Today’s news in brief – 24/2/25
Switch Management Ltd’s aparthotel in Birmingham has had an impressive first year since its January 2024 opening, positioning itself as a top regional accommodation choice. It exceeded industry benchmarks by 24% in its first six months, driven largely by corporate bookings. By Q4, its Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) aligned with city competitors at £75, with November seeing peak performance (81% occupancy and £100.50 room rate). Positive guest reviews have pushed it to 7th place on TripAdvisor. Looking ahead, the aparthotel is expected to continue strong growth in 2025. The property, previously the Royal Angus Hotel, was redeveloped by Switch for SevenCapital and features 161 suites, high-tech amenities, and an on-site Nisa Local store.
Whatley Manor’s casual dining restaurant, Grey’s, will introduce a new menu concept from executive chef Ricki Weston on March 12. Inspired by Weston’s love for sharing-style dining, the menu will feature four categories: Earth (vegetarian dishes like grilled mushrooms and butternut squash), Land (meat options such as crispy beef and chicken liver parfait), Sea (seafood like spider crab croquettes and tuna tataki), and Little Delights (desserts including chocolate cremeux and spiced rum trifle). The seasonal menu aims to highlight British produce and provide diners with more flexibility. Weston, known for his sustainability-focused approach, has retained Whatley Manor’s Michelin Star at The Dining Room while enhancing Grey’s casual yet refined experience.
Valerio Duchini has been named CEO for Western Europe at B&B Hotels, overseeing nearly 450 properties across France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Duchini, who joined B&B Hotels in 2009, has been instrumental in the company’s international expansion, including launching its first U.S. hotels. His leadership is expected to drive further growth and strengthen the brand’s market position in the region. Duchini expressed excitement about his new role and commitment to continued success in the company’s expansion efforts.
Firmdale Hotels has sold a 20% stake to Swedish pharmaceuticals tycoon Lennart Perlhagen for around £300m—the company’s first external investment since its founding in 1985. Firmdale operates eight London hotels and three in New York. Recent financial reports show record revenues of £198.2m and operating profits of £17.8m, with the company’s value reaching up to £1.5bn. Perlhagen’s son, Richard, represents the family on the board, strengthening ties between Firmdale and the Perlhagen family’s textile business, Chelsea Textiles.
