Frasers Closes Deal on MHDV Purchase

Singapore-based Frasers Hospitality has completed its acquisition of the Malmaison Hotel du Vin (MHDV) portfolio in the UK for a consideration of £363.4 million (approximately £174,500 per room) from an affiliate of US-based private equity firm KSL Capital Partners. The MHDV chain comprises 29 boutique lifestyle hotels (2,082 rooms) across two brands (13 Malmaison properties and 16 Hotel du Vin assets). The deal sees Frasers double its presence in Europe to around 4,000 rooms. The group currently operates 129 properties (around 21,100 rooms) across 77 cities in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. 

M&L Increases its Portoflio With Two New European Assets

Singapore-based real estate investment trust M&L Hospitality Group has acquired two new hotel assets at travel hubs in prime European markets for an undisclosed sum. The 350-room Heathrow Hotel Bath Road (previously the Arora Hotel Heathrow — the hotel was renamed following its sale) at London's Heathrow Airport, has become the group's fifth hotel in the UK (three in London and two in Manchester). The 142-room Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi, opposite Brussels-Midi train station, is M&L's first asset in Belgium.

Britannia Expands its UK Portfolio

Britannia Hotels has purchased two country house hotels in England from The Hotel Collection for an undisclosed sum, bringing its hotel portfolio in the UK up to 49. The group's newest assets are the 147-year-old, Grade II-listed 122-room Palace Hotel Buxton in the East Midlands region and the 100-room Basingstoke Country Hotel in southeast England.

M by Montcalm Makes its Debut on the London Scene

The Montcalm Luxury Hotels has opened the M by Montcalm in London this week, marking the debut of the brand described as the 'younger sibling' to the group's portfolio of de luxe Montcalm properties. The 269-room M by Montcalm is in east London's Shoreditch area, close to the City and the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras station. Montcalm now has five properties in operation in the UK capital.

Hyatt Finds a Second Place in Armenia

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened its second property in Armenia: the 92-room Hyatt Place Jermuk, which is 2,080 metres above sea level in the mountain spa resort of Jermuk, 170 km southeast of the capital, Yerevan. The hotel is the third Hyatt Place property to open in Europe, along with the 95-room Hyatt Place Yerevan and the 330-room Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport.

Cristal Plans its Expansion into Turkey

UAE-based Cristal Group has announced that it will open an office in Turkey in order to drive its expansion in the country. Crystal plans to open eight hotels across Turkey over the next three years. The group currently operates five hotels across the Middle East and Africa.

Serviced Apartment Summit On its Way

In less than three weeks this year's Serviced Apartment Summit is due to take place at the Park Plaza in Victoria, London, on 7 and 8 July 2015. There is still time to book a ticket for the event, which attracts more than 300 industry leaders in the sector. 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.

A Second Garden Inn for Spain

Hilton Worldwide has opened its second Garden Inn hotel in Spain. The 155-room Hilton Garden Inn Malaga is on the Costa del Sol in the resort town of Malaga, and joins its sister property in Seville. The hotel is owned by franchisee URH Hoteliers & Co.

Millennium Signs Four Hotels in Saudi Arabia

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has signed an agreement with Taiba Holding Company for four hotels in Saudi Arabia. The group will take over the operation of two existing hotels in Medina, rebranding them as the 208-room Millennium Taiba Hotel Madinah and the 484-room Millennium Al Aqeeq Hotel Madinah. Also in Medina, the 299-room Grand Millennium Hotel Madinah is scheduled to open in 2018. Lastly, the group's Biltmore brand will make its debut in Riyadh in 2018 with a 265-room hotel.

Correction

Further to our recent report on the 50% sale of the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, on Mauritius, the 50% stake was sold by Kingdom Holding Company's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud to its joint venture partner, Sun Resorts for a net equity consideration of US$40 million.

Absolute Share Price Performance Over the Past Week – 11-18 June 2015

Accor –  Has appointed Jean-Jacques Morin as Chief Financial Officer as of 1 October.

NH Hoteles –  Has proposed to reduce number of board members to 11. 

PPHE Hotel Group – Has acquired a loan made to Katmandu Limited. 

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.