Hotel industry and travel news from around the European region: Limestone Capital acquires The Yard hotel in Milan, Verkehrsbüro Group sells Sporthotel Fontana and more...

Verkehrsbüro Group sells Sporthotel Fontana in Fieberbrunn, Austria
Austrian travel group the Verkehrsbüro Group has sold the 125-room Sporthotel Fontana in the Austrian ski resort of Fieberbrunn to German developer and hotel operator Auszeit Hotel & Resort AG. The hotel, which is located in the Saalbach Hinterglemm /Leogang /Fieberbrunn ski region within Tyrol, is spread out over 9,000 sqm of floor area and includes an indoor pool, a spa & wellness area as well as three F&B outlets.

Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, UK sold to Texan couple
The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, an historic market town located in Wiltshire in the south of England, has been sold by long-term owners the Harvey family, to Kim and Whit Hanks, founders of Whim Hospitality in Texas, in the group’s first entry into the UK hospitality market. Malmesbury was the home of the Hanks family’s ancestors. The 34-room hotel is reported to have been sold for £3.8 million (£86,000 per room). The Grade 1-listed building dates from the 13th-century and is believed to be England’s oldest purpose-built hotel. The sellers will operate the hotel in the 2021 season, and operations will be taken over by the incoming owners at the end of this year, who plan to upgrade and reposition the property.

Shearings Savoy Hotel in Bournemouth, UK acquired by Harbour Hotels
The Nicolas James Group, owner of UK hotel owner operator Harbour Hotels, has announced the acquisition of the 106-room Shearings Savoy Hotel in Bournemouth in the UK. The hotel, which was previously branded as a Shearings Hotel and owned by Specialist Leisure Group, fell into administration last year and is now set to undergo a £20 million renovation and partially reopen with 60 rooms this summer, with a full reopening planned for the summer of 2022. It will be operated by Harbour Hotels under a yet-unnamed 5-star brand.

Limestone Capital acquires The Yard hotel in Milan
European private equity firm Limestone Capital has acquired the 27-room The Yard hotel in Milan´s nightlife-focused Navigli neighbourhood. Post-acquisition, the hotel is set to be operated by Limestone´s operating platform, Aethos Hotels & Clubs. The transaction represents Limestone’s second acquisition in Italy, joining the Aethos Saragano in Umbria.

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