The
pentahotels group will open five hotels with a total of 573 rooms in
Belgium by the end of 2013, including its first airport hotel.
The
hotel group has signed an agreement to take over management of the
current Mercure Brussels Centre Louise, Alliance Hotel Brussels
Airport, Mercure Liège, Alliance Hotel Brussels Expo and Mercure
Leuven Centre.
The
addition of the Belgium properties, in addition to seven pentahotels
opening this year in the U.K., the Czech Republic and Hong Kong,
represents the highest growth period in the company history. The
pentahotels portfolio will expand by 70 percent from the current
2,925 rooms to 5,000 rooms in 27 locations worldwide in 2013.
Currently, pentahotels operates 11 hotels in Germany, one each in the
U.K. and Austria, and two in mainland China.
Pentahotels
is targeting 80 hotels in operation worldwide by 2020. Asia will play
a significant role in this expansion, indicated not only by the
opening of the 695-room pentahotel Hong Kong, Kowloon in summer 2013,
but additional pentahotels opening in mainland China in 2014: the
204-room pentahotel Guiyang and 384-room pentahotel Shenyang.
The
group’s expansion focuses on locations in urban centres, conference
and exhibition complexes and airport and railway transportation hubs.
This is familiar territory for pentahotels, as it started out in the
80s as an airline hotel chain founded by five carriers including
Lufthansa.
“The
pentahotels’ ‘neighbourhood lifestyle hotel’ concept is
resonating strongly with both customers and developers,” says
pentahotels managing director Europe Alastair Thomann. “Whether in
Europe or Asia, the mix of stylish and contemporary design with
informality, comfort and fun, is proving a winning combination.”
Pentahotels
has established itself as a renowned design and lifestyle-oriented
hotel group offering independent travellers a high level of comfort
and a modern club-style environment. In European properties, its
signature pentalounge was designed by leading architect Matteo Thun,
combining reception area, bar and café which creates a lively
meeting place for hotel guests and local residents alike.
