Greg Dyke's Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa to rebrand as a Mercure property

The 114-bedroom Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa in Sheffield is to be rebranded as a Mercure hotel next month ahead of "a significant investment" in the property over the next two years.

Currently operating under the Best Western Plus brand, the hotel is owned by Vine Hotels, which operates seven hotels under various brands, including the Mercure Southampton City Centre Dolphin hotel. Chairman of Vine Hotels is Greg Dyke, former director general of the BBC and former chairman of the Football Association.

As part of the rebranding to the Mercure badge, 24 ‘Privilege' bedrooms will be created, which will feature a king-sized bed, complimentary mineral water, magazines and newspapers, bathrobes and personal coffee machines. The hotel's 10 meeting rooms will also be upgraded.

Garin Davies, chief executive of Vine Hotels, said that the reason for the re-branding is to drive corporate and conference business. "We already have a strong established leisure market for the hotel, that takes full advantage of this location, within 12 acres of attractive parkland yet only one mile from Sheffield city centre," he explained.

"The investment in the hotel will strengthen our offering to all guests; bringing even better facilities to match our already excellent service."

Thomas Dubaere, chief operating officer, AccorHotels Northern Europe, added: "The Mercure brand is designed to be flexible so its hotels can incorporate local touches into the design and overall guest experience allowing the hotels to offer something truly different without wavering from the internationally recognised and expected standards."

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