Compass Hospitality Group takes over Hawkwell House hotel

03 February 2016 by Janet Harmer

Thai-based Compass Hospitality Group has taken over the management of the three-AA-star, 77-bedroom Hawkwell House hotel in Oxford, following its acquisition by the Thai Singhpathom family.

Located within a 19th century property in three acres of ground, Hawkwell House features the Iffley Blue restaurant and four meeting rooms.

Compass owns three of the seven hotels it operates following the acquisition of the Big Sleep portfolio of hotels in Cardiff, Cheltenham and Eastbourne. It also manages the Lace Market hotel in Nottingham, the Lion hotel in Shrewsbury and the White Swan in Halifax.

Matthew Welbourn, executive vice president operations UK, Compass Hospitality Group, said that the company launched into the in April 2015, since when it has looked to help investors acquire hotels, which will attract backing from UK banks and are in strong locations in secondary towns and cities.

"We are on the verge of signing a further three hotels following a road trip in which we have visited 15 hotels with potential new owners," he said. "Those that were turned down were either too expensive, not returning the yields, or were in poor locations with too many competitors.

Welbourn said Compass' great strength is in the digital distribution of rooms. "Room revenue increased 23% during the first two months we took over the Lion hotel as the result of improved distribution, both directly and via third party agents."

Royal Bank of Scotland has provided an undisclosed sum to finance Compass's expansion in the UK as a hotel management company.

Big Sleep portfolio acquired by Asian companies >>

Lace Market hotel in Nottingham to reopen at the end of October >>

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