Hotel news and transactions from around the European region: Catalonia Hotels acquires Hesperia Barcelona Del Mar, Plaza Hotel Group acquires Ibis Budget Hamburg Altona and more...

Catalonia Hotels acquires Hesperia Barcelona Del Mar from Meridia Capital

Spanish owner-operator Catalonia Hotels & Resorts has acquired the four-star, 84-room Hesperia Barcelona Del Mar in Spain, from Spanish private equity firm Meridia Capital, completing the divestment of its Fund IV. The price has been reported as €25.3 million (€301,200 per room), or €27.7 million including associated debt. The 5,800 sqm building, located in Barcelona’s 22@ district opposite the seafront, includes meeting rooms and 29 parking spaces. Meridia, who acquired the hotel in March 2020 (at the start of the covid pandemic) and launched an eviction process against the tenant for non-payment of rent in July 2020, has reported a €10.8m profit from the deal. Following this transaction, Catalonia now operates 29 hotels in Barcelona.
 
Explorer Investments acquires two hotels in Portugal’s Douro Valley

Portuguese private equity firm Explorer Investments, through its Hospitality I Fund, has acquired the five-star, 84-room Douro Royal Valley Hotel & Spa and the four-star, 60-room Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa, by purchasing Portuguese owner-operator JASE Empreendimentos Turísticos. The hotels are situated within some 14 kms of each other overlooking the Douro River, with the Douro Royal located in Ribadouro about an hour’s drive east of Porto, and the Douro Palace situated some 20 minutes further east, surrounded by vineyards and forest. Both properties include three restaurants, a pool, spa and conference centre. Explorer plans to invest into the properties’ design and service offering. 
 
Britannia acquires Crowne Plaza Felbridge in the UK from MCAP Global Finance

British owner-operator Britannia Hotels has acquired the 116-room Crowne Plaza Felbridge, located in West Sussex some 12 kms from London’s Gatwick Airport, from MCAP Global Finance, the UK arm of New York-based Marathon Asset Management. The hotel includes a restaurant, bar, event spaces and spa. Britannia reportedly plans to invest in the hotel’s facilities and rebrand it as Elite Venue Selection Felbridge. Following this transaction, Britannia’s portfolio comprises 65 hotels in the UK. 
 
Plaza Hotel Group acquires Ibis Budget Hamburg Altona from Union Investment

German owner-operator Plaza Hotel Group has acquired the 180-room Ibis Budget Hamburg Altona, part of a 10,315 sqm mixed-use development in Hamburg, Germany, from German real estate investment manager Union Investment. The property was part of Union’s open-ended mutual property fund Immofonds 1. The hotel is situated in Hamburg’s Altona district some 3 kms from Hamburg Messe and includes a breakfast restaurant and car parking. Plaza operates over 50 hotels across Europe.
 
ANH Hausbesitz acquires former Ibis Styles Berlin City Ost

German real estate manager ANH Hausbesitz has acquired the former three-star, 75-room Ibis Styles Berlin City Ost in Germany. The hotel is situated in east Berlin’s Friedrichshain district, some three-minute’s drive from the Berlin Ostkreuz train station. The property consists of three buildings, all of which will be extensively renovated, with the front building to be transformed into a more modern hotel and the other two converted into commercial spaces. 

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