TravelMole Interview: Rob Baldry, head of marketing, Corus
Mid-market group Corus Hotels is planning acquisitions in major UK cities, Europe and the US as it restructures its portfolio.
The company recently announced it was selling a third of its 75 hotels in the UK and is currently considering various offers for the properties.
Corus will raise up to £100 million from the disposals and then invest in up to 10 more properties as well as spending around £5 million of the cash on refurbishing existing hotels.
“We currently have around 50% leisure travellers and 50% business travellers, but we want to shift it to 40/60 in favour of the corporate market,” said Rob Baldry.
“The sale and acquisition policy will help us achieve that.
“We are selling some of the hotels because we have duplication in certain cities. For example we have two hotels in Exeter, so we are selling the Royal Clarence.
“But we are also adding to the portfolio and we want a hotel in Leeds, one in the centre of Manchester and we are also looking in the centre of London.
“Over the next four to five years, we plan to have a hotel in New York and in European cities.”
Currently, Corus has three hotels in Australia and two in Malaysia, which are part of Kuala Lumpur-based owner Malayan United Industries.
Mr Baldry said the current market was tough, but expected an increase in domestic leisure bookings this summer.
“We saw after September 11 a rise of about 10% in bookings and we’re hoping for a similar improvement this year.
“The corporate market is the most lucrative and that’s why we’re switching the focus, but the leisure market is still very important.”
Mr Baldry said competitive prices were crucial to encourage people to stay in the UK rather than buy cheap overseas packages and has launched “tour and
explore packages.”
“These are fully flexible and offer big savings on normal prices,” said Mr Baldry.
“For example, you could have a five-night two-centre deal for around £300.”
The packages are available through travel agents.
Corus has dropped the brand ‘Regal’ and will now trade solely as Corus Hotels. Mr Baldry said having two brands caused confusion in the market.
Read our previous interviews:
11-April-2003 TravelMole Interview: John Rowley, president, International Cruise and Excursions
31-March-2003 Interview: David Howell, chief financial officer, Lastminute.com
28-Mar-2003 Interview: Mark Jones, chief executive,
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025