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| HAND PICKED HOTELS |
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Having expanded its portfolio recently with the acquisition
of three new properties, luxurious country house hotelier Hand
Picked Hotels has its sights set firmly on continued growth.
RLI talks to Chairman and Chief Executive Julia Hands about
the brand’s strategic expansion and its commitment to
first-class service |
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Hand Picked
Hotels, an award-winning collection of country house hotels,
is on the acquisitions trail having recently bought three properties,
increasing its portfolio to
17 hotels across the UK and Jersey.
Owned by former city lawyer Julia Hands, the
company has invested some £75M in restoring and developing
its existing portfolio to stimulate growth in conferences,
leisure, weddings and health clubs/spas.Hand Picked Hotels
are architecturally splendid former country houses set mostly
in beautiful countryside and built for pleasure.
The company’s aim is to deliver an atmosphere of pleasure;
each hotel has classically elegant interiors combined with
the latest technology, exquisite food, fine wines and excellent
customer service.
Says Julia Hands, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hand Picked
Hotels: “As part of
our ongoing investment programme, the hotels have been upgraded
to make the most
of their exceptional qualities and unique characteristics,
while offering the latest in business technology.
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“We have a five-year business plan in
place with an emphasis on further upgrading
and expansion of bedrooms and the properties in general and
the acquisition of three more hotels,” continues Hands.
“Much of our investment in the collection has been to
stimulate growth of four distinct areas of the business: conferences,
leisure, weddings
and health clubs/spas.”
Recent investment projects have been completed
at Rookery Hall near Nantwich in Cheshire, where £10M
was spent on a new spa and health club, with new conference
and meeting facilities, plus 24 additional bedrooms, whilst
at Rhinefield House in the
New Forest, near Brockenhurst in Hampshire, a £4M investment
in conference facilities, health club and 16 additional bedrooms
has just been completed. At Norton House,
just outside Edinburgh city centre, £13M has been spent
on a new spa resort,
state-of-the-art conference facilities and 36 additional bedrooms.
This was completed
at the beginning of 2008.
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| RLI asked
how the company ensures that its environments remain attractive
and exciting? “I travel a great deal and stay in hotels
all over the world,” says Hands. “I learn a lot
from my own experiences and draw inspiration from the kind of
personal touches that I enjoy when I stay in a hotel. My senior
team are constantly looking at keeping our offering fresh and
appealing without losing the essential appeal of the Hand Picked
Hotels brand.” |
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The company recently bought the Grade II Listed,
57-bedroom Hendon Hall Hotel in Hendon, North London; Audleys
Wood Hotel in Basingstoke, Hampshire, also Grade II Listed
and with 72 bedrooms, and New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield,
Birmingham, a Grade I Listed, 60-bedroom hotel, just 20 minutes
from Birmingham Airport. What was it that attracted Hand Picked
Hotels to the three newly acquired properties and what will
they add to the portfolio?
“They form
part of our strategic expansion across the UK,” explains
Hands. “Hendon Hall provides us with a North London
presence and is close to Wembley and excellent motorway links,
whilst Audleys Wood gives access to the key business markets
along the M3 corridor. New Hall in Sutton Coldfield is in
a key position to service business in Birmingham and the West
Midlands generally.”
For the full article please see the
RLI July/August 08 issue |
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Paramount
Publications Ltd Suite 15, Hardmans Business Centre, New
Hall Hey Road, Rawtenstall BB4 6HH UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1706 212200 Fax: +44 (0) 1706 211782 Email:
info@rli.uk.com
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