Interstate’s immediate takeover of the 69-room Ramada Hotel, in Portrush, Northern Ireland, together with next year’s opening of the 115-room Holiday Inn Express Stockport, will bring the total number of UK hotels under its control to 41.
It follows Interstate’s announcement in December that it is to take on six new UK hotels – three of which are in development.
The latest hotel signings are part of Interstate’s plan to grow its UK portfolio to more than 100 hotels within five years.
Interstate Europe – a division of US-based Interstate Hotels & Resorts – made its first major foray into UK market in 2013, when it acquired hotel development company Sanguine Hospitality Management and Glasgow-based Chardon Hotel Management.
Ramada Portrush
Located in the centre of the seaside resort, the Ramada Hotel Portrush offers a number of flexible meeting venues in addition to the bedrooms.
The Holiday Inn Express Stockport, meanwhile, is a new-build hotel scheduled to open in spring 2016. Stockport is currently benefiting from a retail regeneration scheme.
Robert Crook, Interstate’s managing director for the UK, said he looked forward to working alongside the owners of the two new hotels and help realise the full potential of their hotel assets.
Crook said: “Winning the management contracts for these two hotels against stiff competition represents a significant enhancement of our portfolio of full and select service branded hotels throughout the UK”
“We welcome Anne Donaghy, general manager at Ramada Hotel Portrush, together with her team, to the Interstate family with immediate effect and look forward to working with the owners in preparation for next year’s opening of Holiday Inn Express Stockport.
Crook added: “We are continuing to explore other opportunities for enhancing our UK portfolio and anticipate future growth in the region.”