Accor reveals plans to expand MGallery Collection in the UK

23-Apr-2014 - Last updated on 25-Apr-2014 at 14:20 GMT

Three luxury hotels, including the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham, will join Accor's MGallery Collection

Accor has revealed plans to add three new MGallery Collection Hotels to its UK portfolio and upgrade six existing Mercure properties into 'flagship' hotels for the brand by 2015.

Accor said it planned to upgrade three Mecure hotels located in Windsor, Cheltenham and Aberdeen and bring them into its upscale MGallery Collection of hotels alongside its only existing MGallery property in the UK, the Francis Hotel in Bath.

“Additions to the MGallery Collection are made by finding properties that meet the brand’s rigorous criteria of excellence and, above all, offer a truly unique guest experience thanks to the character and style of each hotel,” said an Accor spokesperson.

“The additions demonstrate the exciting momentum of the MGallery Collection in the UK which aims to increase its footprint to ten carefully selected hotels in key leisure locations.”

Mercure expansion

Meanwhile, the Bristol Holland House Hotel and Spa, Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa, Oxford Eastgate Hotel, Sheffield St.Paul’s Hotel and Spa, Exeter Southgate Hotel and Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel will be established as flagship hotels for Accor's mid-scale Mercure brand.

The renovation of all six properties, which will include the addition of Mercure’s innovative new lobby concept, will begin this year.

“These properties will sit alongside the existing flagship Mercure London Bridge, strengthening the brand’s leading position in the UK mid-scale sector,” said the Accor spokesperson.

Long-term partnership

Accor has operated 24 hotels for private equity fund manager Moorfield Group since 2007 and the portfolio has outperformed the UK industry benchmark in terms of RevPAR growth.

The two companies recently signed a new contract extending their partnership until 2032.

Thomas Dubaere, managing director for Accor UK & Ireland, said: “With three new elegant hotels in the MGallery Collection and six flagship hotels for Mercure, we are really proving the strength of our brands in the UK, and we are delighted to be working on this project alongside our long-term partner Moorfield.”

Heiko Figge, head of operational management at Moorfield, added: “We are delighted to be extending our relationship with Accor in the UK and look forward to the portfolio’s continued outperformance.”

Watch BigHospitality's video interview with Accor on its plans to extend its MGallery brand here