Total portfolio to grow by more than 70 percent to 27 locations worldwide in 2013.

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.