Finesse to grow in East Midlands
James Blick, owner of the Finesse Hotels collection, has told Insider he is "actively seeking" properties in the Lace Market area of Nottingham. Blick, who owns four boutique hotels in the region, said he hopes to increase his portfolio to seven hotels in the near future and revealed plans to offer self-serviced apartments.
Blick also said he was considering diversifying the company. He said: "We’re aiming to expand the corporate hospitality side of our business by offering everything from small dining parties up to large functions.
"I’m also looking at properties in the Lace Market area of Nottingham to try and offer self-serviced apartments. We're actively seeking out opportunities to try and make this happen."
Blick also revealed he is turning his attention towards to the motorsports sector at his Donington Manor Hotel in Derby.
He said: "We’ve had people like Murray Walker and the late Barry Sheen staying at Donington, and we've got plans to upgrade the hotel to a four-star facility aimed at the Formula One and motorsports market. We’ve got the grounds and resources to do this, and we can’t wait to get started."
Blick said his next move would be "looking for another Derby", alluding to the success of his Cathedral Quarter boutique hotel in the city.
He said: "We’re looking for other regions that can mirror what we’ve been able to achieve in Derby. We’re seeking opportunities outside the region we currently operate in to make this happen."
He also revealed ambitions to offer new technology and gadgets in his hotels.
"What I’m aiming to create is a luxury budget niche, which is technology driven", he said. "We’d like our hotels to have Bang & Olufson vending machines where guests can buy headphones, for example. Then I’d like us to have lifestyle brands in the rooms which those staying with us can buy into."
Of the lacklustre performance of the East Midlands mid-market hotel sector, Blick said: "There are too many mid-stream operators fighting against each other. What the hotel market should be doing is offering consistently good offer. We need to up our game."
Finesse Hotels runs the Lace Market Hotel in Nottingham, the Cathedral Quarter Hotel in Derby, Donington Manor at Castle Donington, and the Lion Hotel in Belper.
