Today’s news in brief – 7/11/24
Accor and The Arora Group have announced plans for a new Sofitel hotel near Dublin Airport, set to open in late 2026. This luxury hotel will feature 412 rooms, a tea salon, an all-day dining restaurant, and an 11th-floor sky bar with airport views. Amenities include a fitness centre, executive lounge, ballroom, and eight meeting rooms, making it a hub for business and leisure travellers. The hotel will be connected directly to Terminal 2, enhancing convenience. Accor’s CEO, Sébastien Bazin, emphasised Ireland’s appeal for growth, while Sofitel CEO Maud Bailly highlighted the cultural link between Ireland and France. The project, valued at over €100 million, marks Arora Group’s first venture outside the UK, adding to its successful portfolio with Accor.
Whitbread is reportedly looking for a successor to chairman Adam Crozier, who plans to step down within the next year despite being eligible to stay until 2026. Crozier, who joined in 2018, played a key role in selling Whitbread’s Costa Coffee to Coca-Cola for £4bn in 2019 and in shifting focus to the Premier Inn brand. Whitbread also intends to sell parts of its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants to focus on expanding Premier Inn from 86,000 to 125,000 UK rooms by 2030. Crozier’s career includes leadership roles at the Football Association, ITV, and Royal Mail, and he currently chairs BT Group and Kantar.
Hollywood House, a 16-bedroom holiday property in Derbyshire themed around Hollywood icons, is on the market for £2m. The property, located near Belper in the Peak District, has a unique décor in each room inspired by film legends such as Marilyn Monroe and James Bond. With multiple lounges, a dining conservatory, a basement casino, and outdoor spaces, Hollywood House has operated successfully as a holiday rental since 2016. It offers versatility for potential buyers as a guesthouse, B&B, or corporate venue.
Wood Leisure Group has acquired Faskally Caravan Park in Perthshire, marking its sixth Scottish holiday park. Previously owned by the Hay family since 1954, the 30.9-acre park includes 330 pitches for private lodges, static homes, and touring caravans. Wood Leisure intends to maintain the family-run ethos established by the Hays, who sought a buyer with shared values. The sale was handled by Colliers, who facilitated a smooth transition aimed at preserving the park’s high standards.
