By Denis Sheehan MIH, Publisher, H&C News: European hotel group enter UK today targeting 100 openings.
Hotel News is sponsored by HotelPartner UK
European value-for-money hotel chain B&B Hotels has announced plans to launch into the UK, with a target of opening 100 new hotels by 2035.
Since its establishment in 1990, B&B Hotels has grown to more than 650 hotels across 14 European countries, and played a decisive role in developing the budget hotel industry in Europe. Backed by capital from owners Goldman Sachs, B&B Hotels’ entry into the UK market and its growth strategy will include a combination of leasing new hotels with development partners, takeovers and conversions.
Kevin Murray has been appointed as Managing Director Development UK and brings with him over 25 years’ experience in hotel acquisitions and the wider hotel industry.
The UK team is expected to grow significantly as the brand commences investment and delivery into the UK market, and B&B Hotels is looking to partner with existing hotel owners, developers, landowners, funds and real estate owners to deliver its expansion plans.
Announcing its expansion plans, Max C. Luscher, B&B Hotels’ CEO of Central and Northern Europe said: “It is with great excitement that we announce our expansion plans today.
“With over 650 hotels and 59,000 rooms in our B&B global portfolio, we are well positioned to bring our overseas experience and business model of providing a high-quality hotel experience at affordable rates to UK consumers, at a time when money matters more than ever.”
B&B Hotels is well known across Europe for its differentiated high-quality offer with a strong value proposition and mantra of ‘only for everyone’. B&B Hotels’ approach has helped secure its position as a top budget hotel operator across several European countries including number one in Italy, number two in Germany and Spain, and number three in France.
The group has identified a highly attractive and underpenetrated segment of the UK’s hospitality market that has significant and resilient growth potential.
Outlining B&B Hotels UK’s expansion strategy Kevin Murray, Managing Director Development of B&B Hotels UK Ltd said: “Our expansion plans will see the delivery of at least 100 hotels by 2035, through the same business model that has led us to success in Europe – an asset light and flexible model with low capital expenditure and best-in-class profitability.
“B&B Hotels’ decentralised structure also allows for necessary agility and adaptation to meet local needs and opportunities, which has helped us succeed in so many countries already.”
B&B Hotel strives to make sustainable change accessible to everyone. Its ambition is to become the leading ‘value-for-money’ hospitality brand that is CSR committed. B&B Hotels continually works to ensure it has the latest ESG Certifications to support the realisation of this ambition.