Mergers & Acquisitions

🏠 Criterion Capital acquired the St Giles London Hotel on Tottenham Court Road for £220 million, adding 732 rooms to its West End portfolio. This January 2026 deal reunites the hotel and its underlying car park, previously transformed into an underground hotel under the Zedwell brand. CEO Asif Aziz aims to expand to 9,000 rooms by 2029. Criterion's current West End portfolio now boasts 3,700 operating hotel rooms.

🏨 Two Seas Hotels acquired the 50-bedroom Celtic International Hotel on Port Road in Barry, near Cardiff City Airport, for an undisclosed amount. The hotel, which serves leisure and business guests, features a full-service offering with a recently refurbished bar and restaurant. The acquisition, managed by Sam Roberts from Christie and Co, reflects the group's expansion in the Welsh hospitality market. Mr. Zaman, director at Two Seas Hotels, noted the hotel’s future potential.

🏨 Criterion Capital has acquired the 732-room St Giles London Hotel, located at the junction of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. This strategic purchase reunifies the site after over 30 years. St Giles was acquired from the YMCA, who ceased operations there in 2025. Criterion's portfolio now exceeds 3,700 rooms in the West End, with a planned expansion to over 9,000 rooms by 2029, focusing on redevelopment and reuse. Criterion was founded by property investor Asif Aziz.

🏨 Soft brands have surged in popularity as lodging companies like Hilton, Marriott, and Preferred Hotels & Resorts grow collections of independent hotels. As of 2023, Hilton’s Curio Collection is set to open its 200th hotel, and The Luxury Collection in Madrid reopened in 2025 after renovation. These brands offer independence with global sales platforms and loyalty programs. Preferred Hotels boasts over 600 hotels worldwide. LHW and Relais & Châteaux maintain exclusivity, accepting only 5% of membership inquiries.

💰 The Plasencia Group facilitated the sale of Le Pavillon New Orleans, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, including an adjacent lot. The buyer group was led by Robert J. Guidry, with Guidry Land Partners and David Bansmer. The 226-room hotel, originally opened in 1907 and affiliated with Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio in 2024, is located on Poydras Street, New Orleans. Guidry’s portfolio in the city is nearing 1,000 rooms, highlighting New Orleans' hospitality market strength.

💰 MCR Hotels, a major investor, backed out of a $200 million funding commitment for Soho House & Co's $2.7 billion privatization deal. On Monday, MCR, the third-largest U.S. hotel owner-operator, notified Soho House it couldn't meet its financial obligation by the closing date. Despite this, Soho House plans a stockholders meeting on Thursday. Majority shareholder Yucaipa, owned by Ron Burkle, is seeking alternative funding, potentially from Apollo or other investors.

🏨 UK: a&o Hostels acquires ibis and Novotel hotels on Portland and Dickinson Streets in central Manchester from Ares Real Estate funds and EQ Group. Plans include a $8.2 million investment to create 1,218 beds in 303 rooms, with works finishing by Q1 2027. The acquisition is a&o's fourth UK asset. Manchester, attracting 1.9 million visitors annually, is a key strategic target. Over 24 months, a&o has added 8,500 beds across Europe.

🍺 The Sun Inn in Acomb, Northumberland, is for sale at £425k. The pub, located two miles north of Hexham, offers a bar seating 34, a breakfast area for 12, a beer garden, and six letting rooms. Also included is a two-bedroom apartment. Situated near Hadrian’s Wall and Hexham Abbey, it attracts both locals and tourists. Marslie McGregor of Christie and Co anticipates strong interest due to its charming appeal and varied income streams.