Lone Star launches Amaris hotel group

Amaris Hospitality, which will run as a dedicated hotel group owned by Lone Star and led by former Jurys Inn boss John Brennan, currently comprises hotels from four separate portfolios acquired by the private equity firm over the last two years.

It includes 29 Jurys Inn hotels, 21 Mercure hotels, 17 Hotel Collection hotels, three Hilton hotels.

As of July 30, it will include 19 provincial hotels currently operating as Thistle venues.

The group’s 15,000 rooms, 8,000 employees and combined sales of more than £450m makes Amaris Hospitality one of the largest hotel owners and managers in the UK, it said.

Amaris’ management team is working on a rebranding strategy that will see some hotels renamed as Jurys Inn or other brands.

Lone Star will invest more than £100m in the refurbishment, rebranding and transformation of the portfolio.

Chief executive Mr Brennan said Amaris is in a “unique position” to capitalise on the economic recovery and emerging opportunities in the UK mid and upper market hotel sector.