Hotel developer and operator Starboard Hotels has purchased five ibis UK hotels from HotelInvest parent company Accor, as part of a 32 million Euro portfolio sale of seven properties.
The five hotels, in Gatwick, Plymouth, Birmingham Bordesley Circus, Sheffield, and Leicester, total 469 bedrooms, and will be operated by Starboard under the ibis franchise for a further 20 years as part of the agreement.
Refurbishment programme
Following the acquisition, Starboard will undertake a multi-million pound refurbishment programme, including the implementation of the Accor Avanzi Concept, which creates an inviting public space where guests can relax, socialise and work, making use of bold designs, natural materials, bright colours and attractive lighting.
Doubling the size of the portfolio
Starboard Hotels’ managing director, PaulStarboard Hotels’ managing director, Paul Callingham, says: “These five hotels provide us with a great opportunity to double the size of our portfolio and take on a group of established properties that have excellent trading records and great people. With our operating and development experience we will build on this to take the hotels to the next level.
“We look forward to working in partnership with Accor to operate the hotels successfully for many years to come. We have had a busy first half of 2015 and we continue to look for strategic growth through the acquisition of trading hotels in the UK.”
Under the terms of the deal, all existing teams at the hotels will be transferred under TUPE to become part of Starboard Hotels’ award winning group.
Third purchase for Starboard Hotels in 2015
This latest acquisition represents the third purchase for Starboard Hotels in 2015, following the purchase of the Best Western Carlton Hotel Blackpool and Holiday Inn Express Greenock earlier in the year. It takes the Starboard portfolio to 10 properties across four brands and a total of just under 1,000 bedrooms.
HotelInvest, and its hotel owner and investor business, Accor have undertaken the sale and franchise-back of the seven hotels for €32.6 million, along with a commitment from the buyers to carry out €5.2 million worth of renovations. The hotels were originally acquired by Accor in December as part of its acquisition of the Tritax portfolio.
John Ozinga, Chief Operating Officer of HotelInvest commented: “Through these deals, HotelInvest is pursuing its strategy in the United Kingdom – a key market for the Group. These are important destinations served well by the ibis and ibis budget brands and we are delighted to be working with such high quality, long-term partners.”
About Starboard Hotels
Starboard Hotels is an award winning owner and operator of franchised hotels under the world’s leading brands such as Holiday Inn Express (IHG), Days Inn (Wyndham) and Best Western. It also operates Edinburgh’s award winning 620 bed space luxury budget accommodation, Smart City Hostels. Hotels in Starboard’s operating portfolio include the Best Western Carlton Hotel Blackpool, Days Inn Wetherby, Holiday Inn Express Greenock and the multi award-winning Holiday Inn Express Burnley.