Antrim-based McKeever Hotels has acquired The Lodge Hotel in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. This acquisition aligns with the retirement of the hotel’s long-time owners, Ivor Boyd, Norma Wilkinson, and their late partner, Brian Stockman. The Lodge Hotel, known for its 56 guest rooms and dining at Elliot’s Bistro, is set to become a part of the McKeever family, known for their strong family values and quality service. The McKeever Group views this acquisition as strategic, enhancing their growth plans with support from banking and legal partners. Boyd and Wilkinson expressed gratitude to their team and loyal customers, confident in the McKeever Group’s ability to uphold the hotel’s standards.
IHG Hotels and Resorts has introduced the Low Carbon Pioneers programme, targeting hotels that operate without on-site fossil fuel combustion and are supported by renewable energy. This initiative, part of CEO Elie Maalouf’s broader sustainability efforts, includes hotels like Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport, Iberostar Waves Cristina, and Kimpton BEM Budapest. These hotels implement sustainable solutions such as high-efficiency heat pumps and fully electric kitchens. They will also use IHG’s Green Engage platform to track energy data. This programme aims to reduce carbon emissions and prepare hotels for future sustainability advancements, with Maalouf calling for industry and government support to foster wider adoption of carbon reduction practices.
Roadchef reported a return to profitability for the year ending 31 December 2023, with revenues rising 16.9% to £256m and a profit before tax of £13.4m, reversing a previous loss. The group’s EBITDA increased by 10.7% to £44.6m, supported by over 49 million visitors to its motorway service areas. Despite higher utility costs, Roadchef’s refurbishment of Costa Coffee and WH Smiths outlets, alongside the introduction of new McDonald’s drive-thru units and EV charging hubs, drove growth. Roadchef plans to expand its EV charging infrastructure, aiming for 300 chargers by 2026 and over 1,000 by 2030, aligning with the government’s net-zero goals.
