Marriott is to open its first AC Hotels by Marriott properties in the UK later this year, part of a major expansion for the AC brand which will see 22 hotels added worldwide this year.
Two existing Ramada hotels – the Ramada Manchester Salford Quays and the Ramada Birmingham City – will be rebranded under the AC Hotels by Marriott portfolio.
Hotel management company Valor Hospitality Europe said that both properties have recently undergone “extensive redevelopment and regeneration”, and will join the AC brand after the expiry of their existing Ramada licences, with completion due in mid-2016.
The Ramada Birmingham City is located in the Mailbox area of the city and features 90 rooms, some with canal views. The Ramada Manchester Salford Quays is located on Trafford Road, close to Manchester United’s football stadium and Media City.
Outside of the UK Marriott will add a further 20 AC properties in 2016, including AC Panama City, AC Minneapolis, AC Santiago (Chile), AC Mainz (Germany) and AC Wroclaw (Poland).
The AC Hotels by Marriott brand was launched in 2011, and is a joint venture with Spanish group AC Hotels (see news October 2010).
Currently the majority of the brand’s properties are located in Spain and Italy, although there are plans to add more than 50 hotels within the next three years across the US, Canada, Europe, and Latin America.
Mark Caswell
