Liam J Moran - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 4

2 min

New digital-first hotel The Drey to open in Earl’s Court

🏨 The Drey, a new 125-room hotel, opens in Earl’s Court, Kensington, later this year. The hotel focuses on digital efficiency, using automation for operations, including online check-in and keyless entry. It partners with local businesses, like Gabar for in-room amenities, promoting community engagement. Designed for space efficiency, rooms range from compact doubles to family-size. The model responds to post-pandemic trends, prioritizing cost efficiency and guest comfort without large lobbies or on-site restaurants.

2 min

Countrywide Hotels takes over management of The Selwyn Richmond

🏨 Countrywide Hotels will manage The Selwyn, a 50-bedroom townhouse hotel in Richmond-upon-Thames, as of October 2025. Richard Sidaway is appointed general manager. Public spaces, including The Paisley Room, will be developed into social hubs. Darren Patt, managing director, aims to enhance operational performance and guest experience, while maintaining its community connection. The focus is on character and authenticity, ensuring The Selwyn remains a standout destination in southwest London.

2 min

The King Alfred Hotel sold to Dorbiere pub group

🏨 Dorbiere acquired The King Alfred Hotel, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, part of LWC, a leading UK drinks wholesaler. The Victorian Gothic hotel, opened in 1904, features a bar, restaurant, function room, and 10 en-suite bedrooms. Managed by Graham Wilkinson and Marslie McGregor from Christie and Co, the sale price remains undisclosed. New plans involve evolving the food menu and transforming the venue into a community hub, led by General Manager Alan Eddevane.

1 min

Site housing Malmaison Oxford brought to market for £31m

🏨 Oxford Castle Quarter, housing Malmaison Oxford, is for sale at £30.94 million. CBRE, appointed by Westgate Partnership, is marketing the 95-bedroom hotel and 39,134 sq ft leisure units. The site, tracing back to 1071, was previously a prison until 1996 and reopened as a hotel in 2006. The Oxford hotel market's high entry barriers and eight million annual visitors support revenue growth. Frasers acquired Malmaison for £363 million 10 years ago and plans a group auction.

2 min

Travelodge opens new 72 room hotel in London Beckenham

🛑 Travelodge opened a new 72-room hotel in Beckenham, London, part of a six-story redevelopment by Dunward Properties. This hotel features modern designs and created 14 jobs. Travelodge now operates over 80 hotels in London and recently opened another 68-room hotel in Harwich, Essex. The Harwich site includes drive-thrus and EV charging points. Travelodge has 630 hotels and 47,000 rooms in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, with 65% of rooms upgraded to the new design.

2 min

Premier Inn gets green light for Leeds City Centre venue

🏨 Whitbread received planning consent in November 2025 to transform Verity House in Leeds' South Bank into a 131-room hotel. The planning application was submitted in May 2025, with construction expected from early 2026 to Spring 2027. A section 106 agreement with Leeds City Council was signed last week. Verity House will join three existing Premier Inns in Leeds city centre. Whitbread seeks similar opportunities in northern England.

2 min

Budget hotels lag behind as cost pressures bite, RSM finds

🏨 Luxury and mid-market hotels in the UK saw growth in August 2025. Room rates rose from £380.30 to £405.18 for luxury hotels and from £136.33 to £141.57 for mid-market hotels, while budget hotel rates fell from £103.94 to £98.21. Occupancy increased to 76.9% and 83.6% for luxury and mid-market hotels, respectively, but dropped to 78.6% for budget hotels. Profit per room rose to £157.67 for luxury and £58.66 for mid-market hotels, yet declined to £37.24 in the budget segment. Chris Tate and Robyn Duffy of RSM UK highlighted the trend towards luxury experiences amidst economic uncertainty.

1 min

Immersive Hospitality unveils £42m London flagship refurb plan

📍 IHM, formerly Corus Hotels Ltd, launched in 2024, is investing £42 million in redeveloping its flagship London property. The Corus Hotel Hyde Park closed in September 2025 for renovations and will reopen in Autumn 2026 as Hyde and Seek under Marriott Bonvoy's Tribute Portfolio. The transformed hotel features a bohemian aesthetic, a glass-roofed courtyard, co-working spaces, and a state-of-the-art gym. Andrew Khoo leads this project, highlighting its unique contribution to London's hotel scene.

1 min

Inn Collection Group secures £125m finance for expansion

💸 The Inn Collection Group secured £125m from HSBC to expand its portfolio of leisure sites across the UK. With plans to grow to over 40 locations in the next 5 years, they aim for double-digit growth following a £83.9m turnover in 2024. The workforce is expected to increase from 1,300 to over 2,000 employees. Currently, they operate 31 locations in Northern England and North Wales. In 2022, they were acquired by a company backed by The Harris Family Trust.

1 min

Signature Hotels acquired by Grand Metropolitan Hotels

🏨 London-based Signature Hotels has been acquired by Zurich's Grand Metropolitan Hotels. Signature operates boutique and upper-midscale hotels in London and is expanding with two more properties in the next year. The acquisition marks GMH's entry into London's upscale market and India's growing hospitality sector where Signature has two properties under development. CEO Ramesh Arora will join GMH's Supervisory Board, while Signature's brand and team remain integral to GMH's portfolio.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.