Ex-Real Hotel executives step in after collapse
Focus Hotels Management Ltd is to take over ten hotels previously leased by the Read Hotel Company (RHC) which went into administration last month.
The 500 staff employed by the UK hotels in Altrincham, Wigan, Wolverhampton, Hull, Hatfield, Chester, Northampton, Stafford, Blackburn and Telford will be saved as a result, said Focus.
"We are delighted to have agreed a deal to operate these hotels," said Peter Cashman, chief executive of Focus.
"Having been a founder Director of Friendly Hotels, which later became the Real Hotel Company, and working with Alun Edwards and Tony Mylchreest, themselves former Operations Directors, we are familiar with all the hotels and look forward to delivering the long term development plans to take the business forward.
"We believe that there is a strong opening in the current market for quality mid-market hotels offering value and excellent service."
The Real Hotel Group (RHG), RHC's owners, went into administration last month one week after its shares were suspended following poor financial results.
A trading update revealed a decline in UK sales in the 13 weeks to January 1 from £4.5m to £3.6m on the year, resulting in a 35% fall in share price.
RHG ran around 40 hotels in the UK, including its own brands Purplehotels and Stop Inns.
It was also licensed to run Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Clarion Hotels for Choice Hotels International.
Focus was formed in July 2007 by Mr Cashman along with Alun Edwards and Tony Mylchreest, all ex-RHC executives.
www.focushotels.co.uk www.realhotelcompany.com