Aston Hotels is a new, independent hotel group launched by Paresh Kotecha, currently the owner and operator of a Sleep Inn near Darlington in North East England. In the mid-Nineties, Kotecha was responsible for the redevelopment of Slaley Hall, Northumberland., now operated by De Vere Hotels & Resorts.
Aston's inaugural hotel will open in Dumfries, Scotland later this year followed by a hotel in Neath, Wales, due to open in 2007.
Paresh Kotecha, founder and chief executive for Aston Hotels said he believed the company would bridge a gap in the market between the "traditional overpriced luxury accommodation and the more basic alternative."
Construction of Aston Hotels 71-bedroom Dumfries hotel commenced in January 2006 and is scheduled to open in September 2006. Aston have invested over £4.5 million in the hotel which combines a late Victorian building, where the public areas are situated, with a newbuild copper and glass extension which echoes the original building.
The hotel hopes to attract conference and wedding business thanks to its location in 'The Crichton', home to the Crichton University Campus (encompassing the universities of Glasgow and Paisley), a Business Park and the Easterbrook Hall and Conference Centre.
Aston Hotels' Neath venture will commence in early 2006, very shortly after Dumfries. It is scheduled to open at the start of 2007.
The newbuild hotel will be situated in the Baglan Energy Park, the UK's largest business park development, which provides premises for a diverse range of international companies.
This £5.6 million investment will comprise 75 en-suite bedrooms with all the same facilities as Dumfries, plus an additional six conference rooms, accommodating between two and 100 delegates.
www.astonhotels.co.uk
