New hotel chain chooses Birmingham for flagship development
6th Jun 2011
Work is underway on a new £24 million hotel in the City Park Gate district of Birmingham.
Developers Hotel La Tour plan to be open next February with a 174-bedroom complex also offering conference space, destination restaurant and bar plus a vibrant street cafe.
Jane Schofield, Managing Director of Hotel La Tour Ltd, said: “We have an ambitious vision to build five hotels in the next five years. We’ve chosen Birmingham for our launch because of its great accessibility and thriving city centre, both of which will be vital in attracting business and leisure guests seven days a week.”
The construction project is the first in City Park Gate and is one of the city’s only privately-funded projects currently underway. Once open, the eye-catching three-sided building will create 100 new jobs and aims to build its reputation by providing exceptional customer service, becoming not just a great place to eat, sleep and meet but a great place to work.
Mrs Schofield said: “With no new entrants or major refurbishment investment in the West Midlands hotel sector for some time, it’s an excellent opportunity for Hotel La Tour to raise the bar, offering high standards and value for money.”
Q&A with Jane Schofield, Managing Director of Hotel La Tour
Q: PKF’s Hotel Britain 2011 reports the road ahead for the UK hotel market is “stubbornly turbulent”, is this is a good time to launch a new hotel business?
A: Any time can be good or bad to launch a business. With no new entrants for a while and no large scale refurbishment investment in the sector, Birmingham is ready for something new. Our high standards and the energy we’re committing to achieving sales make this an excellent time to launch Hotel La Tour.
Q: There are a number of new hotels planned for the city, what makes yours different?
A: Ours is stylish and coming soon! Hotel La Tour is all about high quality, with bedrooms designed to give you the technology and comfort you have in your own home – in some cases, probably better. We’ve also got a destination bar and restaurant and meeting spaces which work around the needs of businesses. We offer very high standards for our guests and look after our employees too – in turn, this means our customer care is better than our competitors.
Q: What are your predictions for the hotel and meetings market in the coming year to 18 months?
A: Times will continue to be tough but there is still a requirement for hotel and meeting services. With the right standards and pricing, we will attract the business which is out there. People and companies are looking for value for money and a return on their investment – they will pay the right price for the right product and that is what Hotel La Tour offers.
Hotel La Tour Birmingham Fast Facts:
- Opens February 2012 and is the flagship development in a new chain of city centre hotels
- Offers contemporary and affordable hotel and conference accommodation
- Has a destination restaurant and bar with terrace…
- … and a vibrant street cafe
- 174 bedrooms and suites
- Dedicated conference floor with flexible space accommodating up to 150 delegates theatre style
- Roof terrace with great views
- Dramatic triple height reception area with sweeping glass staircase
- Eye-catching three-sided building, close to Bullring Shopping Centre and Central Business District. Easy walking distance of city’s main railway stations
- First development underway in Birmingham’s new City Park Gate district
- A £24m project and one of the city’s only privately-funded developments
- Is creating 100 jobs
