In conjunction with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), specialist hotel developers Frontier Estates have appointed Christie + Co to find an operator for a new hotel development proposed at the society’s Harrogate headquarters site (above).
It is envisaged that the ideal hotel format could be budget or mid-market orientated and that the building would occupy a high profile location fronting the A661 Wetherby Road immediately adjacent to the Pavilions of Harrogate, the Yorkshire Event Centre and Sainsbury’s superstore.
200,000 bed nights generated from on-site events
The Yorkshire Showground and Yorkshire Agricultural Society Headquarters welcome over 422,000 visitors as well as 41,000 exhibiting personnel each year with over 200,000 bed nights generated from on-site events and functions, producing some £47m for the local economy.
YAS Chief Executive Nigel Pulling says: “The Economic Impact Report we commissioned by Genecon in 2013 highlighted a number of key demand drivers which would be mutually beneficial to both hotel operators and ourselves. We have for some time believed there are many advantages to having quality hotel accommodation on site to complement existing facilities and extend the on-site offer for both visitors and exhibitors and the research supports this.”
Christie + Co director Jon Patrick says: “The budget and limited service hotel segments continue to perform strongly and we saw average values for UK hotels increase by 5.7 per cent in 2013. New-build hotels, particularly those with associated demand drivers nearby, are an attractive proposition for operators as pre-sales can often be accelerated ahead of the hotel opening and of course, bookings for weddings, conventions and functions are typically made well in advance of the event itself.”