London-based alternative investor HIG Capital has officially launched its new hotel operating platform, Ella Hotels & Resorts.
The business has been created by pulling together the hotel assets of several HIG affiliates, and will start with a portfolio of 13 hotels across Greece. These properties, adding up to around 4,500 rooms, will undergo expansion and refurbishment with the aim of creating a value of more than EUR1bn.
Ella will be expanded as the team looks to acquire and add further resort properties in key established Mediterranean holiday locations across Spain, Italy and Portugal. A target of more than doubling to around 10,000 rooms has been set.
“We believe that Ella has the potential of becoming a leader in the Mediterranean resort sector, and we are working on a number of transactions to further grow the platform,” said Riccardo Dallolio, head of HIG Realty in Europe.
Sustainability at the core
The Ella brand will look to combine an “eco-chic” philosophy, taking account of a growing emphasis on sustainability, health and wellness as well as providing a customised and personalised service to guests. Operationally, Ella will harness the latest in digitisation to ensure great service with low overheads.
Two resorts are already taking bookings for 2024. The Elissa resort is an adults-only beach resort in Faliraki, on the Greek island of Rhodes. And located next to it is the Helea Lifestyle Beach Resort, designed for guests of all ages.
Corfu upgrade
On the island of Corfu, Ella is working on the transformation of the La Grotta Verde Resort. It will relaunch in late summer 2024 with a new name, following an upgrade to ensure it delivers a five star service that guests will expect from this enhanced beach resort.
Ella has several other properties on Corfu, which are likely to feature in future refurbishment plans. These include the Capo di Corfu hotel, designed in a village style, the five star Pelekas Monastery hotel, and the Mon Repos Palace art hotel, on the outskirts of Corfu town.
