Conference group Principal Hayley to open first European site in Paris

The hotel and conference group Principal Hayley will open its first site in Europe later this year.

The company plans to open a Hayley hotel and conference venue in Paris this autumn and one in Barcelona, which will open for business in September.

Chateau St Just, situated to the north of Paris, will be the company's 20th property and will comprise 150 bedrooms and 30 meeting rooms.

Principal Hayley has appointed Jean Jacques Devert, who worked as general manager of the Chateau Hotel Mont Royal in Chantilly, to head up St Just.

Its Barcelona project La Mola hotel is situated on the edge of the St Llorenc de Munt national park. It will comprise 26 meeting rooms and 186 four-star bedrooms as well as a spa.

Tony Troy, chief executive of the Principal Hayley Group, said it was "delighted" to be making its first steps into Europe.

Principal Hayley Hotels recently bought the St David's Hotel and Spa in Cardiff as well as a further eight conference centres.

It currently operates 19 properties in the UK, including Kenwood Hall in Sheffield, St Johns in Solihull and The Derbyshire Hotel in Derby.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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