Village Hotels plans to more than double its portfolio to 50 sites within the next five years.

The company, which is part of De Vere Group, plans to develop new-build hotels in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Rochdale and Portsmouth for 2010 with more in the pipeline.

Village, which currently has 18 properties, is currently working on hotels in Ashton Moss, Lancashire; south Leeds; and Elstree, Hertfordshire all of which are due to open this year.

Its Solihull, Bristol, Farnborough developments are due to open in 2009, at a cost of £25m per property.

The chain, which has recently undergone a £60m redesign and refurbishment of existing sites, will reopen its first refurbished property in Ashton Moss in a week’s time.

Gary Davis, chief executive of Village Hotels, said he was confident of the brand’s positioning in the market and ability to withstand any slowdown caused by the credit crunch.

He said: “We are a value-based brand. Our customers want value for money, so we’re not going to charge £6 for a coffee.”

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By Gemma Sharkey

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