Kaya Tourism Group Acquires Historic Great Northern Hotel in London

Kaya Tourism Group Acquires Historic Great Northern Hotel in London

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on July 4, 2024

Turkish hotel group Kaya Tourism Group has acquired the historic Great Northern Hotel in King’s Cross, marking its first property in London and signaling the start of its expansion into the UK and Europe.

The Great Northern Hotel, an 88-room property, is a Grade II-listed building with a rich history dating back to 1854. Designed by architect Lewis Cubitt, who also designed King’s Cross and London Bridge stations, the hotel underwent a £40 million renovation in 2013. Known for its prime location next to St. Pancras station, the only railway link from the UK to Europe, the hotel is strategically positioned in one of London’s most successful regeneration areas.

Kaya Tourism Group, part of Kaya Holding, operates 13 hotels in Turkey and Cyprus under the Kaya Palazzo Hotels & Resorts and Kaya Hotels & Resorts brands. The group plans to enhance the Great Northern Hotel’s food and beverage offerings, which currently include the Rails restaurant and Little Bar, to better serve the needs of King’s Cross and St. Pancras passengers as well as local residents.

Burak Kaya, Chairman of the Board at Kaya Holding, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition. "We are delighted to have made our first international hotel investment in London. Great Northern Hotel is located in one of the capital’s most successful regeneration developments and is right next to St. Pancras station, the only railway connection from the UK to Europe. We are proud to be the first Turkish tourism company to make such a significant hotel investment in the UK and believe this investment will strengthen mutual tourism relations between Turkey and the UK. We are actively considering next options for further expansion into Europe." he said.

Kaya also highlighted the group’s broader expansion plans, stating that they are actively considering additional opportunities for growth across Europe. This acquisition represents a significant milestone for Kaya Holding, as it becomes the first Turkish tourism company to make such a substantial investment in the UK hospitality sector.

The Great Northern Hotel has a storied past and architectural beauty that complements Kaya’s vision of high-quality hospitality. Previously managed by Kew Green and most recently by Marugal Distinctive Hotel Management, the hotel has maintained its reputation as a top destination for both business and leisure travelers.

Kaya Tourism Group’s acquisition of the Great Northern Hotel is a strategic move that underscores its commitment to expanding its footprint in the global hospitality market. By integrating Turkish hospitality with the historic charm of the Great Northern Hotel, Kaya aims to attract a diverse range of travelers and strengthen tourism ties between Turkey and the UK.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

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