Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 Chris and Jane Berridge acquired The Old Lodge in Malton, a 17th Century Tudor mansion with 29 en-suite rooms, set in 3.6 acres, from Ajay Abhaya Kumar and Anupama Banerji. The sale, facilitated by Christie and Co, was completed swiftly, although the price remains undisclosed. This is the Berridges' first venture into hospitality, and they expressed enthusiasm for maintaining the landmark’s legacy with the support of the dedicated staff.

🏠 Trinity Investments, Partners Group, and another investor acquired The Hoxton in Barcelona, Spain, featuring 240 rooms. Leonardo Hotels acquired four IntercityHotels in Germany, totaling 638 rooms, and will renovate them by Q2 2026. A&O Hostels bought Schulz Hotels, aligning with a €500 million growth strategy. NHG acquired Hotel Riviera in Moss, Norway, for NOK 550 million. Art-Invest Real Estate purchased 25hours Hotel Vienna. Björn Ulvaeus acquired Best Western Plus Västerviks in Sweden.

📈 Trinity Investments acquired The Hoxton, Poblenou, a 240-key hotel in Barcelona, announced on Thursday. This marks their third European hotel acquisition since launching their London office in 2023. Opened in 2022, the hotel is in Barcelona’s 22@ district, near Westfield Glòries Mall and the Design Museum. The acquisition aligns with Trinity's strategy to invest in cities with robust tourism and long-term growth potential, joining The Standard London and Park Hyatt Zurich in their portfolio.

💰 Red Oak Capital Holdings provided $10 million for acquiring and refurbishing Four Points by Sheraton – O’Hare in Chicago, IL. The loan, structured under Red Oak’s Core-Plus Bridge Loan program, has an 18-month term and a loan-to-stabilized-value of 54.54%. The 295-room, 195,000-square-foot hotel, built in 1985 on 7.5 acres, will undergo upgrades and a Marriott franchise agreement. The sponsor, owning 20 assets worth over $70 million, aims to enhance performance through targeted improvements.

🏖 Jon Staff, originally seeking $500,000 for 10 cabins, was rejected by the Sharks. Years later, Marriott acquired his company, now with 1,200+ cabins across 29 locations, generating $41M in revenue. His concept targets digital overload with 200-square-foot cabins, sans WiFi, for city-dwellers needing micro-escapes. By 2026, 91% of Americans plan to travel but often can't afford lengthy vacations. Major hotel chains are now investing in nearby, nature-centric getaways, marking a shift towards regular, brief city escapes.

🏨 Partners Group, Trinity Investments, and another investor acquired the 240-key Hoxton Poblenou hotel in Barcelona's 22@ District from Norlake Hospitality. The purchase is part of Partners Group’s hospitality strategy with a USD $1 billion asset portfolio. This marks their fourth collaboration with Trinity since 2023. The hotel, which opened in spring 2022, features four F&B venues, a rooftop, and over 1,000 square meters of event space, with plans to boost group bookings and F&B offerings.

💸 Trinity Investments acquired The Hoxton, Poblenou, a 240-room hotel in Barcelona’s 22@ District. Opened in 2022, it features four dining options, event spaces, and a rooftop pool. Trinity's third European acquisition since 2023, the purchase aligns with their strategy to expand in creative urban areas. Barcelona, hosting nearly 84 million visitors in 2024, strengthens Trinity's portfolio, including The Standard London and Park Hyatt Zurich, amidst strict hotel development regulations.

💵 Newmark has arranged a $51 million loan for Virgin Group to refinance Virgin Hotels Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee. Opened in July 2020, the hotel is located on Music Row near The Gulch, Downtown Nashville, and Vanderbilt University. It features a rooftop bar, speakeasy, restaurant, rooftop pool, fitness center, and over 15,000 square feet of meeting space. This property is a flagship for the Virgin Hotels brand in the U.S.

💰 US hedge fund Corvex Management has acquired a 6.05% stake in Whitbread, equivalent to 10,221,246 shares, and is pushing for a strategic review of the company's direction and capital allocation. This comes amidst Whitbread's five-year £3.5 billion investment plan. Corvex argues that Whitbread's current share price undervalues its assets. They seek board representation to collaborate on strategy. Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, has yet to respond publicly.

🏨 Hotel du Vin St Andrews, located on The Scores in St Andrews, Scotland, plans to host The Open Championship in 2027. 📅 It increased its workforce by 20% to 50 staff over the past year. 💼 The hotel invested £1.4 million in refurbishments, including £300,000 on public areas and £1.1 million on upgrading its bistro, bar, and 42 rooms. 🍷 The hotel is recognized with the Notable Wines Award 2025–26 and holds an AA Rosette for the same period. 🏆