Focus to develop two hotels in Dundee with IHG

Focus Hotels Management is developing two hotels in Dundee, in partnership with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and developers Percor Capital.

The refurbishment project will see the Bell Mill and North Mill at the disused former Baxter Brothers jute mill complex transformed into an 102-bedroom Hotel Indigo Dundee and an 85-bedroom Staybridge Suites Dundee. Both hotels are due to open next year.

They will form part of the Dundee Waterfront regeneration, the flagship of which is the new V&A Museum of Design Dundee, which is also set to launch in 2018.

Many of the Hotel Indigo's public areas will highlight the site's former use as a jute mill, while also paying homage to the city. A games section will be available for guests, alongside the Den meeting area, gym, bar and restaurant.

Staybridge Suites will offer a range of serviced studios and one-bedroom apartments with kitchen facilities. There will also be a breakfast area, small retail complex, lounge, laundry room and meeting area.

Focus Hotels Management has a UK portfolio of 16 hotels - including Sketchley Grange and the Oxford Witney hotel - which operate under franchise agreements with Hilton, Accor and IHG. It is currently in "active discussions" for a further three hotel developments.

Peter Cashman, chief executive of Focus Hotels Management, said: "This exciting refurbishment project will bring much-needed investment into the east end of Dundee's city centre, and we look forward to welcoming guests from all over the UK and Europe in 2018. With other ongoing projects in the pipeline, we are looking forward to the prospect of growing the Focus Hotels Management portfolio in Scotland."

Andrew Shaw, associate director, development, UK & Ireland, from IHG, said: "It is great to be working again with our partners Focus Hotels Management as we continue to expand our portfolio of brands to offer guests the right brand in the right place in the country."

Rob Corlett, director of Percor Capital, added: "Our aim throughout, has been to ensure that the entire site became fully used for the first time in nearly 40 years whilst maintaining the historic internal and external features of the Mill. The Indigo franchise, in particular, will work extremely well with this objective whilst also creating significant new employment within the City."

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