Public Servant Lifestyle

A new 5-star boutique-style hotel catering for the business community and the short break market is to be developed in Penarth by converting a private residence built in the 1920s.

Since Holm House on Marine Parade complements the aims and objectives of the Regional Tourism Strategy and matches the target markets of South East Wales, the Wales Tourist Board is allocating grant of £400,000 towards the costs of the £2.2m project.

The conversion scheme involves creating 13 luxurious bedrooms, comprising eight double en suite bedrooms; four loft suites - three of which command fantastic views of Steep Holm and Flat Holm - and two garden suites - one of which will be accessible by wheelchair.

Facilities

A private dining room for 36 covers that can also serve for meetings, a restaurant, bar and a leisure suite comprising a fitness room, two treatment rooms, a Jacuzzi and a plunge pool will be available for the exclusive use of residents. In addition, there will be toilet facilities and access to designated parking for the disabled as well as a general car park with 15 places. The hotel will also provide its guests with comprehensive IT facilities which should appeal to the business guests in particular as well as weighing in its favour with some leisure residents.

Susan Sessions, whose mother Margaret Hewlett is both an investor and a partner in the business, said: “We spotted a gap in the market for a luxury, design-led hotel for both business and leisure travelers and decided it was a business venture worth pursuing.

The WTB grant has helped ensure that our vision for contemporary and comfortable accommodation of an extremely high standard was achievable. We very much hope that the board’s confidence in the project will be justified by not only the creation of something unique and exciting for the area but also in its success.”

Boutique Hotels

Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Minister for Economic Development and Transport, said: “Boutique hotels are growing in popularity and establishing one in a prestigious and popular location such as Penarth is an excellent idea. I'm sure this venture will thrive and make a vital contribution to the local economy.”

WTB director of development, Lucy O’Donnell, said: “This is a top quality addition to the hotel stock in the Cardiff area that also has a strong selling point in its Penarth location which still affords ease of access to Cardiff Bay and the city centre. The owner-operators are experienced in the fields of tourism and the marketing of hotel and leisure products and between them bring considerable expertise in the key skills needed for success.”

The Wales Tourist Board is an Assembly Sponsored Public Body answerable to the Minister for Economic Development and Transport of the Welsh Assembly Government. The Board was set up under the Development of Tourism Act (1969). Its role is to support the tourism industry and to provide the appropriate strategic framework within which private enterprise can achieve sustainable growth and success, so improving the social and economic well-being of Wales.

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