Planning permission has been granted for Wales’ first aparthotel by Cardiff Council, which will form an extension to the existing Holiday Inn Express in Cardiff Bay.
The Staybridge Suite Hotels brand, which operates 250 aparthotels globally, with a further 151 openings in the next three to five years, is behind the project, which is franchised by the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG).
The 75-bed long-stay hotel, which is modelled as a ‘home away from home’ for travellers, will offer relaxed suites, with fully-equipped kitchens, separate working areas, entertainment and free Wi-Fi. The Staybridge Suite Hotel is said to provide travellers with the comfort of home with the benefit of hotel-standard services.
The new development will also involve the refurbishment of the existing Holiday Inn Express public areas. Ground floor amenities will include a gym, on-site 24/7 shop, fitness and laundry rooms and storage lockers. The communal, ground floor area will offer social events to guests.
Cardiff-based development management consultants, Lee Wakemans, have been appointed as Project and Cost Managers on the scheme. The company worked on the refurbishment of the existing Holiday Inn Express in 2017.
John Meek, Director of Lee Wakemans said, “We are really excited to be working on this project, which is a first for Wales, and will go some way towards satisfying Cardiff’s need for more accommodation of this nature.
'The dual-brand offering is a trend in the leisure sector, which is now growing in the UK following success in Europe and America, and will offer something new to people staying in Cardiff. There is a real need for more accommodation of this kind in Cardiff.
“The hospitality sector is one of the key areas in which our business operates, and we have a strong track record and significant experience in delivering hotels. To be part of this innovative development, which will benefit our capital city’s economy and leisure sector is fantastic for us as a company.”
The hotel is being designed by HLM and Gareth Woodfin, Regional Lead for Wales at HLM said, “Having designed hotels across the UK and the UAE, we are excited to have been commissioned to use our experience to design and deliver the Staybridge Suites here in Cardiff.
“There is clearly a growing demand for this type of more relaxed accommodation growing internationally – and design is a key element of delivering a more unique accommodation experience here in Cardiff.”