Hospitality
Choice Hotels Ireland
Redquartz Hotels and Frankie Whelehan’s (Managing Director, Choice Hotels Ireland) relationship
first began back in 1997 with the Morrison Island Hotel in Cork, which was purchased in March 1998
by the Kelly family and Frankie together. Choice Hotels Ireland (CHI) was founded in 1998 as a
hotel operating company. It was a joint venture with Choice Hotels Europe and started with one 38
bedroom hotel in Cork. CHI initially expanded through franchising the three Choice brands that it
has the Irish rights for. These brands are Clarion Hotels (International 4-star), Quality Hotels
(Domestic 3-star) and Comfort Inns (Budget sector).
Over the next five years, the business grew rapidly and started to lease and manage hotels,
created branded restaurants and leisure clubs and established group sales and purchasing functions.
This rapid expansion was assisted by tax allowances on new hotel developments in Ireland and the
ability of CHI to profitably manage the property assets of investors (with a value of approximately
€800m) and de-risk the hotel business for them.
In 2003, the strategy of CHI was changed to focus on fewer, but larger, leased and managed
properties, with a more balanced distribution between city/corporate and rural/leisure locations.
To prepare for these new openings during 2003/04, CHI exited several older, smaller and franchised
hotels. By December 2004, CHI had 15 leased and managed properties with 1,386 bedrooms. During
2005, several large properties were opened and the year ended with 2,646 bedrooms in 19 hotels. By
June 2007, this increased to almost 3,800 bedrooms in 22 hotels (including one UK property). CHI is
now the largest hotel operator in Ireland.
CHI is managed by its founder Frankie Whelehan (Managing Director), Tom Barrett (Commercial
Director) and Brendan Curtis (Chief Operating Officer). Principal shareholders include the Kelly
family, the McCormack family, Peter Redden, Gerry McNulty, Frankie Whelehan and the management
team. Choice Hotels Europe reduced its shareholding in CHI during 2003 and sold the balance of its
shares to existing shareholders in 2005. The CHI Group endeavours to promote the concept of
partnership at all levels, in the creation and sharing of opportunities.
Many of the CHI hotels have been developed by shareholders in CHI or key partners who have
developed more than one property under the Clarion, Quality or Comfort brands.
Clarion Hotels Ireland
An international 4-star hotel group consisting of nine hotels – with one in Cork, Kildare
(Carton House – management contract) & Sligo, two in Limerick and four in Dublin (including the
Morrison Hotel – management contract). These nine hotels have a total of 1,780 rooms. 2006 openings
included Carton House in Maynooth and the Clarion Suites in Limerick, along with extensions to
existing properties. Clarion Hotels primarily operates in the international & domestic
corporate sector. James Tynan leads Clarion Hotels, supported by a dedicated Clarion management
team.
Quality Hotels Ireland
A 3-star offering with a total of 1,351 rooms across eight hotels located in Dublin city,
Wexford, Youghal, Cork city, Clonakilty, Killarney, Limerick and Galway. Quality Hotels focus on
the domestic home holiday market and the local corporate sector. The Operations Director is Peter
Brennan, with a management team who are also developing the Comfort Inn brand.
Comfort Inns Ireland
A budget hotel brand offering four hotels – Parnell Square, Smithfield &
Citywest in Dublin, and Portlaoise. One more Dublin property is opening in July 2007, which will
bring the brand to over 500 rooms, mainly located in Dublin. Comfort Inn operates primarily in the
international and domestic leisure market. The Operations Director is Peter Brennan.
UK
With our three brands well established in Ireland, the end of tax allowances and a plentiful
supply of hotels, future Irish development potential for CHI is now limited to opportunistic
additions. We are now targeting the UK for expansion. This market is well known to CHI management,
many of whom spent the earlier parts of their careers in the UK. The focus will be on the 4-star
sector in major city locations and the budget sector.
In March 2006, CHI took a lease on an existing 209 bedroom 4 star hotel in Croydon (London).
This is being managed by the existing Clarion Ireland team, but for the moment remains branded as
The Croydon Park Hotel. It is planned to refurbish and extend the hotel to 270 bedrooms and
re-launch it as a Clarion Hotel.
Senior Management
Chairman: Paddy Murphy
Paddy Murphy is chairman of Choice Hotels Ireland. He has spent much of his career with Bank
of Ireland, where he held a number of management positions. After six years as chief executive in
Northern Ireland, Paddy moved to the United States where he became president and CEO of the bank's
subsidiary, First NH Bank in New Hampshire. He retired from the position of General Manager of the
Banks Retail and Business Banking Division in the east of Ireland in 2002.
In addition to his role as chairman of Choice Hotels Ireland, Paddy also chairs Prem Group
and Heuston Hospitality. He is also a director of Sean Quinn Group Ltd. and Data Electronics Ltd.
Paddy was educated at Trinity College (BBS 1969) and Harvard Business School (PMD 1987).
Managing Director: Frankie Whelehan
Frankie Whelehan is Managing Director of Choice Hotels Ireland. In 1998, with his primary
partner Paddy Kelly, Frankie purchased Morrison’s Ireland Cork. In 1998, also with Paddy, Frankie
purchased the Choice Hotel franchise for Ireland. Over the past 8 years, Choice Hotels Ireland has
consolidated its position as the largest 3-star and 4-star hotel group in Ireland.
Frankie was a student of Shannon College f Hotel Management from 1986-1990. He completed his
hotel management studies in the UK with the Holiday Inn Group. Having completed his studies,
Frankie returned to Ireland and held a number of management positions with The Great Southern
Group.
Commercial Director: Tom Barrett
In 1994, Tom Barrett moved into the hotel industry, joining Forte Plc. in London and
subsequently its international 4/5-star brand, Le Meriden Hotels & Resorts. He lived in Hong
Kong and Paris while heading up the Meriden finance functions in the Asia Pacific and European
regions respectively. Tom returned to Ireland in 2000 and joined Vodafone, where he reorganised the
consumer distribution channel and managed the integration of four distinct retail chains into one
Vodafone branded chain. In 2003, Tom returned to the hotel industry, joining Choice Hotels Ireland
as Commercial Director. Here he has lead the strategic shift to fewer, but larger hotels and
maintained profitability whilst rapidly growing the business into the largest hotel operator in
Ireland.
Tom was educated in the Presentation Brothers College and UCC where he obtained a Bachelor of
Commerce degree. After university, Tom became a member of the Chartered Institute of Management
Accountants and worked for Diageo in both the brewing and spirits divisions in Scotland, London and
New York.
Chief Operations Officer: Brendan Curtis
Brendan Curtis was recently appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) across the brands within
the group including the Clarion, Quality and Comfort Inn brands.
A graduate of DIT Cathal Brugha Street and Trinity College, Brendan started his career with
the International Hotel at Dublin Airport followed by General Management appointments at Acton’s
Hotel - Kinsale, Forte Crest Hotel - Dublin Airport and subsequently a Regional Management position
with the Forte Hotel Group covering London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Corydon hotels. Over the last
six years Brendan has guided the Clarion Hotel Group from one hotel in Dublin’s IFSC (as Managing
Partner) to 10 hotels including their first resort – Carton House Resort in Maynooth, home of the
2005 and 2006 Nissan Irish Opens.
PREM Group
Background
In 1989 a group of Aer Lingus pilots came together to invest in Dublin’s first all suite
hotel, Stephens Hall, Lower Leeson Street. A ‘home from home’ was the selling point for this 37
suite location that offered each guest their own bedroom, bathroom and private sitting room/kitchen
area. In 1996 the majority of the Aer Lingus pilots released their shares paving the way for a
management buy which included two of the original pilots, Peter Redden and Gerry McNulty, Stephens
Hall general manager Jim Murphy and developer Paddy Kelly. This led to the establishment of PREM as
it is known today. Jim Murphy previously General Manager of Stephens Hall became managing director.
The provision of a value added service such as the suites in Stephens Hall attracted many
longer-term guests. PREM Group recognised that there was a gap in the market for accommodation of
hotel standard, but with the extra facilities that appeal to someone who plans to stay that little
bit longer .In August 1996 PREM Group took a lease on a number of apartments in the vicinity of
Stephens Hall. These fully serviced properties proved extremely popular and PREM Group continues to
increase its portfolio of apartments in Irish and UK cities under its Premier Apartment brand.
In 1997, members of the board entered into a joint venture with Choice Hotels International
establishing Choice Hotels Ireland, PREM Group’s sister company. Choice Hotels Ireland now operates
more than 30 hotels in the Republic of Ireland. PREM Group became a franchisee of Choice Hotels
International in summer 1998. This created valuable links to a worldwide hotel group, allowing
access to vast reservation systems and the use of recognised brand names.
PREM Group enjoyed success sharing the Choice Hotel brands with its sister company but by
2003, due to the rapid growth of both companies, the time was right for PREM to introduce a new
brand to the market place. PREM Group joined forces with Cendant, now Wyndham Worldwide, one of the
foremost providers of travel and real estate services in the world to deliver the Days Inn and Days
Hotel brands to Ireland and to develop a number of other brands in the UK market.
In 2006, PREM Group announced a major expansion programme for the next two years which would
see the group creating over 350 jobs in Ireland and the UK, and a further 300 jobs in 2007. The
€400 million investment programme also saw the group expand into Northern Europe in November 2006
with acquisitions in Antwerp, Belgium. A number of other acquisitions in major northern European
cities are currently under negotiation.
Days Hotels
PREM Group is on track to deliver its ambitious plan of opening 9 Days hotels in three years
with the opening of four new Days Hotels in 2006. This brings to 8 the number of Days Hotels
operating in Ireland. Current locations include Kilkenny, Dublin, Galway, Castlebar and Tullamore.
The hotels will be operated by PREM Group under license agreement with Wyndham Worldwide.
Premier Apartments
In 2006, PREM Group opened 120 new serviced apartment units under its Premier Apartments
brand at Dublin Airport, Galway and Sandyford. PREM Group presently operates and leases over 500
serviced apartments in Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and
Newcastle.
Boutique hotels and apartments
In early 2006, PREM Group acquired 62 apartments in Hatton Garden Tower from Liverpool
developer Downing at a cost of €15 million, in what was the largest property deal of its type in
the city. The Eden Square scheme was launched to potential purchasers in mid December and it sold
out within two weeks. Over 50 per cent of purchasers consisted of investors from previous PREM
Group schemes.
PREM Group also expanded in the UK with a two new hotel openings in Sheffield and Birmingham.
The first hotel opened under the Ramada brand in Birmingham November 2005 and the second hotel, The
Leopold hotel opened in the Summer of 2007 as a small Luxury hotel of the World in Sheffield city
centre.
European Expansion
In 2006 the company started looking at opportunities in mainland Europe and stemming out of
that acquisitions in Belgium and France were completed. The first of these acquisitions was the
Carlton Hotel Group in November 2006 which consisted of the Carlton Hotel Antwerp, (127 Bedrooms)
The Astoria Hotel Antwerp(66 Bedrooms) and the Carlton Flats (12 Apartments) which have since been
rebranded Premier Apartments Antwerp. The following March, The Corinthia Hotel in Antwerp (210
Bedrooms) was purchased. This hotel has since been rebranded a Ramada Plaza Hotel. In April the
Bedford Hotel Liège was acquired (149 Bedrooms). Following these acquisitions the Global Hotel
Group was purchased in August 2007. This group consists of 9 Hotels which brands include Crowne
Plaza, Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn.
The Funding for these acquisitions was supplied by AIB Corporate Banking and is a 50/50 Joint
venture between PREM and Goodbody Stockbrokers. As a result of these acquisitions PREM Group are
now Ireland’s largest hotel management company with 37 Properties and 3440 Bedrooms. Further
expansion is planned for the future including future Ventures in Germany, Poland and the
Netherlands.
PREM Group Executive Profiles
Patrick (Paddy) Kelly – Founding Director
Paddy is the chairman of the Kelly family investment vehicle, Redquartz. He has over 40 years
experience in property development in Ireland and the UK. Paddy’s philosophy is to adopt
partnerships, to access expertise and resources as well as reduce the risk profile of projects.
Recent developments in Ireland include: Clarion Quay, Smithfield Market, the new O2 Head Office on
Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, and the National College of Ireland in the IFSC.
Paddy also has property interests in Florida USA. Together with a number of investors he
controls 10 acres of water frontage in the Quay in Sarasota. Paddy is the majority investor in PREM
Group as well as our sister company Choice Hotels Ireland.
Paddy Murphy – Chairman
Paddy Murphy is chairman of PREM Group. He has spent much of his career with Bank
of Ireland, where he held a number of management positions. After 6 years as chief executive in
Northern Ireland, Paddy moved to the USA where he became president and CEO of the bank's
subsidiary, First NH Bank in New Hampshire. He retired from the position of General Manager of the
Banks Retail and Business Banking Division in the east of Ireland in 2002. In addition to his role
as Chairman of PREM Group, Paddy also chairs PREM's associated companies, Choice Hotels Ireland and
Heuston Hospitality. He is also a director of Sean Quinn Group Ltd. and Data Electronics Ltd. Paddy
was educated at Trinity College (BBS 1969) and Harvard Business School (PMD 1987).
Jim Murphy – Managing Director
Jim Murphy is one of PREM Group’s founders. A graduate of Galway-Mayo Institute of
Technology, his association with what was to become PREM Group began in 1989 when he was appointed
General Manager of Stephens Hall Hotel, Dublin’s first all suite hotel. Prior to this appointment
Jim had built up an admirable career gaining valuable management experience in renowned hotels such
as Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel, The Intercontinental Hotel Frankfurt, Marlfield House Hotel, Co.
Wexford, Ireland, The Park Hotel, Co. Kerry, Ireland and the Gresham Hotel in Dublin’s city centre.
In 1996 Jim and fellow investors Paddy Kelly, Peter Redden and Gerry McNulty bought Stephens Hall
Hotel and Jim was appointed Managing Director. This purchase marks the foundation of PREM Group.
In addition to building the enterprise, Jim has had the honour of holding the presidency of
the Irish Hotels Federation from 2002 to 2004 and has been awarded a Fellowship of the Irish
Hospitality Institute.
Stephen Loftus – Group Financial Controller
Stephen Loftus, a commerce graduate of University College Dublin and qualified chartered
accountant, joined PREM Group in 2002. Stephen brought to the company 10 years experience at senior
level within the hospitality and property industries including businesses such as Gresham Hotels
plc and Stafford Investments where he enjoyed the roles of Group Financial Controller and Chief
Financial Officer.
Phil Sweeney – Sales and Marketing Director
A native of Dublin, Phil Sweeney has directed the sales and marketing activity of PREM Group
since it’s formation in 1996. Prior to joining the new company Phil enjoyed an interesting career
taking in many of Ireland’s best known hotel enterprises, such as Great Southern, Jury’s and The
Shelbourne Hotel, before setting up her own sales and marketing consultancy. It was as a consultant
that Phil first came into contact with Jim Murphy and Stephens Hall Hotel, shortly to be recruited
onto the full time payroll as Group Sales and Marketing Manager for the hotel and developing
serviced apartment and serviced office businesses. Phil was appointed Sales and Marketing Directors
for PREM Group in 1998.
Heuston Hospitality
Heuston Hospitality is a new venture under the direction of Peter Stephenson. It is a niche
hotel and resort operator with a strong emphasis on providing premium product and high quality
service to all guests in the 4 to 5-star deluxe markets. The company offers a full range of
services from concept creation, design and build through to technical services, acquisition
services, hotel operations and asset management. The asset management arm of Heuston ensures all
investors’ interests are served when an independent operator is running a property.
Heuston’s Four Key Service Offerings
Pre-opening
Acquisition
• Identification of potential projects;
• Valuation advice;
• Creation of design concepts;
• Feasibilities, due diligence.
Build
• Technical services contracting;
• Total project management:
o Design;
o Build.
Management
Asset management contracts
De-risk operation on behalf of investors:
• ensure operation is profit focussed;
• regular operational reviews, budget appraisals, capex reviews;
• profit improvement plans.
Maximise returns, short and long-term:
• realise full development potential
Operating contracts
• Budget planning and delivery;
• Recruitment/management of team;
• Financial control;
• Quality delivery to customers;
• Central HR, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Development, Purchasing, IT support services.
Heuston Hospitality’s first project is Pragelato Village Resort & Spa - a new concept in
accommodation in the Italian Alps. Pragelato opened in perfect time to host the 2006 Winter
Olympics. Spotting a gap in the market for a luxury resort that will attract high spending
customers in winter and summer, Pragelato combines luxury apartments and suites with winter and
summer sports, wellbeing, culture and gastronomy. Heuston has managed the project since concept
stage and runs the hotel under a management contract employing a young, dynamic operations team,
many of whom gained their experience at the Forte Village, Sardinia. Heuston is also assessing a
number of opportunities in the US, Europe and the Caribbean.
Oakley Court was acquired in December
2006. A Victorian gothic country house set on 35-acres of landscaped gardens with lawns that front
the banks of the River Thames, Oakley Court is considered one of the most elegant country house
hotels in the South East of England. The hotel has 118 rooms, all air conditioned, with conference
and leisure facilities. A feasibility study is in progress to improve and develop the property.
Senior Management
Chairman: Paddy Murphy
Paddy’s entire career was spent with Bank of Ireland in a number of positions, including six
years as Chief Executive in Northern Ireland followed by a move to the US as President and CEO of
the Bank’s subsidiary First NH Bank.
Since retiring in 2002 from the Bank’s Retail and Business Banking Division, Paddy has taken
up several non executive directorships.
CEO: Peter Stephenson
Peter has been in hotels for over 25 years and is a leading figure in the industry.
His roles have included Managing Director UK and Ireland Forte plc; CEO Corinthian Hotels;
CEO MyTravel Group Hotels. Peter has developed a reputation for strong leadership, with a track
record in optimising return on assets and increasing share holder value.
Finance Director: Wayne Hulme
Wayne has over 10 years experience in the hotel, leisure and finance industries.
His roles have included Finance Director Lake Eve Development in the US, Development Director
MyTravel Group Hotels, board director of Hotetur Hotels Group Spain, following four years with
PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he qualified as a chartered accountant.
Director of Construction & Project Management: Martin Cox
Martin has worked in hotels for the past 18 years, taking projects from green field
sites through to opening.
His roles have included work for P & O Developments on the Conrad International London
and as Director of Projects and Technical Services at MyTravel Group he oversaw a portfolio of 130
hotels including the new build Explorers Hotel Paris.
Established in 1992, the Thomas Read Group currently operates 16 bars and restaurants in Dublin. Total revenue in 2006 was €28.1m. Since its beginnings the company, through founders Hugh O'Regan and Martin Conroy, has strived to create one of the most cutting-edge and best known bar groups in Dublin and Ireland.
Prior to 1997, the company had 4 bars, the Harbourmaster in the Irish Financial Services Centre, the Bailey on Duke Street, Thomas Read's on Parliament Street as well as the adjoining Oak Bar. 1998 saw the opening of Searsons of Baggot Street, the Russian-themed bar Pravda, Life Café Bar in the Irish Life Mall and of course the charming Dawson Lounge, which at 350ft2 is the smallest bar in the city.
In 1999, the Thomas Read Group tendered for and won the contract to operate 6 bars in Dublin Airport. Since then the company has continued to grow with the development of the 40 Foot Bar & Restaurant in Dun Laoghaire in 2001 and the latest addition to the group, Ron Blacks on Dawson Street which opened in December 2002, proves the company's commitment to leading the way in bar design and comfort.
2006 saw a number of new outlets open, namely: The Champagne Bar in Ron Blacks; the Apron Bar in Dublin Airport; the Winding Stairs bookshop and restaurant; and the Thomas Read pub in Smithfield.
Senior Management
Managing Director: Mark Leavey
Financial Director: Allan Kennedy
Independent Leisure Solutions is Ireland’s leading leisure solutions provider working to inspire
a new generation of sport and recreation concepts. Independent Leisure works in tangent with
Redquartz Developments and Redquartz Hotels developing solutions that work to create a healthier
lifestyle in Ireland.
It offers five key areas of expertise:
• Operational management of sports and leisure facilities;
• Design;
• Financial management;
• Athletic development, education and vision;
• Innovation.
Operational Management
Independent Leisure Solutions offers 30 years experience in operational management
in the leisure industry. This experience proves very valuable to property developers, hoteliers and
local authorities in developing their leisure projects. Independent Leisure’s expertise allows it
to manage clubs and build a professional business that can either expand or be primed for a
commercial sale providing owners with a return on their capital investment. It manages every aspect
of the business from pre-sales, staffing, training, recruitment and business expansion.
Design
Independent Leisure provides design solutions for leisure projects undertaken by developers,
architects and sporting associations. We offer customised designs based on our studies of the
project, and through analysing the local markets and industry trends, Independent Leisure provides
a finished product that offers the most productive return on investment. It utilises its industry
experience to guarantee that the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the club are optimised
to maximise profits.
Financial management
Every business wants to maximise its operating profits and Independent Leisure
Solutions has the know-how to ensure its clients’ leisure business is exceeding its financial
potential by providing business analysis and effective action plans for its clients’ management
teams. Independent Leisure assists its clients’ team to exhaust every avenue of the business to
turn over more profits. Its training and expertise of proven industry business models offers clubs
the essential industry tools to succeed.
Innovation
Independent Leisure Solutions prides itself on being at the forefront of leisure industry
innovation. It holds the selling licence for quality products such as Sportesse performance
equipment for leading sporting associations and athletic academies, ice baths for all levels of
sporting associations and ‘aquabike’, a revolutionary product introducing cycling in swimming pools
that benefits both athletes and rehabilitating clients.
Recent projects include:
• the Quality Hotel Leisure Centre, Youghal;
• Quality Hotel Leisure Centre, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay;
• Dublin; Smithfield Leisure Centre, Dublin;
• Tulfarris Sports Club, Co. Wicklow.
Senior Management
Managing Director: Aled Hughes
Commercial Director: Barry Walsh
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