EZH.L Regulatory News (EZH)

2 November 2016

easyHotel plc

("easyHotel", the "Group")

New franchise hotel in Reading

easyHotel, the owner, developer, operator and franchisor of "super budget" branded hotels, announces the signing of a new franchise agreement in Reading, which will add a further 54 rooms to the easyHotel network.

The site which is centrally located on Caversham Road in Reading is an existing hotel that will be converted into an easyHotel during 2017. The hotel is only a few minutes' walk from Reading's town centre and is within easy reach of the railway station and all major road networks.

Following the opening of the 107-room easyHotel Brussels on 24 October 2016, its first easyHotel in Belgium, this agreement brings easyHotel's total committed development projects to 1,658 rooms under development, 576 of which are owned and 1,082 are being developed by franchise partners.

Guy Parsons, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We are delighted to announce the extension of our franchise network in the UK as we continue to implement our expansion strategy. This franchise agreement will enable us to further increase our presence in the south-east and raise brand awareness without direct capital investment."

easyHotel Reading franchisee, Nadeem Boghani, Vice Chairman, Splendid Hospitality Group commented:

"We are delighted to be working as a franchise partner with easyHotel to create the new easyHotel Reading. Reading is an area we know well from an operational point of view and it is ideally suited to the easyHotel portfolio. We think that business and leisure travellers in and around the M4 corridor will welcome this affordable super budget option. 

"The simple ethos and exceptional brand recognition of easyHotel appeals to us and fits well into our 20-strong portfolio of branded and independent hotels across the UK."

Enquiries:

Notes to Editors:

easyHotel is the owner, developer, operator and franchisor of branded hotels. Its strategy is to target the "super budget" segment of the hotel industry by marketing "clean, comfortable and safe" hotel rooms to its customers. Website: www.easyHotel.com

Operating hotels

easyHotel's owned hotels currently comprise 390 rooms, and it has a further 18 franchised hotels with 1,512 rooms.

Owned hotels:

Old Street (London), Glasgow, Croydon.

Franchise locations:

Belgium (Brussels), Bulgaria (Sofia), Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt), Hungary (Budapest), The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague), Switzerland (Basel, Zurich), UAE (Dubai), United Kingdom (Edinburgh, London Heathrow, Central London, Luton).

Hotel development pipeline

The Company's committed development pipeline of owned and franchised hotels currently consists of:

Owned hotels:

United Kingdom (Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Ipswich), Spain (Barcelona)

Franchise hotels:

The Netherlands (Amsterdam Arena Boulevard, Amsterdam-Zaandam), UAE (Dubai), Germany (Bernkastel-Kues), Portugal (Lisbon), Turkey (Istanbul), UK (Reading)

Website: www.easyHotel.com

About Splendid Hospitality Group 

Splendid Hospitality Group is the operator and developer of a portfolio of 20 hotels with over 2000 bedrooms. It is one of the UK's fastest growing privately-owned hotel groups which has made a name for itself through the design, construction and operation of a full range of hotel styles and locations across the UK, ranging from limited service to luxury. The group enjoys the support of major brands such as IHG, Choice, Accor and Hilton. 

The portfolio includes the 5 Star Conrad London St James, the 292 guest room Hilton London Bankside situated in the heart of London's vibrant Bankside and Yorkshire's only 5-star hotel the Grand Hotel and Spa in York. Recent additions include the Ibis York Centre, Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel and the New Ellington Hotel in Leeds. 

Future developments include London Hounslow, London Park Royal and London Worcester Park. 

Website: www.splendidhospitality.co.uk