STARWOOD CAPITAL GROUP, a US-based private equity firm, recently purchased10 Radisson Blu Edwardian properties in London, totaling 2,053 rooms, from Edwardian Hotels London, a U.K. hospitality group with Jasminder Singh as chairman. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, but a Bloomberg report estimated the transaction at around $1 billion (£800 million).
Edwardian Group will continue to manage the portfolio during a transitional period, the company said in a statement. Edwardian Hotels London will retain operational control and continue managing The Londoner Leicester Square, launched in September 2021, along with its two Radisson Collection hotels—The May Fair in Mayfair and The Edwardian Manchester in Manchester.
Jasminder Singh is chairman of Edwardian Group.
“Following the successful launch of The Londoner and a period of strong trading across the portfolio, this sale represents an opportunity to refocus the group and position it for its next chapter,” said Inderneel Singh, CEO of Edwardian Group and son of Jasminder Singh. “Our three landmark properties - The Londoner, The May Fair Hotel, and The Edwardian Manchester – are perfect showcases of our vision for the future, and we remain committed to investing in and delivering distinctive experiences for guests in high-end, purpose-built, city-centre hotels.”
The Edwardian-Starwood Capital deal, marked as the first major transaction of the New Year, includes 2,053 hotel rooms across 10 properties, the statement added. Preceding the sale announcement, Edwardian's U.K. portfolio comprised over 3,000 rooms.
For Starwood, the deal presents a unique opportunity to acquire a portfolio of West End hotels in London, with the potential for future rebranding or redevelopment.
“London is one of the world’s most sought-after hotel markets, and this portfolio enables us to gain exposure on a unique scale,” said Tim Abram, managing director of Starwood Capital. “We plan to invest significant [capital expenditure] during our ownership into further enhancing the hotels.”
Founded by hotelier Singh in the mid-1970s, Edwardian Hotels, part of the Edwardian Group, is among the U.K.’s privately owned hotel groups. Singh and family secured the 10th position in the Asian Rich List 2024, published by Asian Media Group, the publisher of Asian Hospitality, with an estimated wealth of $1.7 billion (£1.6 billion).
In November, two U.S.-based Asian American hoteliers, Bhupender 'Bruce' Patel and Anwar Ali Aman, unveiled plans to build a $1.3 billion luxury J.W. Marriott International resort in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
