IHG Rebrand - Principal Hotels

IHG purchased the Principal hotel group with thirteen properties across the UK. They were required to be re-branded as various brands within the IHG group including the all new upscale VOCO™ and luxury boutique brand Kimpton.

We sat down with the team to enable a fast track approach to deliver an initial project in Cardiff creating the UK’s and Europe’s first voco™ branded property. The hotel, which was previously Principal St David’s Cardiff, has benefitted from the voco™ brand’s bold and distinctive design, with deep colours adding depth and warmth to public spaces and a touch of the brand’s charming character to guest rooms. voco™, inspired by the meaning ‘to invite’ or to ‘come together’ in Latin, combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel, with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand.

Following the success of this we were then able to negotiate 3 further projects, 2 in Oxford and one in Manchester. Initially the scope of work was limited to brand conversion icons with full FF&E coordination, general repairs/ redecoration's and air conditioning installation. Following these initial and successful fast track works a further brief to carry out bedroom refurbishments and public area renovations was agreed and negotiated specific to each property.

"I have worked with County Contractors on a number of Hotel projects in the last few years, both major complex renovations and soft refurbishment works, and it has proven to be a really good experience on every occasion. Their collaborative approach and solid experience of working in a live Hotel environment is first class and reassuring on luxury/upscale projects where coordination among key stakeholders is a pre-requisite to hit programme and budget . They have some great people that work well with design teams/other consultants and are always able to offer constructive solutions on design, buildability and procurement matters when called upon. They are competitive, with a wide reaching supply chain and I would not hesitate to offer County further opportunities in the future."

ML - Head of Capital Planning & Projects, Europe