Passionate about delivering exceptional hospitality
We live it, dream it, breathe it
Plumtree Hotels is a luxury hotel operator focused exclusively on regional and provincial, small-to-medium-sized upscale, full-service hotels.
Our mission is to consolidate and integrate numerous luxury UK hotel assets with the goal of becoming one of the leading luxury hotel groups in the UK.
We are dedicated to providing a unique experience to our guests, no matter which Plumtree Hotel they choose, offering exceptional career opportunities to our employees, above-average returns to owners and investors, and ensuring that each Plumtree Hotel asset reaches its highest potential.
Our mission is to consolidate and integrate numerous luxury UK hotel assets with the goal of becoming one of the leading luxury hotel groups in the UK.
We are dedicated to providing a unique experience to our guests, no matter which Plumtree Hotel they choose, offering exceptional career opportunities to our employees, above-average returns to owners and investors, and ensuring that each Plumtree Hotel asset reaches its highest potential.
About us
We specialise in leasing / operating luxury hotel assets from independent UK hotel owners, who are primarily looking to exit for reasons of retirement.
As the leading luxury hotel brand in the UK, the Plumtree Hotel portfolio is expected to comprise more than 1,200 rooms across 30 hotels, and employ more than 1,000 full and part-time employees. We aspire to become the largest single owner of luxury Relais & Chateaux and POB (Pride of Britain) affiliated hotels in the UK.
Our portfolio
As a manager and operator of luxury, regional, and provincial, small-to-medium-sized hotels, Plumtree Hotels aims to collaborate closely with the freehold owners of the hotels we manage. Our goal is to transform their assets into a de-facto pension plan, ensuring sustainable income returns and offering a clear exit strategy.
This provides owners with a significant cash lump-sum and ongoing income at a fair market value. We are dedicated to protecting the owner's legacy and ensuring that each hotel realizes its fullest potential.
This provides owners with a significant cash lump-sum and ongoing income at a fair market value. We are dedicated to protecting the owner's legacy and ensuring that each hotel realizes its fullest potential.
Strategy
As a group, we are dedicated to establishing a leading luxury hotel group in the UK, providing unparalleled guest experiences, cultivating a widespread reputation for excellence within the industry, creating an exceptional work environment for our staff and employees, delivering consistent and sustainable income returns to owners, and ensuring that each asset entrusted to our care becomes the very best version of itself."
My parents were lifelong hoteliers, and as such, I grew up in the small-to-medium-sized luxury hotel industry. At various times, my parents owned and operated Ettington Park Manor, Dalhousie Castle, Hayton Hall Hotel, The Oak House in Axbridge, The Wild Pheasant Llangollen, Chevin Lodge Country House Hotel, and Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa.
Having grown up and worked in this sector of the industry, I have witnessed and lived through many of the stresses, strains, and problems that many small-to-medium-sized independent hotel owners face. These include stresses with staffing, challenges due to a lack of liquidity, being asset-rich but cash-poor, under-capitalized and/or over-leveraged businesses, businesses lacking working capital, regularly facing cash-flow challenges, and struggling to secure funds for necessary capital investments and refurbishment work. Additionally, there are difficulties when it comes to planning for retirement and exiting the industry.
As someone genuinely passionate about hotels and acutely aware of the issues independent owners often face, I set out to create and provide a solution to these challenges. I firmly believe that Plumtree Hotels and the creation of the UK’s first hospitality REIT are THE solutions to the issues I have witnessed firsthand and the challenges currently facing the independent hotel market. We have designed a modern solution to historical and current challenges, addressing the evolving stresses faced by independent hoteliers.
My parents were lifelong hoteliers, and as such, I grew up in the small-to-medium-sized luxury hotel industry. At various times, my parents owned and operated Ettington Park Manor, Dalhousie Castle, Hayton Hall Hotel, The Oak House in Axbridge, The Wild Pheasant Llangollen, Chevin Lodge Country House Hotel, and Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa.
Having grown up and worked in this sector of the industry, I have witnessed and lived through many of the stresses, strains, and problems that many small-to-medium-sized independent hotel owners face. These include stresses with staffing, challenges due to a lack of liquidity, being asset-rich but cash-poor, under-capitalized and/or over-leveraged businesses, businesses lacking working capital, regularly facing cash-flow challenges, and struggling to secure funds for necessary capital investments and refurbishment work. Additionally, there are difficulties when it comes to planning for retirement and exiting the industry.
As someone genuinely passionate about hotels and acutely aware of the issues independent owners often face, I set out to create and provide a solution to these challenges. I firmly believe that Plumtree Hotels and the creation of the UK’s first hospitality REIT are THE solutions to the issues I have witnessed firsthand and the challenges currently facing the independent hotel market. We have designed a modern solution to historical and current challenges, addressing the evolving stresses faced by independent hoteliers.
KEN HOLDEN
Founder/CEO/Managing Director
We fully anticipate that this solution will become a go-to choice for any independent hotelier, whether they are considering exiting for retirement or other reasons. It provides the best exit valuation and a smooth transition, knowing that the hotel you've spent years nurturing and developing is in safe and capable hands. The future is secure all around."
Our vision
The Plumtree Hotel Management and Operational team share one common characteristic: we are all PASSIONATE about luxury hotels! We live it, dream it, and breathe it.
Our team
Jonathan Harrison
Non-Executive Director, ACA, is a seasoned NED with direct hotel and AIM listing experience. Currently, he serves as a non-executive director with a minerals company and was the former Finance Director of Sirius Minerals Plc. Jonathan's previous role included Division Finance Director with the Boddington Group, where he was directly involved with the development of Village Leisure Hotels and later became Operations Director. Prior to this, he was Group Finance Director and a main board member of County Hotels PLC, where he played a key role in completing a 25-hotel MBI acquisition. Jonathan also spent 16 years internationally with the Intercontinental Hotel Group, completing his term as Area VP Controller, Europe/ME, and Division VP, Finance Africa.
Ken Holden
Founder/CEO/Managing Director – Ken's main focus is on building the group's portfolio and ensuring operational excellence across all Plumtree Hotels. Ken grew up in the hotel industry, with his parents being lifelong hoteliers, and completed his hotel training at Dalhousie Castle in Scotland. Ken later spent 20 years in Asia as an entrepreneur, first as an international executive recruiter and management consultant before returning to the hospitality industry, co-founding H Cubed Hospitality & Event Management, securing an annual franchise at the Singapore GP. In 2012, Ken returned to hotels to restructure and successfully turn around the family business, Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa. Ken also co-founded UK Hospitality REIT, expected to be the UK's first pure hospitality real estate investment trust.
Angeles Hererro
Food & Beverage Operations – Angeles is a Restaurateur, Mentor, and Hospitality Advisor with more than 25 years' experience in Food & Beverage and Event Management. She graduated with a business degree in hospitality from ESDAI-University Panamericano in Mexico City and the Culinary Institute of America, New York. Angeles has held positions such as Executive Chef to the American Ambassador's Residence in Mexico City and Chief of Protocol for the American Embassy. She later headed up event management for the famous tequila producer, Jose Cuervo, working directly with the owner, Juan Beckmann. Angeles has been in Asia for the past 20 years, training chefs and service teams at embassies in Beijing and Singapore and co-founding the well-known and award-winning Lebanese bar and restaurant in the CBD, Singapore, Kazbar. Angeles' motto is "Growth and comfort do not coexist."
Andrew Ranger
Finance and Operations & Head of Shared Services – Andrew has more than 25 years of business and leadership experience in the hospitality sector, including senior operational and financial management roles at four-star and above levels in the independent and corporate sectors. He has a proven track record of achieving and maintaining growth by leading teams to deliver exceptional experiences for customers and working with stakeholders up to and including board level to deliver excellent results.
Plumtree Hotels was specifically created to offer a viable alternative to the plain-vanilla option of putting a hotel on the market and waiting for an acceptable offer and completion before exiting. Our proposition is custom-tailored for independent UK hotel owners who are looking to sell for retirement reasons.
The Plumtree Proposition is designed to release owners seeking retirement from immediate operational and financial responsibilities. Simultaneously, it provides owners with an immediate and ongoing monthly income and a commitment from our partners to purchase the asset at a predetermined price on a cash and shares basis in the future, also converting part of the asset into pension income.
Vendors / Owners
FRI Lease
The rent for the lease will generally be equivalent to 8% per annum of the agreed freehold value of the hotel, as assessed by a professional hotel valuation firm. The annual rent is paid monthly based on a seasonal profile.
Rent
While Plumtree Hotels can assume operational control of hotel assets under a hotel management agreement, our preferred approach is to assume a fully repairing and insuring lease with an option to purchase.
Under the terms of a fully repairing and insuring lease, owners are immediately relieved of operational and financial responsibilities upon signing the agreement, with income generated from the first month onwards.
Under the terms of a fully repairing and insuring lease, owners are immediately relieved of operational and financial responsibilities upon signing the agreement, with income generated from the first month onwards.
An FRI lease places the responsibility on the Lessee for repairs (whether undertaken directly or to contribute to their cost) and for the cost of the building’s insurance. Plumtree Hotels will also be responsible for insuring the hotel and its contents against all risks, including fire, theft and damage caused by natural disasters. The insurance remains with the freehold owners but is paid for by us.
Insurance
As the lessee, Plumtree Hotels will be responsible for all repairs and maintenance to the hotel building and its contents. We will ensure that the hotel is kept in excellent condition, and that the necessary repairs and maintenance are carried out promptly and to a high standard.
Rent will typically be reviewed every five years on an upward-only basis.
Repairs and Maintanance
Rent Increases
A predetermined purchase price will be agreed upon with an option to purchase window of a maximum of three years.
The term of a lease is decided on a case-by-case basis and will be compatible with terms that would be agreed with UK Hospitality REIT.
A lease break clause will be included in favor of the landlord at the end of the Option-to-Purchase window in the event that the option has not been exercised.
Term of Lease
FRI Lease Break Clause
Option-to-Purchase
Typical terms
Plumtree Hotels is committed to taking a leading role in ESG and is dedicated to ensuring that Environmental, Social, and Governance responsibility lies at the center of every decision we make, with a focus on creating long-term sustainable profitability.
Net Zero 2050 – While the goalposts in the political world seem to keep changing, Plumtree Hotels is a business committed to the UK's Net Zero 2050 legislation. Every Plumtree operated asset will undergo an assessment as part of the initial due diligence and valuation process. From there, an asset-specific Net Zero Carbon plan will be developed and implemented. This plan will involve the installation of efficiency measures and zero-emission heating systems where practical.
Net Zero 2050 – While the goalposts in the political world seem to keep changing, Plumtree Hotels is a business committed to the UK's Net Zero 2050 legislation. Every Plumtree operated asset will undergo an assessment as part of the initial due diligence and valuation process. From there, an asset-specific Net Zero Carbon plan will be developed and implemented. This plan will involve the installation of efficiency measures and zero-emission heating systems where practical.
ESG
Living Hours Accreditation – The Group aims to become an accredited 'Living Wage' Employer. All directly employed staff and contracted workers will be paid as per guidelines and, in most cases, more.
Employee Ownership – At Plumtree Hotels, we prioritize putting employees at the center of our business. We are committed to employee ownership and involvement wherever possible. Employees are considered a key stakeholder group, integral to achieving the optimum guest experience and business performance.
Employee Ownership – At Plumtree Hotels, we prioritize putting employees at the center of our business. We are committed to employee ownership and involvement wherever possible. Employees are considered a key stakeholder group, integral to achieving the optimum guest experience and business performance.
Corporate Governance – Although the Company is not a stock-listed company, we highly value transparency and governance in all company affairs and interactions with stakeholders. We strive to comply with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies 2013 (the "QCA Code"), as published by the Quoted Companies Alliance, to the extent that they are appropriate given the Group's size, nature, and stage of development.
The Company is committed to taking a leading role where ESG is concerned.
Our hospitality academy, led by lifelong hospitality professional Angeles Herrero, herself an alumna of the Culinary Institute of America, New York, is committed to contributing to the professionalization of the UK hospitality industry. We aim to provide exceptional training across all departments of hospitality, including front of house, F&B, Culinary, and Management.
Once you have graduated from the Plumtree Hotel Hospitality Academy, it is reasonable to expect that you will be employable by almost any luxury hotel establishment in the world.
To inquire about or apply to join our luxury academy, please contact Angeles Herrero at angeles@plumtreehotels.co.uk
Once you have graduated from the Plumtree Hotel Hospitality Academy, it is reasonable to expect that you will be employable by almost any luxury hotel establishment in the world.
To inquire about or apply to join our luxury academy, please contact Angeles Herrero at angeles@plumtreehotels.co.uk
Academy
Contacts
Ken Holden
Managing Director
Plumtree Hotels Ltd
Managing Director
Plumtree Hotels Ltd
27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX
Company Registration number: 14814702
Company Registration number: 14814702
