Today’s news in brief – 21/6/24
Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA has appointed Seamus O’Hara as the general manager (GM) of the upcoming Tribe hotel at Manchester Airport, which will open later this year. O’Hara, previously a Cluster GM for Radisson, will lead a team of about 100 at the 412-room property. Kim Wantoch has been appointed GM for Ibis Styles Leeds, a 134-room hotel. Wantoch, with experience at Leaf Hospitality and Hilton, will manage a team of 19. David Anderson, divisional president at Aimbridge EMEA, expressed confidence in both appointees, highlighting their extensive experience and leadership qualities. Aimbridge EMEA is a division of Aimbridge Hospitality, a global management leader.
Andras House, a hospitality and property development company in Northern Ireland, has secured £7m funding from Ulster Bank for its new 83-bedroom Marcus Hotel Portrush. Part of an £11m investment, this hotel will be operated under Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. Andras House, founded in 1981, operates seven internationally-branded hotels with over 1,000 beds in Belfast. The Marcus Hotel Portrush represents the company’s largest investment outside Belfast. Richard Lusty from Ulster Bank and Rajesh Rana from Andras House emphasised the project’s economic impact and job creation, with completion expected in 2025 in time for The Open at Royal Portrush.
Quick-service restaurant brand Chopstix is opening two new modular sites at Haven’s holiday parks in Devon Cliffs, Exmouth, and Hafan y Môr, Gwynedd. This follows a successful launch at Thornwick Bay, Haven’s first sit-in Chopstix restaurant. Haven will manage these sites, with team members undergoing Chopstix induction. Chopstix co-founder Sam Elia expressed confidence in the franchise’s success, citing excellent returns from existing sites. Haven’s COO Peter Blake is excited about the launch, noting that Chopstix’s pan-Asian dishes complement their food offerings. Chopstix aims to expand to 300 sites by 2027, driven by franchise growth.
Ennismore has announced it will manage and grow the wellness-led luxury hotel brand Our Habitas, which operates 10 resorts across four continents. The brand has projects in the pipeline, especially in Saudi Arabia and plans to expand into Asia. Our Habitas has attracted significant investors like the Saudi Public Investment Fund and Starwood Capital. Founder Oliver Ripley will continue to oversee the brand’s creative vision. Sébastien Bazin of Accor and Ennismore praised Our Habitas’ unique niche in luxury hospitality. Ripley and chairman Maurice Salem look forward to Ennismore’s entrepreneurial approach and operational expertise to propel Our Habitas’ growth.
