Pentahotels to open five UK venues in 2013

Beginning this month, five former Ramada Encore properties in Birmingham, Derby, Inverness, Ipswich and Warrington will be renovated and rebranded. All five are expected to be operating under the design-led brand by the end of the year.

Outlining its expansion prospects, Pentahotels said it planned to open at least seven new hotels in 2013 - in Prague, Hong Kong and the UK.

2013 growth​

The openings will make 2013 the biggest year in terms of growth in the brand's history and will increase the portfolio of properties to 22. Currently the group operates venues in Germany, Austria, China and the UK.

"We are not only expanding our presence in existing locations but also opening up new markets," said Alastair Thomann, managing director Europe for Pentahotels. "These new properties significantly accelerate Pentahotels' strategic growth with the goal of 80 hotels in operation globally by 2020," he revealed.

In the UK, the company will add 562 bedrooms with the five Ramada Encore properties which will all be converted and operated by an affiliated firm under the Pentahotels brand.

Pentahotels​

Founded in 1971, as a joint partnership between five airlines, Pentahotels continues to operate from its German HQ but is now run by Hong Kong-based New World Hospitality.

Last year, the company announced it was repositioning the brand as a neighbourhood lifestyle hotel concept aimed at independent travellers. City centres, conference and exhibition venues and transport hubs are the preferred locations for new properties.

A ‘pentalounge’ is now a hallmark of each Pentahotels venue - the space combines a reception, bar and café and is intended to serve as a living room and gathering/meeting space for hotel guests as opposed to a traditional lobby.