UK hotels within Aimbridge EMEA, the international division of Aimbridge Hospitality, have reported a 15-percent increase in RevPAR compared to 2019, with some locations doubling that performance at points during this year, Aimbridge reported.
Areas of strong RevPAR growth included airport properties and gateway cities including Edinburgh, Birmingham and Newcastle, aided by a drop in the value of sterling. Domestic travel also remained strong in the wake of the pandemic, Aimbridge noted
Aimbridge EMEA, formerly Interstate Hotels & Resorts, also signed and opened a number of new properties including Mercure Newport, Hilton London T5 Heathrow Airport, the ibis budget and Holiday Inn hotels at Manchester Airport and Holiday Inn Express Brussels.
One of Aimbridge’s latest pickups was the Belsfield Hotel, a luxury independent property in Windermere in the Lake District. Aimbridge EMEA now manages more than 120 hotels throughout the EMEA region, including signed pipeline properties.
“Our portfolio continues to grow and we exceed market share across the country,” said Carol Dodds, SVP of commercial at Aimbridge EMEA. “To see our RevPAR levels grow by more than 15 percent, which is tracking ahead of industry averages, signals really robust growth. This growth and the continuing expansion of our portfolio is particularly notable against the backdrop of a year where the industry has faced incredibly difficult headwinds.
Earlier this year, Aimbridge reorganized into six operating divisions, divvied up by asset type and geography: Full Service, which encompasses resorts; Evolution Lifestyle, differentiated through curated experiences; Enhanced Select Service, focused on service; Select Service, focused on efficiencies for short and extended stays; and EMEA, seeking to expand beyond the UK and Europe.