De Vere Group and KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL), announced that an affiliate of KSL has acquired Village Urban Resorts (Village) from De Vere Group. KSL, headquartered in Denver, Colorado with an office in London, is a U.S. private equity firm dedicated to investing in travel and leisure businesses.
With 25 existing properties and three new properties under development, the transaction will further Village’s position as a leading hotel and lifestyle company within the UK. KSL is committed to growing the business by both reinvigorating the existing portfolio and expanding into new markets. Three new Village locations are scheduled to open shortly in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Village is known for providing an array of amenities for business and leisure travelers, its members and the community, from hotel accommodations and health and fitness centers to business services, dining options and meeting and event space.
“Village occupies a unique position in the UK market because of all it has to offer consumers,” said Coley Brenan, a principal at KSL. “With a very strong following and thousands of loyal members, we believe Village has tremendous potential for future growth. We are very pleased to add Village to KSL’s portfolio of investments in the UK.”
Gary Davis, who previously served as CEO of Malmaison and Hotel du Vin, will serve as CEO of Village. Davis previously oversaw the expansion of Village from 2007 to 2011 and the global expansion programs at Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood.
Founded in 1995, Village Urban Resorts has 25 locations throughout the UK, with an additional three properties scheduled to open shortly. The company caters to both locals and travelers alike through its extensive food and beverage offerings and health and fitness club amenities. Each of the company’s properties was designed to serve multiple customers across multiple day parts with (i) a modern hotel; (ii) food and beverage outlets that consist of one or more pub-style restaurants and a Starbucks; (iii) extensive meeting and events space, including a banqueting room for up to 200 people; and (iv) large, comprehensive health and fitness facilities.