Member Article

Middlesbrough's Holiday Inn Express targetting January opening following £2.2m refurb

Refurbishment work at the Holiday Inn Express in Middlesbrough is on target for a January completion date which will see the hotel significantly expand its room numbers.

The hotel, which is located on Albert Road as part of the Cleveland Centre shopping venue, is currently undergoing a £2.2m extension to add 21 bedrooms and a 1,600 sq ft ground floor restaurant which will be run by a third party.

Property developer Ashall Projects is masterminding the three-storey development which will bring the hotel’s total room numbers up to 159.

The work has been necessitated by significant demand since the Holiday Inn opened in August 2015, with Middlesbrough Football Club’s promotion to the Premier League already boosting visitors to the area.

Mark Winter, who is the hotel’s general manager, said: “The hotel market is buoyant in Middlesbrough so the extension will help us meet the healthy demand for rooms.

“Naturally many of our customers are here for Teesside but the leisure market is showing promising signs too, while Middlesbrough Football Club’s promotion to the Premier League has been a big boost in terms of bringing more visitors into the town.

“The group’s vision is to create great hotels that guests love. The demand is there and it’s up to us to ensure people keeping coming back.”

As part of the development, the hotel will also look to add to its current headcount of 20 with new housekeeping and reception staff required once the work is complete.

Commenting on the venue’s future expansion plans, Cleveland Centre manager Graeme Skillen, added: “It’s fantastic to know that the hotel is achieving positive figures and bringing new people into the town centre that might have otherwise not come here.

“Talks are ongoing regarding more exciting developments which we hope to announce in the not-too-distant future.”