Hotel group Principal Hayley expands portfolio to 22 properties
YORKSHIRE hotel group Principal Hayley has continued its expansion with the addition of a luxury hotel in Windsor to bring its portfolio up to 22 hotels and conference venues.
Harrogate-based Principal Hayley, which owns The Met in Leeds, The Royal York and Kenwood Hall in Sheffield, has signed a joint venture with the owners of The Oakley Court in Windsor, a four star country house hotel set over 35 acres of landscaped gardens on the bank of the River Thames.
The Victorian mansion has 113 bedrooms, an AA rosette restaurant, various meeting and leisure areas perfect for conferences and weddings.
Tony Troy, chief executive of Principal Hayley, which is backed by private equity firm Permira, said: “The Oakley Court is a perfect fit for us, and we are delighted to be adding it to the collection. We pride ourselves on offering an ‘a la carte’ selection of dedicated conference venues and key-located hotels. The Oakley Court will complement our hotel portfolio perfectly to provide another high quality leisure venue in Windsor.”
After a two-year management contract at The Oakley Court, Heuston Hospitality will hand over the management of the hotel to Principal Hayley.
Peter Stephenson, managing director of Heuston Hospitality, said: “Our commitment to the owners was to turn the business around in two years and prepare the hotel to join a major brand.
“We recognised the potential for improvement at The Oakley Court back in late 2006 and, after securing the hotel on behalf of the owners, took on the management of the hotel. We see Principal Hayley’s strength in the conference and leisure market as the best fit to take us forward.”
The Oakley Court is close to its new sister property, Beaumont House, the conference and training venue in Old Windsor.
Principal Hayley’s portfolio now numbers 22 upper four and five star conference-focused hotels and dedicated conference and training venues across the UK and Europe including the George in Edinburgh, the Palace in Manchester and the St David’s Hotel & Spa in Cardiff.
