Hilton’s latest Leisure Newsletter includes information on recent and forthcoming new hotel openings, including the Hilton Garden Inn, Snowdonia. The newsletter features links to Hilton’s Ready to Travel Series which highlights hotels in separate geographical areas, including group travel in the UK & Ireland and Europe.

Hilton’s FlexiTours programme is also included in the newsletter and the latest information is available here and a direct link to an Excel spreadsheet with FlexiTours rates for 2021 and 2022.

Hilton’s Paula Ward has also provided a recent update from UK Hospitality regarding buffet offerings. The updated buffet guidance now means hotels may not need to provide a ‘runner’ to deliver guest plates (unless the buffet is provided during a period of alcohol service). The extract from UK Hospitality’s FAQ is below:

Q. What are the rules around carveries and buffets?

For carvery and buffet options where alcohol is served, table service is required (order, be served, and consume whilst seated). The regulations allow for a form of carvery service in alcohol premises whereby:

– The customer orders a carvery meal option whilst seated

– Selects elements of their already ordered carvery option from the carvery deck (face covering, socially distanced etc.)

– Their choices are then plated by staff

– The customer returns to their seat, and is served their meal by staff to their table.

If a venue is not serving alcohol, customers can order and collect food from a counter or similar (full self-service not allowed) but customer can choose and order their food at the counter which is plated by a staff member, and customer carries the food back to their own table to eat whilst seated.