Molo Hotel Group acquires first property outside of UK

UK-based hotel owner and developer, Molo Hotel Group, has announced it has completed the acquisition of the Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa, Aruba. The luxury resort located on Eagle Beach is Molo’s first hotel outside of the UK. The Manchebo acquisition is Molo’s second for 2021, following on from its purchase of the La Reserve Hotel in Piccadilly, Manchester earlier in the year. This week Molo also signed a franchise agreement with Marriott to bring its Tribute brand to the Manchester property, and a full renovation totalling £15m has commenced. The firm said the Aruba and Manchester properties join a “rapidly expanding” portfolio of hotels, which include Molo’s three Courtyard by Marriott Hotels in Edinburgh, Inverness and London Luton Airport, alongside a further three new build hotels under construction in the UK, which are all due to open in 2022. Whilst the Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa marks Molo’s first venture outside of the UK, the hotel owner and developer revealed it has a number of advanced deals in the pipeline including, Italy, Poland and the United States. Ross Morrow, MD of Molo Hotel Group, said: “We are delighted to finalise the acquisition of the Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, one of the finest properties in Aruba. For our first venture outside the UK, we have found a fantastic hotel, in an incredible location and run by an excellent team. “Welcoming the Manchebo into the Molo and Lighthouse family portfolio has been an honour and a great way to bring 2021 to a close. Next year shall be equally as exciting with our openings in Cambridge, Liverpool and Manchester alongside further overseas properties in Poland and Italy.” All of Molo’s hotels are operated by Lighthouse Hotel Management, a new management company established by Molo in 2021. Stephen Bench, MD of Lighthouse Hotel Management, said: “It’s been a very busy, but rewarding few months since forming Lighthouse – both recruiting a great team and establishing an operational support structure for our multi-branded, multi-national hotel portfolio. “The management company continues to grow as we plan further openings and takeovers in the UK and abroad, focussing on operational efficiency and creating first class guest experiences.”