BDL aims for 40-strong chain with new group

Hospitality operator BDL Management is to launch a new hotel group that will roll out 40 properties across the UK over the next seven years.

The Ramcore Hotels group, which has signed an exclusive development agreement with US hotel brand Wyndham Worldwide, plans to create a portfolio valued at about £300m.

The select service, mid-market Ramada Encore properties will typically be new-build properties in key city-centre locations, said Ewan Campbell, managing director of Ramcore Hotels.

"It's more cost effective these days to build the hotel from scratch even with land values as they are," he added.

The hotels will have between 80 and 150 rooms and will offer Wi-Fi facilities, a social zone called "The Hub" and coffee bars serving Illy or Starbucks brands.

Before launching, the group took the unusual step of appointing market analyst PKF to research specific areas in cities throughout the UK to test their viability for the Encore product. The company now has a "hit list" of cities including Birmingham, Glasgow, Chatham in Kent, Gloucester, Sheffield and Belfast.

"There are still plenty sites out there especially in secondary places," Campbell said.

By Emily Manson