Plan For Hotel Training School In Dorset

The first artist’s images of Bournemouth’s Hotel Training School have been unveiled, offering the first glimpse of how the site could be transformed.

The proposed development, which forms part of the Council’s Town Centre Vision, is planned for the site adjacent to the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC).

The hotel will include; 200 bedrooms with associated parking, 105 new public car parking spaces, ‘bridging’ the service road and linking to the BIC including a glazed feature in front of the BIC car park with escalator and lift access to hotel reception level. A widened and attractive tree-lined walk to the southern side of Priory Road, leisure facilities and training space for students are also put forward.

The developer of the site, Chesham Estates, has now submitted the planning application for the development and subject to planning permission and providing funding is available, construction work can then begin. The project could be completed and open to the public by Autumn 2013.

Hotel operator, InterContinental Hotel Group, is in detailed discussions to operate the hotel school under its new generation four-star Holiday Inn brand and Bournemouth University and Bournemouth and Poole College will be responsible for the delivery of the training element of the project.

Councillor Ian Lancashire, Cabinet Member for Major Projects, said: "The designs for the hotel training school certainly look impressive. To have a facility like this in a prime location in the town centre will be a huge economic boost as well as providing a first-class facility for Bournemouth’s student population who will be able to learn the skills required in a unique four-star-hotel setting. Ultimately this hotel school will safeguard excellence in our hospitality industry, protecting our reputation as a premier seaside destination.”

Julian Seabrook, Managing Director for Chesham Estates, said: “We are delighted to be responsible for such an important project for the town and its economy and for the training of students in the hotel industry for generations to come. We look forward to presenting the scheme to the public as part of the planning application process now in hand.”