Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 UK, March 2025: The Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa, a 33-bedroom hotel in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, was acquired by Rockcliffe Hall for an undisclosed amount after entering administration. The hotel continues operations, with employees retained under existing terms. The legal transition was managed by Womble Bond Dickinson, while PKF Littlejohn administered the sale. Oliver Collinge and Liz Sapsted ensured a smooth ownership transfer, commended by Rockcliffe Hall.

🏠 Kuoni's parent company, Dertour Group, finalized the acquisition of four business units of Hotelplan Group after approval by the Swiss Competition Commission. The deal, excluding Interhome, covers travel retail and tour operations in Switzerland, Germany, and the UK. Joe Ponte, Hotelplan UK's CEO, exits in September, with Francis Torrilla leading the expanded group. With 180 companies and 13,000 employees, Dertour Group adds brands like Explore Worldwide and Inghams, enhancing its UK presence.

🏨 Essendi has acquired full ownership of the 259-room ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge, in Edinburgh, UK. Essendi, which already operated the hotel, now controls the underlying real estate, aiming to enhance portfolio value and efficiency in the economy and midscale segments. The acquisition includes additional tenants: a second hotel, café, supermarket, and bar. This move aligns with Essendi's strategy to own high-performing assets and improve operational margins across Europe.

💰 Braemar Hotels & Resorts, a US-based real estate investment trust, has initiated a sales process. As of 2025, Braemar oversees 14 luxury hotels, including nine resorts and five urban properties under brands like Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. A $480 million sale fee has been negotiated with Ashford Inc, with $17 million advanced. Buyers must assume existing management agreements, or cancel for $25 million. The company aims to maximize shareholder value amid favorable market conditions.

📈 Dalata reported a 5% decline in adjusted EBITDA due to lower RevPAR and inflation costs, with a €19.6 million profit after tax. Free cash flow is strong at €45.7 million. New acquisitions include Clayton Hotels in Berlin and Madrid. Dalata plans to add over 1,000 rooms globally. Assets are valued at €1.8 billion. The proposed acquisition by Pandox offers €6.45 per share, a 49.7% premium, pending shareholder approval on September 11, 2025.

📈 Founded in 2021, Ennismore manages 180+ hotels and 500 bars/restaurants across 16 brands. In 2022, Accor sold 10.8% to a Qatari consortium for €185M, valuing Ennismore at €2B. Accor holds 62% and might list Ennismore, aligning with its simplification strategy. Expansion plans include openings in Nashville, Chicago, Mexico City, Zurich, and Sydney. Competitive lifestyle segment sees Accor leading against Marriott, Hilton, and others. RevPAR for Accor's lifestyle hotels grew by 9.9% in H1 2025.

💰 USA, July 31, 2025: Sonnenblick-Eichner Company secured $22.6 million in first mortgage leasehold financing for Valencia Hotel Group's 12-story Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. The AAA-rated, Four Diamond hotel offers 213 rooms and spans over 9,841 square feet. The San Antonio River Walk attracts about 14 million visitors annually, making it Texas' top tourist destination. A five-year fixed-rate loan refinanced a maturing 10-year loan for the property.

🛳️ Hays Travel acquires Victoria Travel Group, including Cruise.co.uk and Seascanner, marking its first OTA acquisition. The UK and German divisions reported a £252 million transaction value. This is Hays' seventh acquisition since 2019, following its takeover of Spear Travels and Miles Morgan Travel. Chief executive Chris Gardner remains in charge. Key figures are Jonathon Woodall-Johnston and Jo Rzymowska joining as non-executive directors. The acquisition aligns with Hays’ cruise strategy and growth ambitions.

🏨 Rambler Group Holdings acquired The Oaks Hotel & Leisure Club in Burnley, originally listed for £1.8 million, built in 1885 with 51 rooms on 3.5 acres. Located in Reedley, near M65, it offers easy access to Manchester and Leeds. Lavender Hotels sold it to reinvest in other assets. Future plans include refurbishments and expansion. Legal advice was provided by Harrison Drury and Onecall Hospitality. Rambler aims to enhance guest experiences while preserving the hotel's historic charm.