The leading global hotel brand Mercure has been announced as the operator of Paignton’s newest seafront hotel.
The new hotel is currently being built by the Fragrance Group as part of a £100million investment in Torbay.
Overlooking Paignton Green, on the site of the former Park Hotel on Esplanade Road, the four-star hotel will have 161 bedrooms, leisure facilities and restaurant.
It is expected to attract thousands of visitors a year and boost annual spending by an estimated £2million.
Next door, on the site of the old Lighthouse nightclub, a 115-bedroom hotel will be operated by Mercure’s sister brand ibis Styles, if planning approval is granted by Torbay Council.
Both brands are part Accor, a world leading augmented hospitality group, which has a network of almost 5,000 hotels in 110 countries around the world.
In Paignton alone, it has been calculated that the two new hotels will create the equivalent of 150 full-time jobs and see new visitors boost the Torbay economy by more than £5 million annually.
James Koh, chairman and chief executive of the Fragrance Group, said: “These agreements are the latest step in our multi-million-pound investment programme in Torbay.
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“Global brands such as Mercure and ibis Styles have an extremely loyal customer base around the world and this announcement means they will be able to attract thousands of new visitors to Paignton, creating new jobs, year-round, for local people and boosting the local economy by many millions of pounds a year.
“Torbay is a beautiful part of the world with many natural and cultural assets. Our investment programme across the area, including the redevelopment proposals for the Palace and Corbyn Head hotels, will help Torbay achieve its potential and become a leading 21 century coastal resort.”
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Martin Rogers from the Global Hotels and Leisure Consultancy introduced Mr Koh to Torbay, and he said: “This announcement shows that the Fragrance Group is pressing ahead with its plans to invest millions of pounds in Torbay redeveloping the four hotels it has recently acquired.
“Work has already started on the redevelopment of the former Park Hotel and we are in the process of seeking planning permission for the remaining hotels.
“Mercure and ibis Styles have delivered a significant vote of confidence in the Fragrance Group – and in Paignton – and we are all looking forward to working with them as our proposals for these two new hotels progress.”
Philip Lassman, VP Development, Accor Northern Europe added: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Fragrance Group on the opening of a new Mercure hotel in Paignton. Mercure is an ideal brand for this hotel, as alongside the internationally recognised standard of quality and service, Mercure hotels are rooted in their local community and offer touches specific to that area. We are confident that this will be recognised and valued by guests visiting Paignton.
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“We hope that this announcement will be followed soon by positive news regarding a new ibis Styles for the town, emphasising the confidence we have in the area’s appeal to both locals and visitors alike.”
Every Mercure takes its inspiration from the features, traditions and history of its individual location combined with the consistency and service expected of an internationally recognised brand.