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ECE Work and Live has acquired two extended-stay hotels in the UK, with the purchase of IHG’s Staybridge Suites-branded properties in Liverpool and Newcastle as part of a planned expansion into regional cities.The investor said the deal marked the first step in a strategy to build a portfolio of mid-sized hotels in the mid- to upscale segment outside London. It is partnering with Maya Capital, which sourced the assets and will act as asset manager.
The two hotels operate under IHG’s Staybridge Suites brand and are managed by Cycas Hospitality. ECE Work and Live said both properties were trading strongly and benefited from central locations.
It comes as the company plans to assemble a portfolio of seven to eight hotels in UK regional cities, with a total investment of up to £150m. It said the focus would be on established assets with stable performance under major brands, as well as properties offering scope for value creation, including those with vacant possession potential.
Jan-Hendrik Walloch, managing director investment at ECE Work and Live, said: “The acquisition of the two Staybridge Suites hotels in Liverpool and Newcastle is part of our opportunistic approach to invest in smaller-scale UK hotel assets that, on an individual level, are too granular and often overlooked by institutional investors.
“Extended-stay concepts are in high demand in the UK and offer attractive recurring yields. We welcome the opportunity to build a portfolio with value-enhancing potential.”
David Pralong, managing director at Maya Capital, added: “This venture combines both our expertise and resources to create value in a hotel segment where we have high conviction and that continues to show strong operating performance.”
The Staybridge Suites Liverpool opened in 2008 and was last refurbished in 2017. The seven-storey property has 132 rooms and is located close to the city centre, adjacent to the waterfront and near Liverpool’s main event arena.
The Staybridge Suites Newcastle opened in 2009 and underwent a full refurbishment in 2024. The seven-storey hotel has 128 rooms and is located near the Quayside, with access to the city centre via Manors Metro station.
Maya Capital was founded in 2014 and has deployed more than €2.5bn (£2.1bn) across multiple asset classes in Western Europe. Savills advised ECE Work and Live on the transaction.
