IHG to open long-stay hotels in UK

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will open two hotels next year catering for longer stay travellers.

IHG currently operates 79 Staybridge Suites in North America, and believe the time is right to bring the brand to the UK.

A spokesman for IHG said: "From our research, we found 14 million rooms in the UK are occupied for four nights or more. Extended stay is the fastest growing segment in the market."

With 124 bedrooms, the Staybridge Suites Brentford will offer guests a flat screen TV, fully equipped kitchen and free laundry service. It will be managed by IHG under a 20-year management agreement with Stay Investments.

Staybridge Suites on the South Bank has 113 bedrooms and will be managed by IHG for the first three years before entering a 17-year franchise agreement with The Splendid Hotel Group.

InterContinental hopes the hotels will attract business travellers and tourists and aim to charge between £79 and £149 per night per room. "The longer you stay, the cheaper it will be," said the spokesman.

By Victoria Heath

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