AccorHotels is planning further roll out of its Jamboree restaurant brand in the UK following the success of its first at its Novotel in London’s Blackfriars.
A second site for the world food brand is due to open at Ibis Styles in Manchester this year following the completion of a £3m refurbishment by Amaris Hospitality, according to MCA’s sister title BigHospitality.
Other sites are also being considered for the brand, which debuted in London at the end of 2015, although none have yet been confirmed.
Speaking at the Annual Hotel Conference in Manchester last week, Thomas Dubaere, COO HotelServices - AccorHotels UK & Ireland, said building food and beverage brands that could compete with those on the high street had been a key target for him and the business over the last two years.
He said: “I wanted to do food and beverage better. The retail restaurants in the high streets have good revenues, good profits and their customers are very happy.”
Dubaere, who was encouraged to focus on building restaurant and bar brands for Accor after meeting a Millennial tech start-up owner, told delegates he had decided to recruit a team with experience in the retail restaurant sector to help create the brands.
“It requires a different expertise, so I thought ‘why not recruit someone who’s got great expertise in opening high street restaurants?,’” he said.
Last month the hotel company also opened its first standalone artisan coffee shop Chill#02 at Ibis Cambridge. A spokesperson for AccorHotels confirmed there were plans for more, but could not reveal locations.
