Cut-down Classic emerges

Hotel consortium Classic British Hotels has launched its first brochure but only has half the number of hotels it had hoped for in its first year.

The consortium, launched last year by three former Best Western directors under the trading name of Hotel Partnership, has 16 hotels on board so far after aiming to recruit 30.

"A number of hotels that are going to be part of the group have to go through a resignation period with other consortiums," said chief executive Len Louis. He added that many of the hotels that have been recruited are larger than expected and fees are based on the number of bedrooms.

"We are not far off our budget because of the size of the hotels," said Louis.

Six hotels have switched from Best Western to the new group. These include the 63-bedroom Thornton Hall Hotel & Country Club in Thornton Hough, Merseyside, and the 34-bedroom Kenwick Park hotel in Louth, Lincolnshire.