Great National completes merger with The Hotel Partnership

Great National Hotels and Classic British partnership

Today (9 September 2018), Great National Hotels and Resorts has announced completion of the merger with The Hotel Partnership for an undisclosed sum.

The merger brings the group to a combined total of 135 hotels, making it one of the largest independent hotel services companies in Europe with 8,150 bedrooms. The deal will see the two organisations combine their technology, marketing and distribution services, offering a full suite of proven ‘best in class’ solutions for independent hotels throughout the UK and Ireland.

Established in 2010, Great National currently represents 64 mainly 3-star deluxe and 4-star independent hotels and resorts throughout Ireland and the UK. The group also co-owns several of these hotels, which are operated under management contracts.  The Hotel Partnership, established in 2001, trades under the brand ‘Classic British Hotels’ and comprises a collection of 71 mainly 4-star deluxe properties – and shortly 5-star properties - throughout the UK.

The group will also continue to operate under two independent brands, ‘Great National Hotels and Resorts’ and ‘Classic British Hotels’.

Commenting on the move, Great National CEO and co-founder David Byrne said “we are delighted to make this announcement today in conjunction with The Hotel Partnership.  Both Len Louis, Chairman, and Nicola Rhone, Managing Director, of  The Hotel Partnership will be bringing their significant talents and experience to the Great National Hotels and Resorts Group board. They will work alongside our own Great National UK Managing Director, Paul Abson, promoting our collective services to our existing and our prospective hotel clients throughout Ireland and the UK.”

Continuing, Byrne added: “both our companies specialise in tapping latent growth and accelerating revenues for independent hotels across a range of complementing market sectors, from leisure to corporate.”

Commenting on the timing of the merger in the context of BREXIT, Len Louis said “we see this as a real opportunity despite the business uncertainty caused by BREXIT.  Although we anticipate continued trading challenges for independent operators in both markets, we believe that the combined expertise, depth of knowledge, technology-led approach and range of services offered by the new group will give us a greater competitive edge and real strength in the marketplace, whilst offering the independent hotel sector a truly comprehensive set of revenue-driving solutions.

This announcement follows on the back of a second round of investment by Enterprise Ireland into Great National which will co-fund bespoke AI-centred revenue management software designed to automate yielding and ultimately reduce third party commissions paid by hotels. Great National is also set to announce further investment in Q3 2018 following a second-round equity release. Funds from this will also be re-invested into the business to further strengthen both brands and to secure future growth. The Great National group remains debt free following this latest acquisition.

For further details, please visit corporate.greatnationalhotels.com