Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 New World Hospitality acquired the 105-bedroom BLOC Hotel Birmingham from Arora Group, with the deal brokered by Enterprise Hotels and Hospitality. Located in the Jewellery Quarter, the hotel opened in 2011 and features room sizes from 9.5 sqm to 21 sqm. BLOC Hotel's strong trading performance and strategic location appeal to investors. The area offers over 150 retailers, 80 bars/restaurants, and produces 40% of the UK’s jewellery.

🏡 Safestay plans to sell and lease back a Brighton property for £3.125 million, with a completion date before January 15, 2026. The property, bought for £2.275 million in June 2024, will convert into a 170-bed hostel by summer 2026. Safestay will lease it for 15 years, with an annual rent of £300,000 after a six-month rent-free period. The five-story building spans 15,300 sq. ft. and will create about 20 new jobs.

🏨 From 2013 to 2020, the hospitality sector outperformed the Euro Stoxx 50, with investments growing from 5-7% to nearly 10% globally and 20% in Spain. Paris luxury hotel values rose by 8%. Lifestyle brands are expanding by 14% annually, covering 600,000 rooms worldwide. Louvre Hotels renovated nearly 70 properties this year, aiming for 360 more. The integration of Ruby Hotels by IHG took over three years to perfect.

🏨 Leonardo Hotels acquired three UK properties: 270-room Leonardo Hotel Southampton, 170-room Leonardo Hotel Exeter, and 94-room Leonardo Hotel Chester. H10 Hotels purchased the 76-room Le Monumental Palace in Porto. LondonMetric bought the 365-room Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport for £51 million. Atream acquired the future 197-room Oh Baby hotel in Paris. Extendam, Vicartem, and Younight acquired the 50-room Hotel Les Brises in La Rochelle, planning renovations in 2025.

📈 Hunter Hotel Advisors has facilitated the sale of Best Western Bryan College Station in Bryan, Texas, to an individual investor. Built in 2009, the 100-room hotel features 4,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The buyer aims to rebrand and reposition it for higher market penetration. The location benefits from nearby Texas A&M, Post Oak Mall, and the Brazos County Expo Complex. Bryan–College Station's balanced demand offers a foundation for long-term growth.

🏨 CitizenM rebranded as Another Star after Marriott International's acquisition. Another Star operates 37 hotels across Europe and the US, with 8,312 rooms in 20 cities like London, Paris, and New York. On November 5, 2025, they secured a $685m financing deal with J.P. Morgan and KSL Capital Partners. The acquisition deal was valued at $355m, completed on July 24, 2025. Marriott's Q3 2025 income rose 25% to $728m.

💰 PPHE Hotel Group initiated a strategic review considering new capital or selling part/all of the company. Major shareholders Eli Papouchado and Boris Ivesha, holding 44% voting rights, support the review. PPHE's £2.2 billion portfolio spans Europe, including upscale hotels and campsites. Rothschild advises, and a formal UK Takeover Code sale process has begun. No active bidder discussions or approaches yet. The board may alter or terminate the process.

🏠 UK: The Social Hub plans to invest £200 million in a new venue at Edinburgh's former Fountain Brewery site, vacant for 20 years. The 560-bed project will feature extended stay rooms, hotel suites, and student housing, along with coworking spaces for 300, event spaces, a gym, and dining options. Public consultations are set for 8 December and 26 January. Buccleuch Property and Cruden Homes lead the site's redevelopment as part of the Fountainbridge masterplan.

📦 Just four months after Marriott International acquired citizenM, the brand has been rebranded as Another Star. The company secured a $685 million financing facility led by J.P. Morgan and KSL Capital. Another Star operates 37 hotels with 8,312 rooms in 20 cities, including London and New York, integrated into Marriott Bonvoy. Two new hotels are planned for London and Washington D.C. by mid-2026. The financing reflects market confidence in Another Star's growth strategy.