright Construction is celebrating...

UK REIT conversion charge put at 2%.(News: Property)
May 1, 2006... The Chancellor has confirmed that companies converting to Real Estate Investment Trusts will pay a charge of 2% of gross assets. The government will introduce UK REITs with effect from 1 January 2007, to "lead to a better functioning and...

Totty Construction scores with 2m [pounds sterling] Goals deal.(News: Property)
May 1, 2006... Totty Construction has secured a 2m [pounds sterling] project with national five-a-side leisure provider, Goals Soccer Centres, to build a new sports facility at Hanson School in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The school will use the facilities...

Birmingham eyes future with NEC casino.(News: Property)
May 1, 2006... Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre could be the location for a new super casino, after the city council decided not to support Birmingham City Football Club's bid to build a gambling complex alongside its planned new stadium. The...

Trump earmarks up to 300m [pounds sterling] for luxury Scots golf development.(News: Property)
May 1, 2006... Donald Trump is planning to build a massive golfing centre in Scotland, billed as "the greatest golf centre anywhere in the world". The US property developer hopes to build the 286m [pounds sterling]-300m [pounds sterling] complex on 800 acres...

Cracking down on the plague of light-fingered workouts: what do IHRSA, casinos and crime have in common? David Minton ponders.(Insights)
May 1, 2006... The slick TV programme CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is so successful the producers replicated the format into three locations, and now we have CSI: Miami, CSI: New York and CSI: Las Vegas. Well, I can suggest a fourth location for the...

Technology: fast-forward to the past: Graeme Aymer says technological advances will soon be standard practice.(technology and mobile gaming)(how the leisure industry will shape up by 2016)
May 1, 2006... Imagine it's 2016. You've just received your copy of Leisure Report's 20th year edition, casting an eye over the contemporary state of the market. Reading on to the insight articles, some wag has been charged with looking back over 10...

Other technology, real and merely dreamt of ...(Technology and Mobile Gaming)
May 1, 2006... Body odour biometrics: Britain's Mastiff Electronic Systems was developing a system to provide access control by capturing an individual's smell. Called Scentinel, it is no longer in development DNA testing: About the most accurate ID...

Mobile gaming market is a winning Gambit: Duncan Rowe says the market is poised to take off.(Technology and Mobile Gaming)
May 1, 2006... What do you get when you bring together representatives from the betting and gaming industry, technology providers, and mobile phone networks? An interesting look at one of the most promising fledgling markets on offer to the industry, if last...

Retention defecit disorder, and other shared problems: Duncan Rowe reports on the key issues raised at IHRSA 25, in Las Vegas.(Special Report: IHRSA 25)
May 1, 2006... It's a daunting task, trying to organise a get together for some 10,000 thousand of your peers. The sheer logistics aside, laying on a programme of seminars, guest speakers and even workouts that will keep everybody engaged for a full four days...

In need of divine innovation: Egremont's Sue Grist asks if firms would do better using the mind rather than the chequebook.(business sense: innovation)
May 1, 2006... The frenzy of mergers and acquisitions in the leisure industry shows no sign of slowing down. Yet making an acquisition is one of the highest risk decisions any business leader can make. More than 75% of them fail to deliver expected value and...

Whirlpool meets the challenge.
May 1, 2006... Whirlpool, the domestic appliance company, has recently undergone a five-year quest for innovation and removed the disablers to innovation. Its tactics included leadership development programmes for innovation, dedicated capital...

Life Fitness.(People on the move)
May 1, 2006... Life Fitness has appointed Dylan Fairclough as channel sales manager for the south, following recent success in this division including the installations at K2 in Crawley and Imperial College, London. Fairclough joined the company last month...

energie fitness clubs, the UK fitness franchise brand, has appointed two new senior managers to support its expansion.(People on the move)
May 1, 2006... energie fitness clubs, the UK fitness franchise brand, has appointed two new senior managers to support its expansion. Renee Caneva has been appointed international development director, and Griff Shortt joins the group as franchise business...

Tim Hewett, business development director at DC Leisure, and chairman of the Leisure Management Contractors Association (LMCA), has been co-opted on to the FIA board of directors from April.(People on the move)
May 1, 2006... Tim Hewett, business development director at DC Leisure, and chairman of the Leisure Management Contractors Association (LMCA), has been co-opted on to the FIA board of directors from April. Hewett also sits on the ILAM Services Board as well...

Lifetime, the training provider for employees within the leisure industry, has announced a number of new appointments.(People on the move)
May 1, 2006... Lifetime, the training provider for employees within the leisure industry, has announced a number of new appointments. Gerwyn House takes on the role of operations director. House originally joined Lifetime in April 2004 as an assessor. Prior...

Compass Group has announced the appointment of Ian El-Mokadem as chief executive of its UK & Ireland division.(People on the move)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Compass Group has announced the appointment of Ian El-Mokadem as chief executive of its UK & Ireland division. He was previously managing director of Onetel, the telecommunications firm and prior to that director of marketing and strategy for...

Make-up or break-up calls as Accor moves forward: Dominic Walsh looks at Accor's strategy under new chief Gilles Pelisson.(Behind the headlines)
May 1, 2006... The changes that have been wrought at Accor over the past year or so have arguably been as significant as any in the 39 years since Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pelisson laid its foundations. The French hotel and leisure group has acquired a new...

LR index leisure stockwatch April 2005.(sharewatch)(leisure report)
May 1, 2006... Another big month for internet gaming shares as US regulatory issues disappeared for the time being, and most of the leading players posted some quarterly trading updates. Market leaders 888 and PartyGaming led the charge, adding 32% and 29%...

Diary dates: May.(Diary dates)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... Event: 2006 Australasian Hospitality Technology Conference & Exhibition Date: 3-4 Location: Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia Description: Exhibition and conference for the Australian hospitality technology market Contact: +61 2...