OPENING DOORS
BY CATHERINE CHETWYIND
A SNAPSHOT OF THE UK’S HOTEL SCENE shows considerable activity across the UK, and in various guises: some hotel groups have also been launching new-build and conversion properties, and others simply rebranding existing properties. In 2014, Accor opened six Ibis, as far apart as London and St Andrews, and this year the group plans 13 openings in the UK, including some rebrands, such as three MGallery hotels in Cheltenham, Aberdeen and Windsor. Openings include five Ibis Styles, three Mercure hotels, and the Pullman Liverpool. Hand Picked Hotels bought the Grand Jersey Hotel and Spa from RBS last year, bringing the portfolio to 21 – full rebranding takes place this year. Meliá Hotels International is launching three of its urban lifestyle brand, Innside, in the
UK, with the first coming on line in Manchester due to open by June this year. Choice Hotels brought
greater choice to London’s Victoria, with the opening of Comfort Inn Westminster with 54 rooms. Also close to a royal residence, Clarion Collection Harte & Garter Hotel & Spa Windsor – formerly two 14th- century inns – opened in July. The Wyndham Hotel Group opened five UK properties in December last year – four of them Ramadas – and has a development agreement in place with Lester Hotels Group, which is anticipated to
see 20 Ramada hotels open across the UK during the next ten years. Inevitably, London is seeing a lot of action. In spring, the Lanesborough Hotel unveils its Oetker Collection incarnation on London’s Hyde Park Corner, and a 107-room Z Hotel makes its appearance in Shoreditch in May.
Above: Artist’s impression of Innside Manchester Middle: Aloft Liverpool Below: The Mercure Ardoe House Aberdeen, to be rebranded as MGallery later this year
Hilton London Bankside opens with 292 rooms in Q3 this year, following the launch of Doubletree by Hilton London Islington in August. Further Doubletree hotels will open in Nottingham and Liverpool this year; Hampton by Hilton properties appear in Newcastle, Bournemouth and Bristol ; and Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow took off in December with 364 rooms.
78 BBT MARCH/APRIL 2015
Hilton at Hampshire CC’s Ageas Bowl, Southampton, scores runs for the group from Q2 2015. Best Western has been
busy, adding 14 hotels last year, stretching from Porth Veor Manor, Newquay, Cornwall, to the Pennine Manor, Huddersfield; and 18 more follow this year. Meanwhile, Starwood’s Aloft Liverpool has graced the north west in the former Royal Insurance Building. GLH is rolling out a raft of new brands across the UK. Amba Hotel Charing Cross launched in December 2014, and Amba Marble Arch opens in July.
And finally, a limited-feature
four-star Every opened in Piccadilly in February, and Every Hyde Park follows.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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