Four-star hotel for £100m Quarter ‘gateway’ project

Feb 20 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

INTERNATIONALLY renowned hotel chain Ramada Plaza is to open a four-star outlet on the edge of Liverpool city centre.

Malta-based hotel operator Corinthia Hotels International (CHI) has signed an agreement with Merseyside developer Vermont to bring a Ramada to its Quarter scheme near Liverpool’s waterfront.

The 173-room Ramada Plaza Liverpool will form the centre-piece of Vermont’s £100m scheme , within half a mile of the city’s new Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre.

The hotel will be aimed at corporate and high end leisure customers and will feature a fine dining restaurant, spa and business centre with conference facilities.

More than 150 full-time jobs will be created by the scheduled opening in June, 2010.

Mark Connor, chief executive of Vermont Developments, said: “The successful conclusion of these negotiations is a major milestone for our development at The Quarter.

“Ramada Plaza is one of the world’s foremost hotel brands and to secure such a prestigious hotel operator as CHI is a testament to the quality of the scheme and Liverpool’s growing international reputation.

“We are looking forward to seeing the Ramada Plaza hotel at The Quarter providing a welcome addition to the emerging hotel strip along Liverpool’s waterfront.”

The mixed-use Quarter scheme in Toxteth will form a “dramatic” gateway into Liverpool city centre, featuring a graceful 22-storey residential tower, office accommodation, retail and leisure space and a new public square.

CHI chief executive Tony Potter said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the up-scale Ramada Plaza brand to Liverpool for the first time in collaboration with Vermont, adding to our ever growing International presence.”

Vermont Developments was formed in 2004 by property entrepreneurs Paul Bolton and Mark Connor. They previously built-up Charlton Homes and its city centre development arm, Space, before selling it to Irish house builder McInerney Homes.

Earlier this month, the company revealed it had sold 83% of the 187 apartments in the first phase of the residential element of The Quarter.

The properties, at the junction of Sefton Street and Parliament Street, have all been sold off plan.

tonymcdonough