Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, the UK's largest privately owned
hotel operator has re-entered the Welsh market after reaching, on
undisclosed terms, a management agreement with the recently
refurbished Dragon Hotel in Swansea city centre.
Effective from 17th January 2013, the agreement
ensures The Dragon Hotel, that continues to be owned by London and
Devonshire Trust, will benefit from the cost synergies,
distribution channel opportunities and sales and marketing support
already afforded to the other 45 owned and managed Macdonald Hotels
& Resorts within the UK and Europe-wide portfolio.
The agreement with The Dragon Hotel comes just weeks after
Macdonald Hotels reported a profit after tax of £1.9m for the year
ending 29 March 2012 with a like for like comparison of trading
results also revealing an increase of group turnover by 2% to
£139.5m and operating profit before interest by 3% to £13.7m.
While there are currently no plans to incorporate the Macdonald
Hotels & Resorts brand name into 'The Dragon Hotel', staff
within the business will now receive the high standards of product
and service training offered by Macdonald Hotels & Resorts to
ensure consistency of delivery across its group.
Chris Gillett, Managing Director of Macdonald Hotels Management
Services Ltd, commented: "The Dragon Hotel is a modern, extensively
refurbished city centre based hotel with appeal to the corporate,
conference and leisure markets. This management agreement
enables us to re-establish our presence in the Welsh market and to
add real value to the hotel's business - and in particular its
corporate market.
"Macdonald Hotels & Resorts now looks forward to working
with the management team of The Dragon Hotel to further enhance its
market appeal and profitability in the months ahead."
Until its sale in 2006, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts owned
Macdonald Holland House Hotel in Cardiff.
Refurbished at a cost of £3.5 million and recipient of the 'Best
Hotel in Swansea Award at the 2010 Swansea Life Awards,' The Dragon
Hotel is just minutes walk from Swansea's Central Rail Station and
easily accessed by road.
Ideal for business and conference guests, it offers tasteful
bedrooms, while conference planners and bookers have the choice of
four contemporary meeting and conference spaces, including the 230
capacity Pembrey Suite. In addition to WiFi throughout the hotel,
guests can also take advantage of excellent health and leisure
facilities, including the 18-metre swimming pool and dine in the
award winning AA Rosette Dragon Brasserie.
