De Vere targets Germany

De Vere, the former Greenalls leisure group, is planning to launch its Village hotel-cum-fitness clubs in Germany.

De Vere, the former Greenalls leisure group, is planning to launch its Village hotel-cum-fitness clubs in Germany.

Paul Dermody, De Vere's chief executive, said: "We are considering Germany for Village and are in discussions with a local operator." He said the talks could ultimately lead to the Village chain being rolled out across Germany and to other countries, such as Holland and Scandinavia. De Vere, which sold its pubs and restaurants division to Scottish & Newcastle last year, has 10 mid-market Village hotels in the UK.

Mr Dermody is also discussing "a number of other joint ventures" and is looking to make a number of bolt-on acquisitions in the hotels sector. As well as the Village properties, De Vere owns 17 four and five star hotels, including the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, which is hosting the Ryder Cup in 2001. The group also runs three stand-alone fitness clubs, branded as Greens, which it hopes to roll out to 17 by 2002.