LGH announces multimillion-pound portfolio refurbishment plan

LGH Hotels Management, formerly known as LHM UK, has announced a multimillion-pound refurbishment plan across its portfolio of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels.

The company has also announced a new partnership with celebrity chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White, with plans to open two of Marco's New York Italian branches in the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes - Central and Holiday Inn Brentwood later this year, with the potential to expand the partnership across the wider Holiday Inn portfolio in the future.

The investment follows the company's acquisition by InTown Hospitality in April from Apollo Hospitality.

LGH Hotels Management will invest "heavily" in the properties to create a new open lobby concept merging the reception, lounge, bar and restaurant areas, and a new 24-hour To Go Café.

Omar Nicholls, development director for LGH Hotels Management, has been tasked to oversee the refurbishment plans for each hotel and has worked with external design agency Design Coalition on the new Holiday Inn open lobby concept.

He said: "Our main goal with the new open lobby design is to create a space in each property that feels familiar, like an extension of home, and has a logical flow so guests can truly relax and utilise each corner in a way that makes sense to them and accommodates all of their work and relaxation needs."

Simon Teasdale, managing director of LGH Hotels Management, added: "Not only will these refurbishment plans revolutionise the Holiday Inn guest experience but will set a new standard in the mid-scale hospitality industry for accommodating the business and social lives of today's guests…

"This is an incredibly important step in our business development and economic growth for 2018 and beyond, not only to improve and expand our services but to open the door to brand new guests."

Pierre-White said his New York Italian brand "fits perfectly with the ethos of the Holiday Inn hotels".

Nick Taplin, chairman and chief executive of Black and White Hospitality, which owns the franchise rights to seven Marco Pierre-White restaurant brands, added: "We have had great success over the years working closely with hoteliers to transform their restaurant and bar areas and we're looking forward to getting started with MPW in both Brentwood and Milton Keynes."
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