From now on, GHOTEL will be run by Art-Invest Real Estate. (Photo: GHOTEL)

Art-Invest takes over GHOTEL and has ambitious plans for growing the brand in Germany and Austria.

Art-Invest Real Estate has taken over the hotel chain GHOTEL from AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA.

We find out more about Art-Invest’s plans and how GHOTEL will grow from now on.

Lifestyle offering for business travellers

Based in Bonn, Germany, GHOTEL hotel & living operates 3- and 4-star hotels and apartment buildings in 17 locations around Germany and in Salzburg, Austria. The brand’s focus lies on business travellers who value a lifestyle-oriented hotel during their travels.

Currently, the hotels are marketed under the GHOTEL hotel & living and nestor Hotels brands or are operated under the brands of franchise partners AccorHotels and InterContinental Hotels Group.

An important addition to Art-Invest’s portfolio

GHOTEL has been part of the AURELIUS Group since 2006 and will continue to operate independently on the market after the takeover.

“GHOTEL is on a successful growth path and offers perfect conditions for us to be able to continue to grow independently in a dynamic market thanks to its professional management,” said Erik Florvaag, partner and co-head of hotels at Art-Invest Real Estate.

The acquisition will now enable Art-Invest Real Estate to react much more flexibly to shifting market dynamics and to further expand its value chain.

Dr Peter Ebertz, Managing Director and Head of Hotels at Art-Invest Real Estate, commented on the take-over: “With the acquisition of the GHOTEL Group, our position as a hotel operator is strengthened enormously. At the same time, we are completing our development of becoming a hotel investment group with the three business areas of development, investment and operations. The flexible operator approach enables us to continue to grow our hotel investment activities profitably.”

Further growing GHOTEL in the German and Austrian market

GHOTEL’s portfolio has recently expanded significantly, particularly through acquisitions. A total of seven hotels have been acquired as part of successor solutions since 2016 and now operate as GHOTEL hotel & living and nestor properties as well as under franchise brands such as Holiday Inn.

There are also long-term framework agreements with franchisors such as Accor and InterContinental Hotels. Six new contracts have already been signed with Accor, namely for the Novotel and ibis Düsseldorf Airport, ibis Styles and ibis budget Bayreuth, ibis Styles München Neuperlach and greet at the airport in Vienna.

Art-Invest Real Estate will further expand the hotel chain’s portfolio with a franchise licence with Marriott International.