International hospitality company Accor will bring its Novotel and ibis brands to the £260m NewcastleGateshead Quays regeneration scheme.
In an agreement with Gateshead Council, its development partners Ask Real Estate and independent investment manager, PATRIZIA (Ask:PATRIZIA), Accor will see the dual-branded hotel established on the quayside of the 587,000-sq-ft development.
In November, Ask:PATRIZIA gained consent from Gateshead Council for its development of a £260m arena-led regeneration scheme. The hotel will be developed adjacent to the new 12,500-capacity international Arena, Conference and Exhibition Centre to be operated by ASM Global.
The 14-storey, 172,000-sq-ft hotel property, designed by AHR Architects, is expected to form a central part of the mixed-use scheme on Gateshead’s waterfront. The dual-branded leisure property will be managed by Vine Hotels on behalf of the council.
The arena-led scheme, which sits on the NewcastleGateshead waterfront at Gateshead Quays, includes an arena, purpose-built conference and exhibition centre, restaurants, a dual-branded hotel and outdoor realm and performance space. It is anticipated that it will attract more than 338,000 additional visitors to the region each year.
Ask:PATRIZIA has appointed Sir Robert McAlpine to deliver the scheme, including the hotel, with construction expected to start in spring for an anticipated opening in 2024.
The 187-room Novotel will feature the global brand’s new public space and bedroom design concept, due to be launched later this year. It also will have meeting rooms and conference facilities, a gym and restaurant with views over Newcastle and the River Tyne.
The 140-room ibis hotel will feature a public space and lounge.
Philip Lassman, vice president of development, Accor Northern Europe, commented: “This is an excellent opportunity for Accor to be part of an area which has such strong character and identity. Gateshead Quays has undergone a huge transformation in the last fifteen years and is now considered a thriving cultural destination with over one million visitors a year, making it an exciting regeneration scheme to be part of.
“Our dual branded hotel is a fantastic prospect for Gateshead and Newcastle. It will be the first ibis branded hotel in the area and this will be just our second new-look Novotel concept hotel in the UK. The new development will not only be a feat in terms of creating a cohesion to the whole quayside location but it will also bring a significant amount of new investment to the area including job creation. We are working closely with Ask:PATRIZIA and Gateshead Council to deliver a high quality development which will bring significant economic benefit, providing domestic and international visitors with a superb city centre location. By bringing both the Novotel and ibis brands to the city we are catering for anyone visiting the area, no matter what their budget.”
Commenting on behalf of Ask:PATRIZIA, Daniel Williams, head of development for PATRIZIA, UK and Ireland, said: “Our purpose at PATRIZIA is to build communities and sustainable futures. We are confident that with the arrival of this new dual branded hotel Gateshead will receive a real boost in terms of visitor numbers. Now that we have planning permission, we are very much focused on making a swift start on site.”
Cushman & Wakefield’s Hospitality team advised Ask:PATRIZIA and the council throughout the hotel brand and operator selection process.
Richard Candey, partner within the hospitality team at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The award of the hotel contract followed a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, managed by Cushman & Wakefield, with incredibly strong responses from global hoteliers and management companies.”
Sheena Ramsey, chief executive, Gateshead Council, said: "This is another major milestone met for the Quays project. We're pleased to have secured Accor's Novotel and Ibis brands for the complex bringing a completely new offer to NewcastleGateshead, this will be the first dual brand hotel in the region with a physical link between the hotels and the conference centre for major events."