Dutch hotel chain Qbic is preparing to launch in the UK with a concept it hopes will capitalise on vacant office blocks.
The economy boutique hotel chain, which opened its first property in Amsterdam in 2007, is looking for existing empty commercial buildings in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Glasgow. It wants to open as many as 10 hotels in the UK and will typically require buildings of around 38,000 sq ft.
Managing partner Paul Janmaat said the group had identified its first site in the capital, which it hoped to secure within the next month.
Backing for the expansion from a private equity partner is also close to being secured.
The group uses a build-in construction method with an “all-in-one” furniture and a lounge pod, which Qbic said enables it to insert its design into an existing empty building within three months of construction starting on site.
Janmaat said: “Up to 15% of all office buildings in the UK are empty, and in some cities even more. This situation is unlikely to change in the near future owing to the current economic environment.”
He added: “Our hotel concept is an effective solution for building owners who are looking for uses for their existing empty commercial property. We believe there is a significant market for high-quality, low-cost hotels in the UK and we are now actively searching for properties at the right locations in a number of regions.”
Qbic will sign traditional leases on buildings and aims to split the construction costs with its landlords. Typical hotels, of between 70 and 120 bedrooms, cost £25,000 per room to build, said Janmaat.
Once Qbic has found its initial 10 hotels, Janmaat said it would look to second tier cities, with a focus on Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Edinburgh.
samantha.mcclary@estatesgazette.com
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