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Hilton Signs 10 Spark Hotels as UK Expansion Gathers Pace

September 15, 2026

Hilton has signed 10 new Spark by Hilton hotels across England and Wales, adding 672 rooms to the value-focused brand’s UK development pipeline.

AG Hotels Group and Hilton signing announcement

The properties will open in Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Hull, Peterborough, Runcorn, Sunderland, Wakefield and Washington between late 2026 and 2028.

The agreement with AG Hotels Group will introduce Spark by Hilton to several new markets, including Derby, Runcorn, Wakefield and Washington.

The Cardiff property will become the brand’s first hotel in Wales.

Paul Blackmore, Vice President, Development, UK & Ireland at Hilton, said: “These signings underline the strength of demand for Spark by Hilton we are seeing from owners across the UK.

“With nearly 700 rooms in the pipeline, including the brand’s first hotel in Wales, Spark continues to gain momentum as owners recognise the strength of its value proposition and its ability to meet the needs of today’s travellers.”

AG Hotels Group owns and operates a growing portfolio of hotels across the UK and plans to expand through acquisitions, conversions and strategic partnerships.

Girish Grover, Founder & CEO of AG Hotels Group, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hilton to expand Spark by Hilton across the UK.

“This landmark agreement is closely aligned with AG Hotels Group’s mission to create happy, thriving places nationwide and represents an important step in the next phase of our growth.

“Our strategy is to build a scaled, high-quality hospitality platform by acquiring, repositioning and investing in well-located hotels across the UK, combining strong operational capability with leading global brands.

“We see significant opportunity to grow our portfolio through further acquisitions, conversions and strategic partnerships, and we look forward to working with Hilton as we continue to expand.”

The 10 properties have been selected for their proximity to employment centres, transport connections and visitor destinations.

The Doncaster hotel will overlook Doncaster Racecourse, while the Derby property will be located next to the city’s railway station.

The Peterborough hotel will have access to the A1 and one of the UK’s largest logistics corridors, while the Sunderland and Washington properties will serve locations close to major North East manufacturing operations.

Hotels in Runcorn, Wakefield and Hull will provide access to industrial, logistics and leisure markets across northern England.

Hilton has also recently agreed a deal with SMAR Hotels Ltd for Scotland’s first Spark by Hilton.

The 53-room property in Dunfermline, approximately 17 miles northwest of Edinburgh, will undergo a refurbishment before opening in late 2026 with dining space, meeting facilities and guest parking.

Spark by Hilton was launched in 2023 and uses a conversion-led model designed to allow existing hotels to reposition under the Hilton network.

The brand now has more than 275 hotels operating worldwide and more than 200 properties in development.

Its European and Middle Eastern expansion has recently included further growth in Italy and Spain alongside its debut in Saudi Arabia.

Associated Articles

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Tapestry Collection by Hilton to Make London Debut with London Bridge Hotel

Hospitality Could Deliver £2.3bn Economic Benefit by Tackling Youth Unemployment, Report Finds

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Ruby Group to Enter Finland with First Helsinki Hotel

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