New investment company snaps up Hampton by Hilton Waterloo and Doubletree by Hilton York

Hotel management company Michels & Taylor (M&T) has taken over the operation of two Hilton-branded properties following their sale by Shiva Hotels.

The 297-bedroom Hampton by Hilton Waterloo and 143-bedroom Doubletree by Hilton York have been acquired by Conker Dawn, a new hotel investment vehicle led by Blackbear Capital's founder and managing partner Heath Forusz, supported by John Nacos and Michael Stanton.

A third hotel is expected to be acquired by Conker Dawn in the coming weeks as the company sets about building up a portfolio of hotels across the UK and Europe, with M&T as the operating partner.

The two hotels take the number of properties managed by M&T up to 25, comprising more than 3,500 bedrooms.

M&T has long been known for its hotel advisory and asset management businesses, while it has set up its managed division more recently.

Forusz said: "We are very excited to have secured our first major deal in the UK for our new vehicle. These two assets set the standard for our future acquisition strategy – first-class hotels in great locations with real potential for growth."

Shiva Hotels, which was founded by former Lehman Brothers derivatives trader Rishi Sachdev in 2001, now numbers four hotels: Lincoln Plaza London, operated under Hilton's Curio Collection; Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5; the Guardsman at Buckingham Gate; and Middle Eight in Covent Garden.

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