Ricoh Arena set for a Hampton by Hilton

A new £15m Hampton by Hilton hotel could open at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena next year, subject to planning permission.

If the planning application is successful, work on the 150-bedroom hotel could start this summer. Completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of next year. This will be in time for Coventry City of Culture and ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Wasps Group’s Ricoh Arena complex already boasts a 32,600-capacity stadium alongside 20,000 square metres of event space. The proposed hotel is hoped to attract more conferences, exhibitions and other multi-day events.

The Ricoh Arena already stages more than 1,300 events a year and has a 121-room DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.

Stuart Cain, chief executive (venue) at Wasps Group, said:

“This is an exciting project which will greatly benefit not only Wasps Group but the city as a whole. The new hotel has the potential to create more than 30 new jobs in the hospitality sector. It will bring in around £3.5m per year to the local economy.

“It will also support Wasps Group’s ambitious commercial plans. We have some of the finest conference facilities in the Midlands. Unfortunately, a shortage of bedroom stock at Ricoh Arena means that we are not always able to reach our full potential by accommodating people on site.

“The new hotel will make us an even more attractive venue for organisers that are looking to stage large events over more than one day, and we estimate that it will boost revenue by as much as £1m per year.”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, added:

“This is great news. A hotel has always been part of the wider plan for the whole development, so I’m glad to see this progress. I’m sure it will enable the team to secure even more brilliant events at the Ricoh and of course it will create new jobs for local people.”