Wyndham’s upper-midscale Trademark Collection brand will expand to the UK this year with the launch of the Bliss Hotel Southport.
The 133-room hotel was formerly operating as Ramada Plaza under Wyndham’s Ramada brand, but property owners Bliss Investment Partners, seeking to establish a new hotel group under the Bliss name, reflagged the property at the start of 2019.
As a ‘soft brand’, Trademark Collection properties have fewer specifications to meet and allow hotels to show off more of an individual character.
The Bliss rebrand is currently in name only, and 2019 will be spent making renovations including new room designs, the addition of three 60 sqm penthouses with views across Marine Lake, 650 sqm of new public areas, a 278 sqm roof garden and new food and drink options at Bliss Kitchen. The group will also introduce ‘Blissonik’, a programme of music, film and live entertainment.
The hotel has 15 meeting rooms and a capacity of 1,600 conference guests and 700 banquet guests.
Bliss plans to expand its hotel arm to other coastal locations and secondary UK cities, creating a ‘mini chain’ of approximately 10 Bliss Hotel properties by 2026, according to the Caterer.
As well as launching its first hotel, Bliss has acquired Southport’s Waterfront development and is redeveloping the area. It plans to attract a mix of business and leisure travel to its theatre, convention centre, casino and new Bliss Hotel.
“The Bliss Hotel project and Waterfront regeneration represents a fantastic opportunity for Southport, the North West and for all involved,” said Jez Marvin, of appointed architects Unwin Jones Partnership.
“Bliss have assembled a team full of talent, ideas and energy. We are looking forward to creating something truly amazing together.”
UK-based Bliss Investment Partners was founded by the team behind cinema chain Everyman Cinema.
Wyndham’s Trademark Collection launched in 2017 has properties in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the US and Canada.
