Blackstone Real Estate announced the completion of its acquisition of Village Hotels from KSL Capital Partners on June 26, 2024. With 4,400 hotel keys, Village Hotels manages 33 properties around the United Kingdom. Together with standard hotel amenities, fitness centers, restaurants, and co-working spaces, the facilities also function as all-inclusive leisure destinations. This unique business model has cultivated a diverse and loyal customer base, including business travelers, tourists, and local visitors. Head of Blackstone's Real Estate Europe James Seppala expressed excitement over the acquisition, pointing to the solid cooperation with Village Hotels' management team and the potential for expansion in the accommodation and entertainment sector.
The mix of accommodation, wellness, and work facilities—which has drawn over 4,000 local health club members per hotel—was emphasized by Village Hotels CEO Gary Davis as the brand's growth under KSL. KSL's Jens Blomdahl highlighted their role in the growth of Village Hotels, pointing to a rise of over 1,200 rooms and 45,000 fitness members. Blackstone's prior acquisition of Bourne Leisure in 2021 and its large efforts to improve and expand its products demonstrate the company's dedication to the UK leisure industry.