About

Our History

PPHE Hotel Group is one of the largest owner/operators of hotels in central London and its property portfolio comprises of  51 properties in operation and development, offering a total of approximately 9,600 rooms and 8 campsites, offering approximately 6,000 units.

Founder and Visionary

Founder and Visionary


Founder Image

Eli Papouchado (‘Papo’) was already an established real estate developer when he started what is known as PPHE Hotel Group today in 1989, with his first acquisition of the Mandarin Hotel in Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

In the decades that followed, Papo pioneered growth of the Group through acquisitions, ground-up developments, and conversions across key capital cities – most notably in London and Amsterdam – and select resort destinations. As a result of his visionary leadership, passion for hospitality, and entrepreneurial mindset, he developed the Group into an award-winning, multi-billion-pound portfolio of 51 hospitality properties in operation with an attractive development pipeline.

For his contribution to international business cooperation and British prosperity, Papo was recognised with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2014.

Papo served as the Group’s Non-Executive Chairman from 2007, before stepping aside in January 2025.

  • 2025 is proving to be another exciting year for PPHE Hotel Group:

    • Our first venture into the Italian market, art'otel Rome Piazza Sallustio opened its doors in Spring 25, gaining five-star status.

    • YEZI, our pan-asian restaurant and teahouse opened it's second site in April 25 in Rome.

    • On the 24th floor of art'otel London Hoxton, our meeting and events space, Panorama London opened it's doors, with 360 degree views of London and 12 event spaces for up to 350 guests.

  • 2024 was an exciting year with several new openings and development progress:

    • In February, we opened the 88 bedroom Radisson RED Belgrade, our first Radisson RED branded property. This was followed by an April soft opening of our flagship 357-room art’otel London Hoxton, generating excellent guest reviews.
    • Ahead of summer we launched the rooftop bar at the recently opened art’otel Zagreb in Croatia’s capital and the Radisson RED Berlin Kudamm officially opened in September 2024.
    • Bolstering our longer term pipeline, we secured planning permission for a new 186-room hotel near Waterloo Station in London.
    • And just before the year ended we joined the FTSE EPRA Nareit Global Real Estate Index Series, expected to further raise our profile and improve liquidity

  • art'otel London Battersea Power Station, the first art'otel in the United Kingdom, opens to the public in spectacular style.

    PPHE Hotel Group confirms Clal Insurance as cornerstone investor for its European Hospitality Real Estate Fund of up to €250m equity.

    Transformational repositioning of art'otel Berlin Mitte.

    Marking the Group’s debut in the Croatian capital, , art’otel Zagreb had it’s soft opening in October 2023. The former office building converted into a 110-room premium lifestyle art’otel.

  • Following two years of extensive redevelopment, Grand Hotel Brioni Pula, was launched in May 2022 as a Radisson Collection Hotel.

    Extending our longstanding strategic partnership with Radisson Hotel Group. Jointly developing a global portfolio of premium lifestyle art’otels in key gateway cities and capitalising on growth opportunities presented by PPHE’s current and future property portfolio.

  • Acquisition of the 4-star Londra & Cargill Hotel in a prime central location in the city of Rome. Marking the Group’s entry into the Italian market. 

    Named best Employer of the Year at the Cateys. Presented by industry peers, the highly coveted accolade recognises the Group’s commitment to supporting colleagues, guests, and the communities in which it operates

    Acquisition of the FRANZ Ferdinand Mountain Resort Nassfeld, a 4-star hotel in Nassfeld, Austria

  • Launch of Reassuring Moments and Digital Services including online check in and digital key

    Securing 180 million (GBP) for the building of art’otel london hoxton, expected to open in 2024

    The successful repositioning of Arena Grand Kažela Medulin adding 45 new premium mobile homes and upgrading several bar and leisure areas

    Purchasing the Guest House Hotel Riviera in Pula

    Acquiring the 88 Rooms Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia

    Securing permission to convert the leased hotel in Zagreb

    Planning permission given to develop a mixed-used scheme near Park Plaza London Park Royal

  • Completion of a multiyear extensive £100m+ hotel investment programme aimed at repositioning and further upgrading property portfolio in the UK and Netherlands

    Successful re-opening of Holmes Hotel London, which received a £9.0 million investment to reposition the property

    Entry into the United States for our wholly-owned art’otel brand with a joint venture agreement to develop a prime site located in Manhattan, New York

    Second major repositioning project for 2019 unveiled as Arena completed a multi-million-pound repositioning of the Arena Kažela Campsite including brand-new luxury camping homes

    Inclusion in the FTSE 250 and FTSE All Share indices

    Awarded highly coveted AA Large Hotel Group of the Year accolade

  • PPHE Hotel Group transfers to a Premium Listing.

    Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam renovation completed.

    PPHE Hotel Group becomes a member of European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA).

  • Full opening of Park Plaza London Waterloo and Park Plaza London Park Royal.

    Start of extensive renovations of Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam, Park Plaza Vondepark Amsterdam, Park Plaza Utrecht and Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes.

    Completed the Sale and Leaseback of Park Plaza London Waterloo.

    Acquired the freeholds for art'otel berlin kudamm and art'otel cologne.

    10 year anniversary of being listed on the London Stock Exchange (July 2017).

  • Took controlling interest in Arenaturist in Croatia.

    Contributed our German and Hungarian operations to Arenaturist.

    Successfully completed debt restructuring programme.

    Opened Park Plaza Nuremberg and BA Beef Club restaurant.

    Completed major extension at Park Plaza London Riverbank.

    Soft opening of Park Plaza London Waterloo.

    Realising shareholder value via Special Dividend of £1.00 per ordinary share announced.

  • Record revenue and operating profit.

    Opening of Park Plaza Arena Pula.

    Signed hotel management agreement for art’otel london battersea power station.

    Significant progress made with four construction projects and on target to open nearly 1,100 rooms during 2016.

  • Record revenue, increased operating profit and improved earnings per share. 

  • Excellent progress made with revenue growth, significant refinancing, acquisitions, openings and refurbishments

    Completed €350.0 million refinancing of key hotels

    Opening flagship, 5-star, art'otel amsterdam

  • Company name changed to PPHE Hotel Group, reflecting its multi-brand approach for operating hotels

    Strong financial results with record revenue and EBITDA

    Opening of three Park Plaza Resorts in Croatia

  • Migrates from AIM to the LSE’s Main Market

    Achieves a record performance with total revenue of €202.4m and EBITDA of €65.0m

  • Opening of the company’s largest hotel, the 1,019-room Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

    Acquires and rebrands Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport, the company’s first airport hotel in ownership

  • Enters the resort segment with an ownership stake in, and management of, the Arenaturist group in Croatia

  • Establishes Park Plaza Hotels Limited and successfully floats on AIM, raising £85 million

    Acquires the worldwide art’otel® brand rights

  • Adds a total of 11 new hotels to the portfolio, including the prestigious Park Plaza London Riverbank and Plaza on the River® – Club and Residence

  • Forms a strategic alliance with Carlson, the owner of the Park Plaza® brand since 2000

  • Extends the territorial licence agreement to cover a further 52 countries

    Enters an agreement to operate art’otels and Park Plaza® hotels in Germany and Hungary

  • Opens the first Park Plaza® hotel in central London

  • Opens Park Plaza Utrecht

  • Acquires the Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts territorial licence for four countries

  • Acquires and rebrands the iconic Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam

  • Park Plaza Hotels Europe is established and opens its first hotel – Park Plaza Eindhoven

  • Park Plaza International is founded by an US entrepreneur

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