Last Thursday, BECK opened the Festival of Hospitality 2021 with a California themed event at the location of one of our former projects, Bermonds Locke.

The Festival of Hospitality by Always Thinking, in collaboration with the wider hospitality community, is a month-long celebration of the people, spaces and brands pioneering change within the hospitality industry.

Hospitality is very close to the heart of BECK and the team were delighted to celebrate the welcome return of the industry after an incredibly difficult 18 months.  Attendees included Chris Galloway; Group Managing Director and Jonathan Dart; Group Financial Director, along with fellow board directors Dan Herron, Brian Hutchison, Rob Brownett, Edward Kent and Vanessa Budd in Business Development.

The team were excited to welcome nearly 100 guests from the hospitality community to Bermonds Locke, a California inspired urban oasis, located near Tower Bridge in London.

This design and build project for Locke Hotels saw us transform a former office building into 143 unique and spacious studios with lush, tranquil, co-working spaces, courtyard, restaurant, and gym.  Front-of mind for the project was sustainability and the reuse of materials, a subject which continues to grow exponentially in importance, throughout the hospitality industry.

Guests were invited to join the team for cocktails and canapes at a relaxed evening reception, which saw some of the most innovative and creative minds in the industry come together.

In his welcome toast, Chris Galloway, BECK’s Group Managing Director referenced the effect Covid-19 has had on businesses across the board in the hospitality industry, saying: “The pandemic over the last year and a half has affected us all.  I’m incredibly proud of our team, who have continued to deliver the highest quality of work on all our projects, despite the many challenges COVID has thrown their way.  We’re delighted that the hospitality industry is getting back on its feet and hope there are exciting opportunities for us all on the horizon.”

The well attended event saw the sharing of ideas, discussions on how hospitality has evolved through the pandemic and predictions of what the future has in store for the industry.

Vanessa Budd, Business Development Executive for BECK said: “What an evening! It was great to bring so many from the industry together and also return to Bermonds Locke, which we only recently completed during the pandemic.  The hospitality world is incredibly special and we have missed the opportunity to meet up with everyone in person over the last 18 months.  It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, enjoy a fantastic evening of good company and discuss exciting opportunities ahead.”

Ends.