Focus Hotels to operate 10 hotels under Accor's Mercure brand
Focus Hotels has signed a franchise agreement with Accor to operate ten of its existing hotels under the midscale Mercure brand.
The deal, which involves 763 bedrooms, forms part of Accor's aggressive expansion plans to increase its number of UK hotels from 145 to 300 by 2015. Mercure's presence will grow from 33 to 43 properties in the UK and to more than 700 worldwide.
Jean-Jacques Dessors, chief operating office of Accor UK and Ireland said the company is excited to announce a deal that significantly increases Mercure's presence across the UK. "We have ambitious plans for the UK and we are totally committed to extending our Accor network and bringing our expertise in all segments from economy, midscale, upscale and luxury to the UK market."
In recent years Focus Hotels has rescued many of the ten hotels now being branded as Mercure properties from administration and turned them into profitable businesses. "I am a passionate believer in matching the brand to the property and we identified Mercure as the perfect partner for these ten hotel," said Peter Cashman, chief executive of Focus Hotels.
"Mercure will allow them to maintain their individuality and character whilst offering the credibility of one of the most respected international hotel brands."
The new Mercure hotels are: Mercure Altrincham Bowden, Mercure Blackburn Ribble Valley, Mercure Chester North, Mercure Hatfield Oak, Mercure Hull Royal, Mercure Stafford South Penkridge, Mercure Swindon East Hotel & Spa, Mercure Telford, Mercure Wigan Oak and Mercure Wolverhampton.
Accor's other hotel brands in the UK include Sofitel, Novotel, Ibis, All Seasons and Etap.
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By Janet Harmer
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