Hotels & Accommodations
Legal And General Acquires Dual-Branded Hotel in Leeds After Four-Month Run, What You Need to Know Now
Saturday, July 26, 2025
In a fast real estate deal, Property fund managed by Legal And General has purchased the dual-branded hotel in Leeds in a four-month turnaround. The hotel, which falls under two different Hyatt brands – Hyatt Place and Hyatt House – was bought for £63 million in a major deal for the UK’s developing hotel industry. This purchase reflects the healthy appetite for well-located good quality stock in regional cities away from London.
The Hotel and Its Features
In the center of Leeds, just across the street from the city’s main train station. The property is notable for being the first under one roof to offer two different brand affiliations — the 305-room hotel is dual branded. The hotel includes 217 short-term hotel rooms branded as Hyatt Place and 88 extended-stay suites branded as Hyatt House. The dual branding offers added convenience and variety based on whether a guest is traveling for business or planning an extended stay, of which Hyatt House is well-known.
The scheme is a welcome addition to the burgeoning leisure market in Leeds. The property boasts a central location – just 10 minutes’ walk from the city’s most popular destination represents the best of both worlds for visitors, so whether you’re planning to sample some of the major city attractions nearby, including the First Direct Arena and Trinity Leeds shopping centre or are looking for a base to explore the surrounding area, the hotel is a perfect choice. The hotel includes meeting facilities, a rooftop bar and restaurant and is designed to address a range of guest needs and tastes and features views of the area. Aimbridge Hospitality is a trusted industry leader and operates the hotel.
Sustainability and ESG Focus
Consistent with Legal And General’s focus on sustainable and responsible investments, the hotel has been designed with an all-electric infrastructure, making the building more energy efficient and reducing its carbon footprint. It has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for sustainability, which is an internationally accepted measure of a building’s impact on the environment. This commitment to sustainability parallels the increased popularity of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) compliant buildings among the investment community. Legal And General has a strong focus on high quality, environmentally friendly assets, which are in line with the expectations of the modern investor and consumer.
The Investment Opportunity
The purchase forms part of Legal And General’s wider strategy to grow its portfolio with prime, high quality assets in key regional cities across the UK. Leeds, a diversified economy and thriving cultural offering After years of investment, the price of land for development in Leeds has brought in the hospitality developers and investors. The deal also shows confidence in the future of the city’s hospitality market, even with challenges coming from the continuing economic recovery.
The dual-branded hotel also underscores the rapid dynamic growth movement towards mixed-use hotel and mixed use development that provide the unique, short stay and long-stay under one roof. The adaptability of the properties offers an attractive gateway for corporate business and leisure travelers, developers and investors to acquire properties that are not only hospitality-oriented but that have varied revenue base. Its success is expected to generate replica developments in other key UK cities.
Ownership before Legal And General
Before its acquisition by Legal And General, the hotel was owned by a joint venture between asset managers Marrico and Helios. In 2022, the venture secured a £62.7 million forward funding deal with UK Commercial Property REIT to develop the hotel, which was operated under a 25-year franchise agreement with Hyatt. The development was constructed by GMI Construction and designed by DLA Architecture.
Looking Ahead
The off-market sale of the Hyatt hotel is another vote of confidence in well-located properties and the UK hotel market more broadly. As demand for sustainable and innovative hospitality options increases, hotels such as this dual branded Hyatt are paving the way for future developments. Legal And General’s appetite for ESG compliant assets is well as serving broader investor trends, underpinned with a strong location of the hotel in Leeds which will guarantee its future for many years to come.
This transaction, in this rapidly changing market, shows the enduring appeal of regional cities for tourism and business in the UK.
Resort World Sentosa partners with Marriott to open The Laurus, a luxury hotel at Sentosa Island, Singapore, offering suites, dining, and spa.
The 183 all-suite hotel, ‘The Laurus’ — named after laurel leaves historically used to crown victors and honour achievements — will open by the end of the year.
“Our landmark collaboration with Marriott International to bring the very first The Luxury Collection branded property to Singapore further exemplifies our commitment to redefine luxury guest experiences. The Laurus, a luxury collection resort, embodies the very essence of our ongoing pivot to offer curated destination experiences as part of RWS’ transformational expansion plans,” Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer, RWS, said.
He said the new hotel will offer guests experience the Singapore’s rich heritage, the captivating beauty of Sentosa’s flora and fauna while experiencing RWS’ hallmark hospitality.
“The Laurus at RWS stands as a shining beacon, heralding a new era of exceptional luxury and hospitality, further cementing RWS’ esteemed status as Asia’s premium lifestyle destination resort,” he said.
According to Marriott International the tie-up is a milestone which reflects its commitment to the evolving luxury landscape of the island city.
“Drawing inspiration from Singapore’s storied past and rich cultural heritage, The Laurus, a Luxury Collection Resort, will celebrate the essence of the city, and we look forward to welcoming global explorers and collectors to experience Singapore’s captivating charm through the lens of our brand,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International.
The Laurus offers suites as well as courtyard spaces and a function room spanning across five floors, the company said, adding that the hotel will have a bar, a landscaped outdoor swimming pool and spa and all-day-dining concept restaurant.
Spanning 49 hectares, the hotel is home to world-class attractions like the Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Dolphin Island and Adventure Cove Waterpark, it said.
Complementing the adventure and adrenaline of its theme parks and attractions are six unique luxury hotels, the premier Resorts World Convention Centre, and a casino.
The integrated resort also offers world-class entertainment from star-studded concerts to immersive exhibitions.
RWS is the first integrated resort to be inducted into the TTG Travel Hall of Fame in 2023 after being named “Best Integrated Resort” for 10 consecutive years at the TTG Travel Awards, which recognises the best of Asia-Pacific’s travel industry.
The Cork-based President of the Irish Hotels Federation has outlined that plans to cut Vat for the hospitality sector would be an important step to support the industry.
The comments from Michael Magner, who also owns the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork, come following on from an interview on RTÉ Radio 1 with Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke who defended government plans to cut Vat for the hospitality sector.
The current Programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce the Vat rate in the hospitality sector from 13.5% to 9%.
Speaking to , Mr Magner said the proposal would assist vulnerable food led businesses that have faced an uncertain future and rising cost challenges in recent years.
“The commitment from the Minister to stand over the commitment that is in the programme for government towards the reduction of the Vat rate to 9% is welcome.
“It is needed on the basis of the food sector. The cut in Vat hospitality is for food businesses. Therefore it doesn’t apply to hotel accommodation as is our understanding.
“The current government has been formed since the start of this year. With that, we see tourism and hospitality being moved into the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
“We now have a Minister in Peter Burke, who is really supportive of our industry and understands the complexities of the sector.
Mr Magner added that with the right policies and a positive businesses environment, he believes tourism and hospitality can have a positive future ahead.
“The isn’t a case of whereby businesses are trying to profiteer or return what could be seen as super normal profits.
“This is actually about ensuring businesses have a chance of survival and that is what it comes down to.”
A row has broken out over plans to host a reptile market at a Blackpool hotel this summer.
The event at the Norbreck Castle will see people “buy and sell their surplus animals and offspring”, according to the International Herpetological Society (IHS).
But some animal charities have condemned the market as a “gross violation” of reptile welfare and have urged Britannia Hotels to cancel it.
Blackpool Council said its officers would be at the event to make sure it complied with standards, while the IHS said its markets were “fully compliant with UK law”.
The IHS, which was founded in 1969, said it was “committed to the ongoing research and propagation of all reptile, amphibian and chelonian species”.
It added “animal care is paramount” at its events and creatures were “transported and displayed in temporary containers for the animals’ safety during the event only”.
The soceity added that two veterinary professionals were “always present and any concerns are taken extremely seriously”.
Plans for a similar market in Doncaster in 2022 were halted by the town’s council after complaints from some animal charities.
Event controversy
Elaine Toland, director of the Animal Protection Agency, said it “strongly urges Britannia Hotels to cancel this event and refuse to be complicit”.
Laura Walton, campaigns manager at Freedom for Animals, added it “sincerely hoped” the hotel chose not to let the event go ahead.
Charlotte Regan, wildlife campaigns manager at World Animal Protection, said the animals were “not products to be bought and sold at makeshift stalls”.
“These kinds of events are outdated and have no place in modern society.”
The IHS said it found it “deeply upsetting to be constantly under fire” and none of its previous events had been “cancelled, refused or changed venues due to welfare issues or legal contravention by the IHS”.
It said the events had instead been called off because of “adverse publicity”.
Britannia Hotels has been approached for comment.
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