The big stilett-o
Tech features are essential to all leading London hotels now. The more the better. Boutique brand citizenM has made gadgets a key feature of its offering. The lights, curtains and entertainment in the room are all controlled through an iPad, and there are 350 films available to watch on the TV. These are categorised on the iPad with a different symbol for action, comedy, drama, and a symbol which is the shape of a high-heeled shoe. Those who think they are about to dive into a great selection of chick flicks or some shopping channels beware – this is the button for adult movies, of which there are several on offer.
Real estate bonds
We at Diary do tend to take life a little more seriously than most, but sometimes a pun breaks through that makes even these gruff hacks smile. Such was the case when we perused the pages of a recent presentation at the MSCI US Real Estate Investment Conference by Joe Azelby, head of global real estate assets at JP Morgan Asset Management. The presentation – Mix your bricks, a diversified approach to real estate investing – looks at the position of real estate in mixed-asset portfolios. So far, so serious, until we came to this slide comparing bonds.
EG – Better than the Beano
“I was reading Estates Gazette at the age of six,” reveals Jonathan Seitler QC this week. While his contemporaries may have got their kicks from Korky the Cat in The Dandy or Biffo the Bear in The Beano, the future property silk (and EG columnist) was a different animal. He couldn’t get enough of EG when the latest copy turned up at his Manchester home. “We were a property family, so it has always been part of my life,” he explained. We hit the archives to take a look at what might have first captivated Seitler as he turned six in 1967 (a date he gamely allowed us to share). One editorial discussed the possible implications of joining the Common Market (“Brenter”?). But now that Seitler has set the bar, we look forward to hearing from other prodigious professionals who can lay their own claim to being EG’s youngest reader. Tweet us @estatesgazette using #youngestreader.
Tied to office tradition
The next generation of offices can be a little too much for the great, good and established of the real estate industry. Take Green Properties’ Stephen Vernon. At EG’s Dublin Question Time event last week, the veteran investor filled the room with laughter as he shared his first experience of Google’s office in the city. Slightly taken aback by being asked to take off his tie, Vernon described Google’s offices as “all swings and guitars” and “quite bizarre”. Although he promptly added that “if he was young” he wouldn’t mind working in an office like that.
Barking for cats
Diary is as just as much of a sucker as the next guy or gal for cute cat pictures and our eye was caught by Stiles Harold Williams’ appointment last week to find Cats Protection a new homing centre in and around London. The agent has 10 target areas to prowl. Catford could be a favourite, Barking not so much.
