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| LATEST NEWS |
22 December 2008 |
HOWZAT?! PREMIER INN UNVEILS PLANS FOR NEW HOTEL AT WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB |
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Deal is a boost to club's redevelopment programme
Premier Inn, the UK's largest and fastest-growing hotel operator, has agreed a deal with Worcestershire County Cricket Club to build a new hotel which will form an integral part of the club's redevelopment at the New Road ground.
The 122-bedroom hotel forms part of the second phase of the club's masterplan for improving and expanding its home ground. The move also illustrates how Premier Inn is working with a wide range of partners - from sports bodies to office and residential developers - to achieve its own expansion goals and add more rooms to its portfolio.
"We have plans to increase the number of Premier Inn rooms in the UK from 38,000 now to 55,000 within the next five years," says Mark Anderson, Property Director - UK and Ireland at Premier Inn's parent Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants. "To do this means thinking laterally and partnering with other organisations who also have improvement or expansion plans. Often, we can be the catalyst to help make large-scale redevelopment projects happen.
"There is a fit between Worcestershire County Cricket Club's ambitious plans for its ground and our desire to meet the demand for accommodation and facilities that cricket lovers will bring. A recent survey* shows that the club is one of the top ten cricket grounds in the world that cricket lovers want to visit and we want to help the club maintain this position in the future."
The club already has planning consent for an 80- bedroom hotel and an application to increase this to 122 rooms is to be submitted shortly. It is anticipated that the new hotel could be open in late 2010.
The first phase of redevelopment is already under way with the construction of the Graeme Hick Pavilion including new players' facilities, a member's lounge and seating. Alongside the Premier Inn in the second phase will be a restaurant, club shop, car park, a new atrium entrance and a new administration block for the club. Phase 3 will include a media centre, function rooms, executive hospitality facilities and a new stand.
Worcestershire's Chief Executive, Mark Newton, says "Worcester is undergoing a huge transformation with the development of the city centre university campus and waterfront living around the Diglis Basin. We have a key location by the River Severn and have started a major ground development programme to ensure the club can build on its long and illustrious history as a First Class County.
"This agreement with Premier Inn is the key component if our plans are to come to fruition and we are delighted to be working with an organisation with such impeccable credentials. We look forward to creating a vibrant partnership in the years ahead.
"2010 could be a very exciting year for us with the introduction of Premier League Cricket and the opening of a Premier Inn at New Road."
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