New Hotel at IWM Duxford

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Member for

11 years 2 months

Posts: 18

Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere or if this is the correct forum, but just seen in the Cambridgeshire paper this afternoon.
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/imperialwar-museum-duxford-hotel-m11-16840067?fbclid=IwAR0Qo6pLJMgvj7W-cz-Vhl4zOTm2Ns7TaEXYWAMx5U9FjcianR_V2A0qg94

No doubt this is part of the masterplan.

I can see why they would want to do this, but at present not sure whether the overall impact will be good or bad.

Of course if people feel strongly they can look out for the formal application on the South Cambs planning website and comment/support/object - there is only a 28 day period in which to do this. http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/2896/19/FL

Original post

Member for

19 years

Posts: 2,656

Should be rejected on the grounds that there is no public viewing gallery on the roof. :rolleyes:

Brian

Member for

15 years 7 months

Posts: 674

Should be rejected on the grounds that selling, renting land or running a hotel is not the core business of the IWM.

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 1,988

Didn’t realise it was April 1st already.

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

What next? IWM Trump Resort?

Member for

21 years

Posts: 1,746

With all that extra income, can the museum be cheaper or even free? :cool:
mmitch.

Member for

12 years 1 month

Posts: 151

It seems a reasonable idea. Onsite accommodation for all the Corporate Events plus the air shows. Central Government keeps on reducing the money given to National Museums but wants them to do the same or more so revenue making schemes are here to stay.....

Member for

15 years 7 months

Posts: 674

I would like to see any proof that IWM will make a profit out of this venture. The term "revenue making" implies an annual income such as admission and special events. It is hard to see what partnering agreement IWM can have with a hotel operation other than recieving a ground rent. More likely is that the IWM plan is to sell the land and may a quick buck.

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 7,025

Are they going to empty the hotel when an air display is on? Surely if they close public footpaths and the perimeter areas .

Member for

12 years 1 month

Posts: 151

I would like to see any proof that IWM will make a profit out of this venture. The term "revenue making" implies an annual income such as admission and special events. It is hard to see what partnering agreement IWM can have with a hotel operation other than recieving a ground rent. More likely is that the IWM plan is to sell the land and may a quick buck.

I doubt if the land would (or could) be sold..? The revenue will be generated, I presume, by some sort of lease agreement and the increased footfall from hotel guests - especially if it is bringing in further revenue for the existing Conference facilities at Duxford. I would think that a Hotel with access to the types of facilities Duxford already has would make a very attractive proposition..? The land is effectively 'dead space' as it is so utilising the space (so close to the M11 junction turning) for an asset which can undoubtedly grow the current commercial activities seems a good thing to me - hopefully it will also attract more oversea visitors to IWM Duxford when Stanstead is also factored in.

Having visited the Disney establishments over the years both in Europe and the USA I note that they have been increasing their offer to the corporate hire market by combining on-site conference facilities and their own hotels (plus, of course, the Theme Parks). It seems a smart move to me to follow that model and Duxford is well placed to take advantage of it.

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

I chuckled, Lobster, on noting you equating the IWM at Duxford with 'Disney establishments'.

Member for

12 years 1 month

Posts: 151

What, that multi Billion Dollar success story who dominate the entertainment industry? That was what I was referencing - not the old 'Micky Mouse' watch cliché from days gone by. If you have ever been to a Disneyland theme park I think you will find they leave all others in their wake.....

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 3,447

It works for Disney because they offer experiences for whole families that do not depend upon a fairly specialist enthusiasm for their impact beyond 'something to do when already in the area' for an afternoon.

People travel internationally to go to Disney - yes, people we encounter in our niche hobby might do that but not enough to fill this hotel.

To put it another way, you don't need to be a mouse fancier to enjoy a Disney park over a long enough period to make a hotel necessary.

This looks extraordinarily risky and tenuous - unless there is some other element to this that CEN has not picked up on, which knowing that paper is quite possible.

Member for

12 years 1 month

Posts: 151

Duxford attracts a lot of non aviation corporate clients who use its conference facilities. I expect a Hotel will add a lot more interest. The comparison with Disney, which some of you don't seem to understand, is that all of their theme parks do the same. First class events and business conference facilities that attract more than just 'mouse' fans.........

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Member for

15 years 6 months

Posts: 291

I would be far more worried about the owners of the land at the end of the runway and on the naughty hill developing a college..........that would completely compromise the two display box areas with secondary spectators and prohibit airshows but still retain the runway operational

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

I hope that the Imperial War Museum at Duxford isn't - and won't become - a theme park.

Member for

9 years 7 months

Posts: 95

There have been plans by the IWM to put a hotel on site for years. At one point, it was going to be a conversion of the Officer's mess, but that was shelved for a building alongside Airspace hanger. So the latest version has been revealed and I would think that planning will probably pass it as they have had sight of all previous versions. I'm not sure where the funding for this is from, more likely a partnership with a well known hotel group. Discounts will apply for airshow weekends, of course!!

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

Having looked at the planning application, I chuckled on noting that the applicant is Propiteer Hotels Duxford Limited. Does anyone else think that, maybe, one letter in the company name is incorrectly written?

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 1,988

Surely economic theory suggests that prices will go UP on airshow weekends, because likely demand will be greater than the supply of rooms.

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

Good idea, jeepman. Maybe the hotel will offer airshow packages - two nights' accomodation, guaranteed parking, priority access, airside pass - at, say, £500 per head? It would be a snip at the price!

Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 554

Out of acorns!
Members of the Essex Aviation Group remember when they first started their display at Duxford, building 61 was the only one to be occupied. No Airspace, no Land Warfare, no American museum, Officers Mess empty, most hangars were empty, no M11 so you could traverse the airfield to Duxford village.
No power to the hangars and in our building not a single pane of intact glass and a collapsed roof.
No queues on the A505.

How things have changed and will carry on changing!