Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 15
/NEWS
HOLIDAY INN OPENS ON
AYCLIFFE BUSINESS PARK By Martin Walker
London-based property investment company Dominvs has opened a
brand new Holiday Inn Open Lobby hotel near Aycliffe Business Park.
London-based property investment company
Dominvs Group purchased the hotel - along with
two others - and has refurbished the former
Aston with an impressive makeover costing in
excess of £800,000.
Dominvs Group has partnered with multinational
InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), which owns
the Holiday Inn brand, to create an impressive
new “open lobby” concept.
The new hotel was officially opened by
Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson and IHG’s CEO
Angela Brav during a ceremony attended by
special guests including Aycliffe Mayor Barbara
Clare.
IHG, with its European headquarters based in
Denham, Buckinghamshire, is the largest hotel
company in the world measured by rooms,
with 687
,000, and has more than 4,600 hotels
across more than 100 countries, with an annual
revenue of $1.9 billion (US dollars).
Its brands include Candlewood Suites,
Crowne Plaza, Even, Hotel Indigo, Hualuxe,
InterContinental and Staybridge Suites as well
as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
Of the 4,602 hotels, 3,934 operate under
franchise agreements (like the Holiday Inn at
Aycliffe), 658 are managed by the company but
separately owned, and 10 are directly owned
“Every hotel is extremely important to us,
but this one is especially important, because
we’re showcasing open lobby, a new design for
Holiday Inn, Ms Brav told us.
”
“It’s a social space where people can eat, dine,
drink and get to know each other. That’s what
this hotel is all about - connecting people, and
enjoying the Holiday Inn experience.
”
Phil Wilson added: “It’s great that a company
like Holiday Inn has identified Newton Aycliffe
as an area to do business, with a significant
investment being made in improving its
facilities.
“It’s yet further evidence that Aycliffe Business
Park and surrounding areas has a very bright
future.
”
The Dominvs Group boasts a £300m portfolio
across the commercial, hospitality and
residential sectors.
Dominvs purchased the hotel, at Newton Park
services just off the A1, along with two others
a year ago before renovating them.
The group’s Director Preet Ahluwalia told
Aycliffe Today: “This was one of the first
hotels that we bought and the first time we’ve
interacted with a global brand.
“We’re tremendously excited to partner with
IHG, especially the Holiday Inn brand, and bring
something really significant to the Newton
Aycliffe area.
“We decided to invest into the refurbishment
of the hotel because we wanted to produce
something that the people of Newton Aycliffe
and Darlington would love, and we’re delighted
with the end product.
”
Dylan Burke, Marketing Manager for Dominvs
Group, added: “As investors, we thought
Holiday Inn was the best brand to ideal brand
for us to align with for the hotel and the market
alike.
“Since opening a month ago, our performance
has rapidly increased. The spend per guest
is amazing and we’re getting a lot of outside
clientele coming in for lunch or enjoying a
Starbucks.
“It’s changing the platform of just being a hotel,
and becoming a hotel/restaurant destination in
the area.
“We don’t just want people just to stay here,
we want them to embrace it. We think it’s
money well spent - every pound and penny.
”
Durham County and Great Aycliffe Town
Councillor John Clare also attended the official
opening of the new hotel.
“I’m delighted that Holiday Inn has come
to Newton Aycliffe, he beamed.
”
“It’s a very important piece in the business
jigsaw for Newton Aycliffe. As we try to build
our local economy, what w