Extend Your Stay in London for the Serviced Apartment Summit

The theme of this year's Serviced Apartment Summit is "Accommodating the Future". Taking place at the Park Plaza in Victoria, London, on 7 and 8 July 2015, the event attracts more than 300 industry leaders in the sector. Delegates can join a "behind the curtain" tour of some of London's serviced apartments and extended stay properties. You will also get a chance to learn about the future prospects for the sector, new acquisition strategies, case studies and much more. HVS is a platinum sponsor for the summit and several members of our team will be in attendance – both Russell Kett, chairman of HVS London, and Arlett Oehmichen, a director with the firm, will also be speaking at the conference. For more information or to book a place, click here.

Accor Rebrands as AccorHotels

French group Accor has undergone a rebrand and launched its new name, AccorHotels; the group stated that the name change came about partly in order to bring its brand more in-line with its online platform. The group also has a new logo featuring a yellow goose on a white background with the tagline "Feel Welcome", which Accor says represents "group spirit, determination and travel. Additionally, Accor will open up its online distribution platform, AccorHotels.com, to a selection of independent hoteliers. The platform will gradually become available in initial target markets starting from the end of June 2015, and guests will be able to access the service from July 2015.

Seaside Hotel Sold to D'Urberville

The 111-room Best Western Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa in the seaside town of Southport, northwest England, has been sold to D'Urberville Hotels Ltd for an undisclosed sum off a guide price of £4 million (£36,000 per room). The property's previous owner, Tim Timmerman, purchased the hotel in 1983 and thoroughly renovated it before it became part of the Best Western family in 1987. The new owners now plan to restore the Victorian building, which was constructed in 1855, to its original glory. D'Urberville is led by its founder and chairman Paul Clark (the former chief executive of Virgin Hotels and De Vere Hotels) along with his business partner, Steve Grant. 

More Hotel Sales in the UK

Two mixed-use developments including hotel components have recently been sold in the UK. PATRIZIA Immobilien purchased the 20-acre First Street development in Manchester from Ask Developers for an undisclosed sum. This partially finished project includes the recently opened 208-room INNSIDE Manchester, operated by Meliá Hotels International. In Derby, close to the Peak District National Park, Moorfield Group acquired the Riverlights complex out of administration for £16.5 million. The project included a casino and two hotels: the 105-room Holiday Inn Derby Riverlights and the 117-room Hampton by Hilton Derby City Centre, both let to Shiva Hotels.

Crowne Plaza Hears Bells Ringing in Beaconsfield

The 138-room Bellhouse Hotel in the market town of Beaconsfield, to the west of London, is to be rebranded this autumn as the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross, operating under a franchise agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group. Before it assumes its new identity, the hotel is currently undergoing a £20 million refurbishment, during which it is remaining open. The property is owned by northeast England-based Cairn Hotel Group.

Philip Hotel Holdings Picks Up its Third Hotel in Cork

Philip Hotel Holdings (PHH) has agreed to purchase the three-star, 112-room Gresham Metropole Hotel in the university city of Cork on Ireland's southwest coast. The five-storey Victorian hotel, in the city centre, is PHH's third hotel in Cork.

Sheraton Scores Points With its Russian Debut

Starwood Hotels & Resorts' Four Points by Sheraton brand has made its first appearance in the Russian market with the opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Kaluga in the city of Kaluga, around 180 km southwest of Moscow on the Oka River. The 174-room hotel is close to one of the city's main shopping areas, as well major banks and corporate headquarters. The hotel is reportedly owned by Gostinichny Centre OJSC. Starwood now has six hotels in operation in Russia. With a further hotel due to open later this year, the group plans to double its portfolio in the country over the next three years.

Park Inn by Radisson Due to Land at Keflavik Later This Year and Arrives in Istanbul...

Carlson Rezidor has announced its first Park Inn hotel for Iceland. The 60-room Icelandair Hotel in Keflavik is to be converted and will become the Park Inn by Radisson Keflavik International Airport during the third quarter of 2015. The hotel is an eight-minute shuttle journey from the airport, in southwest Iceland, and is a 15-mintute and 35-minute journey, respectively, from the famous Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik. The hotel will join its sister properties in Iceland's capital, the 209-room Radisson Blu Saga Hotel and the 88-room Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel. Additionally, Park Inn made its first appearance in Turkey this week with the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The 154-room hotel is adjacent to a metro station and four kilometres from Istanbul's airport.

...While Hilton Opens a New DoubleTree in Turkey

Hilton Worldwide's DoubleTree brand has opened a new hotel in Turkey. The 84-room DoubleTree by Hilton – Istanbul Tuzla is situated on one of Istanbul's most eastern points, next to the Tuzla Shipyard, in the Icmeler Thermal Tourism District, which is home to more than 70,000 m² of thermal springs. The opening brings the number of DoubleTree properties in Turkey up to eight (with four in Istanbul).

Kingdom Sells 50% Stake in Four Seasons Resort on Mauritius...

Kingdom Holding Company's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud has sold a 50% stake in the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita on the African island of Mauritius to its joint venture partner, Sun Resorts for a net equity consideration of US$40 million. The five-star, 136-unit resort, which opened in 2008 as part of a US$200 million mixed-use development, closed in May to undergo a renovation. The resort is due to reopen on 1 August 2015 and will remain under Four Seasons' management.

...And Carlson Rezidor Announces Radisson Blu Resorts for the Island

Carson Rezidor has announced that it plans to open three new Radisson Blu-branded properties on the northeast coast of Mauritius in the third quarter of 2015. The 100-room Haute Rive Resort & Spa, in the seafront town of Azuri, is to be rebranded as the Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa. The hotel will be complemented by the 57-unit Radisson Blu Azuri Residences & Suites. The 100-room Post Layfayette Resort & Spa, which is spread over almost three acres of coast, will become the Radisson Blu Post Lafayette Resort & Spa. All three properties are owned by Mauritian real estate company BlueLife Ltd.

A New Hilton to Fly Into Dubai

Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with the hospitality arm of Mohammad Omar Bin Haider Holding Group for a new Hilton hotel in the emirate of Dubai. The seven-storey, 535-room Hilton Dubai World Central is expected to open at the beginning of 2019 as part of the 145-kilometre-square Dubai World Central urban development at Al Maktoum International Airport.

Supersize Holiday Inn to Open in Mecca

The city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is to be home to the world's largest Holiday Inn hotel. InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a management agreement with Al Majid Al Arabiah Company for the five-tower, 5,154-room Holiday Inn Makkah Araaj Al Tayseer. The hotel will open in phases with around 1,650 rooms scheduled to open by the end of 2015. The remaining guest rooms will come online over the following three years.

Disclaimer: Information provided above has been gathered from various market sources. HVS has not independently verified the accuracy of the information provided. Interested parties should not rely on the information as statement of facts and are advised to make their own independent checks to verify the information provided. For further information, please feel free to contact HVS London.