British company Hamilton Hotel Partners (Hamilton) is to operate 20 properties throughout Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic under a management agreement with Central European Hotel Investments (CEHI).
The portfolio consists of three- and four-star hotels with a total of 1,875 rooms, currently operated under the Belmondo, EuroHotel and EuroHotel & Suites brands.
New properties will open in Cologne and Munich this year, followed by a further six in 2009 ” with four hotels in Germany, one in Bulgaria and one in Austria. These will offer an additional 1,200 rooms, bringing the total under Hamilton”s management to more than 3,000.
CEHI”s shareholder is the owner of Azimut Hotels - one of Russia”s largest hospitality groups, with business category hotels in cities including St Petersburg, Samara, Kostroma and Vladivostok - for which Hamilton has provided advisory and management services for the past year.
”We will be instigating a new branding and operational strategy for the group of European hotels, as well as transferring the strengths and modern practices of European hospitality to Azimut”s portfolio in Russia,” said Hamilton co-founder and joint owner Frank Croston.
”This will also provide an opportunity for us to develop the Azimut brand in international markets.”