Dorchester moves into management

Luxury hotel group the Dorchester Collection is to move into third-party management, Caterer has learnt.

The group, which was rebranded from the Dorchester Group in November 2006, is looking for joint ventures with "owners who share the same values", according to Ricci Obertelli, the collection's global development director.

He said the group, which currently has five properties in its portfolio - in London, Milan, Beverly Hills and two in Paris - would look to expand in North America, European cities such as Madrid, as well as resorts and less-developed Middle Eastern destinations such as Qatar.

The growth will be gradual, said Obertelli, with only one new acquisition or contract expected per year. "We will only take projects on if they are the right product and keep to the values of our chain," he said.

• In other hotel news, Caterer understands that new plans for the Ibis hotel in London's Trocadero Centre will be resubmitted this week, following controversy over the size of the proposed hotel.

The original plans for a 600-bedroom hotel have been downgraded to 500 bedrooms, after concerns were raised by Westminster Council over the size of the property.

The initial application was withdrawn voluntarily late last year and discussions are believed to have been ongoing between the Accor Hotels group, Westminster Council and Trocadero's owner, Golfrate, since then. A council spokesman said: "We are not, in principle, opposed to a hotel on the site."

By Emily Manson

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