The Business Travel Magazine Aug/Sept 2019

UK hotel groUps
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Apex Hotels: will have invested £12million in
its portfolio of ten properties by the end of
2019, including a £6m project to restore and
refurbish Apex Temple Court on Fleet Street.
Bespoke Hotels: owns and manages
76 properties in the UK, including new
agreements for five hotels in the past 12
months. It will add three more in 2020 in
Manchester, Glasgow and Coventry in time for
the city’s year as UK City of Culture.
Dakota Hotels: has only five properties to
date but is looking for new sites.
Dakota Hotels
feel that in consumer spending,” he says.
“For the time being, we are consolidating and
making sure we optimise the management
of our existing portfolio within the UK, rather
than spreading ourselves thin and going
abroad,” says Bakker.
Industry challenges
Bakker’s comment about booking channels
reflects the increasing tendency for buyers to
move away from RFPs, as Tom Stone
explains. “They still play an important role
but people are wise to savings that can be
achieved through dynamic pricing and most
organisations might, typically, have a
preferred rate and then underpin that by
charging the TMC to see what’s available on
booking.com or Expedia that will potentially
undercut their negotiated rate,” says Stone.
“I also think there is a move to see whether
the hotel RFP can be done on a biannual
basis rather than annually – it is very labour
intensive,” he says. “The trick is to try and
factor in an agreed increase. This might be
Brexit has stimulated
conversation and
debate regarding the future
of our country, creating
positive engagement”
the rate of inflation or the cost of living
index. I think that’s possible in some markets
but very difficult in markets like London –
hoteliers want the ability to increase rates if
the market dictates,” Stone explains.
WIN Global Travel Network's CEO Neil
Armorgie adds: “The top challenges facing
the hotel industry are similar to other
industries: uncertainty with the slowdown of
the global economy; rising costs in salaries
and utilities; the trade tariff wars between
China and the USA, and the still unresolved
Brexit negotiations.”
He continues: “So despite the strong start
to the year for our members, there are signs
that overall economic growth could have an
effect on slowing hotel booking volumes
through the rest of the year. That, and
increased supply in the UK, will mean that
hotel rates will flatten and could even drop.”
Dakota's Andrew Overstone ends on a
positive note. “Brexit's impact, so far, has
been quite encouraging. It has stimulated
conversation and debate regarding the
future of our country, creating genuine
dialogue and positive engagement.
“People are actively considering the
position of the UK, which affects their day to
day decisions. With last year’s glorious
summer, and the recent spell of sunshine,
people have definitely seen the benefit of the
great British staycation, which has definitely
been positive for the UK hotels industry.”
EasyHotels: has an aggregate 37 owned and
franchised hotels in the UK and Europe, four
of which opened in the UK in the past year. Its
pipeline comprises another five, with two
subject to planning consent.
Hand Picked Hotels: last year upgraded and
relaunched its loyalty programme as Privilege
Rewards, with new awards that include
exclusive room rate discounts and upgrades.
Hotel du Vin & Malmaison: is aiming for
50 properties by 2022, from the current
19 (Hotel du Vin) and 16 (Malmaison).
Jurys Inn & Leonardo: has properties in over
30 cities in the UK and Ireland. It acquired
and rebranded four Grange Hotels in London
earlier this year.
Macdonald Hotels: over 35 luxury hotels
across the UK and is particularly strong
in Scotland.
Premier Inn: has over 800 hotels across
the UK and Ireland, plus sub-brands
Zip (just one so far, in Cardiff) and Hub
(in London and Edinburgh).
Q Hotels: having launched in 2003 with two
hotels, it now manages 21 across the UK.
Travelodge: has more than 560 hotels and
aims to open another 17 in 2019. Also has a
£100million expansion plan, targeting the
UK's largest conference locations.
Village Hotels: has 30 hotels across the UK;
strong in the North and Midlands.
Z Hotels: 13 hotels offering 'affordable luxury'
in London, Glasgow and Liverpool.
34 THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.com