Arora Group snaps up short-stay specialist Bloc Hotels

The Arora Group has acquired short-stay specialist Bloc Hotels in a bid to “build a diverse portfolio of assets across the UK”.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it adds the 245-bedroom Bloc Gatwick and the 105-bedroom Bloc Birmingham to the Arora Group, along with two further sites in the UK that are still to be developed.

Bloc Hotels specialises in small, budget rooms designed for short stays close to airports. Guests are sent a link to check-in and access a digital room key, which lets them adjust their room’s lights, blinds and change television channels without having to download an app.

Arora Group said the deal was part of its mission to become "the hotel operator of choice" at London Gatwick, where it already operates several hotels including the Hilton London Gatwick Airport.

Surinder Arora, chief executive and chairman of the Arora Group said: “The acquisition of Bloc Hotels marks another exciting milestone for the Arora Group. Bloc Gatwick allows us to further cement our presence at the airport, complementing our already successful Hilton, Sofitel and Crawley properties.”

Rob Morgan, managing director of Bloc Hotels, said: “Bloc Hotels is pleased to announce the next chapter in its journey, as the Arora Group - renowned for its deep hospitality expertise and family-driven values - takes the helm.

“This transition marks a new phase of growth, including the upcoming developments of Bloc Grand Central and Bloc Glasgow.”

Arora Group owns and operates 13 UK hotels and leases a further five. While a large number of its sites are based around airports, the group launched its first city centre hotel, the InterContinental London - the O2, in 2017.

More recently it has diversified further into the country house hotel market with Fairmont Windsor Park and Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa.

Its wider property portfolio includes the Peacocks Shopping Centre in Woking and County Mall Shopping Centre in Crawley.
 

Dentons advised the Arora Group on the acquisition.