A Southampton hotel used by many cruise passengers has changed hands for £29 million.
The 173-room Grand Harbour Hotel will be operated by the parent company of Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland.
The property is to be rebranded as a Leonardo Royal Hotel.
Opened in 1994, the four star Grand Harbour, situated on the Southampton waterfront, has been sold by hotel operator and manager, Westmont.
The new owner is Fattal Hotel Group, which last year partnered on the acquisition of Jurys Inn.
The group now operates 44 hotels in the UK and Ireland under the Leonardo Hotels and Jurys Inn brands.
Leonardo Hotels is a recent entrant into the UK, with eight properties in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Perth, Heathrow and Manchester. The brand has a significant international presence, with more than 150 properties across several major European cities.
Fattal recently announced it had partnered in the acquisition of Manchester’s Midland Hotel for £115 million to join the expanding Leonardo Hotels portfolio.
It also revealed plans to invest £32 million in the redevelopment and expansion of the existing Jurys Inn Edinburgh hotel and a neighbouring site with plans for a new 131-room NYX Hotel by Leonardo Hotels and the development of 31 residential units.
The Grand Harbour Hotel features a Marco Pierre White restaurant, a bar and bistro, 13 meeting rooms with a total capacity of 500 people, and spa and gym.
Fattal Hotel Group CEO David Fattal said: “We are delighted to have acquired the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton, which is another step in our strategic plan to extend our foothold in the UK and to position the group as one of the UK’s most significant hotel owner and operators.”
Jason Carruthers, managing director of Leonardo and Jurys Inn Hotels UK and Ireland, said: “This is a truly exciting time for the group as we expand our offering in the UK with this iconic luxury hotel in a key city like Southampton.
“We continue to look to grow and strengthen our portfolio and hotel network, and will pursue further appropriate and commercially attractive new development and acquisition opportunities as they arise.
“We look forward to working together with the employees at the Grand Harbour Hotel to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests and drive the performance of the hotel.”