Minor Hotels has today unveiled plans to introduce four new hotel brands, including The Wolseley Hotels, a spin-off of the world-famous London restaurant.
The global owner/operator, whose portfolio includes more than 560 properties across 57 countries, says the four new brands – The Wolseley Hotels, Colbert Collection, Minor Reserve Collection and iStay Hotels – will help achieve its aim of reaching 850 properties by the end of 2027.
The launches will also enable the group to expand into new markets and provide ‘distinctive hospitality offerings’ across the luxury, premium and select segments.
Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels, acquired full control of restaurant group Corbin & King in April 2022, which counts iconic London restaurants such as The Wolseley, Brasserie Zedel and The Delauney among its estate.
In June of that year, the firm rebranded Corbin & King as The Wolseley Hospitality Group and went on to launch a City spin-off of the eponymous restaurant, as well as new concepts including seafood restaurant Manzi’s.
Now, The Wolseley will get a new lease of life as a hotel brand, with Ian Di Tullio, chief commercial officer of Minor Hotels, exclusively telling Boutique Hotelier that the hotels will “take multiple cues from the iconic restaurant in Piccadilly, especially in the guest experience”
Di Tullio told BH: “Like the restaurant, the hotel will be a place where formality melts away, replaced by friendly familiarity and glamour without pretension. Rituality and attentiveness are at the heart of the guest experience, where every guest will be treated to our effortless balance of class and etiquette, from their welcome by The Wolseley Hotels doorperson to the stay rituals delivered by a team passionate about the craft of hospitality.”
Di Tullio confirmed that Minor is in active discussions to bring The Wolseley Hotels to locations including New York, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai, among others. He also said London would be “a fantastic location and a natural fit” for the new brand.
Di Tullio told BH: “The Wolseley Hotels sits amongst the most luxurious hotel brands within our brand portfolio, and we want to ensure our initial properties set a high standard for the brand. We will be very particular and deliberate about where we open The Wolseley Hotels properties, growing its footprint slowly with partners who share our vision for the brand experience. This will be a carefully curated rollout, with each new location thoughtfully chosen to be a perfect match for the brand’s character and values.”
Minor Hotels other new brands:
Colbert Collection will be a soft brand in the premium segment which will encompass a global collection of independent hotels that are focused on ‘culinary excellence’ and ‘social connection’.
Minor Reserve Collection will launch as a luxury soft brand, with each property chosen for ‘its rarity and ability to offer something singular that guests cannot find elsewhere’.
Finally, iStay Hotels will be a select segment brand located in popular cities and offering ‘fun’ stays that are tech-driven and budget-friendly.
The four new brands join Minor Hotels’ existing portfolio of hotel brands – Anantara, Elewana Collection, Tivoli, NH Collection, Avani, nhow, NH and Oaks.
Speaking about the new brands, Di Tullio said: “We have meticulously crafted each new brand to capture specific opportunities in the market, enabling us to meet the evolving needs of modern travellers and owners alike.
“By expanding our brand offering to address new segments, we are empowering our partners, delighting our guests, and accelerating our global growth strategy. These additional brands are instrumental in helping us reach our growth target of 850 properties by the end of 2027.”
Minor Hotels is in active discussions regarding development opportunities for each of its Brands.
The first property announcements for The Wolseley Hotels, Minor Reserve Collection, Colbert Collection and iStay are expected in the coming months.
by Eamonn Crowe
