A MERGER has been announced between two of the region's top hotel groups.

Warrington-based De Vere Group are now in partnership with St David's Hotels of Chester and North Wales. The agreement was signed by Greenall's Hotel and Leisure's marketing and sales director Bill Gosling and St David's managing director Peter Lavin - and both men agree that the merger will be beneficial to both companies.

Peter said: "While maintaining our independence and private ownership, we will enjoy the benefits of belonging to a much larger group.

"There is a natural synergy between our four-star hotels and properties in the De Vere Group. Our inclusion will provide us with a centralised UK-wide sales and reservation network and we will feature in all of De Vere's national and international marketing literature."

Bill added: "St David's Hotels offer the same ambience, service standards and quality of our own De Vere hotels brand.

"As a consequence, St David's fits our brand positioning of 'hotels of character run with pride' and I am pleased to welcome them to the group."

But he refused to speculate about future plans.

"We are open to opportunities from other smaller hotel groups seeking the advantages of consolidation with De Vere."

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