Gencom Acquires Rosewood London With £225M HSBC, Santander Senior Debt Financing

MIAMI — Gencom, a U.S.-based investment firm, announced Nov. 3 that it has acquired Rosewood London, the 308-key luxury hotel at 252 High Holborn in Central London. The transaction was financed by HSBC and Santander, which provided a £225 million senior debt financing package to support the acquisition and the development of the property.

The firm said the purchase is its first luxury hotel acquisition in Europe and marks its entry into the European market through a London asset.

Rosewood London Acquisition Details

Rosewood London is a Grade II-listed building dating to 1912, located near Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House, the British Museum and Somerset House. The hotel holds a freehold position in Central London. It comprises 308 keys, made up of 264 rooms and 44 suites.

The building was converted into a hotel and opened in 2000. It underwent a comprehensive renovation between 2011 and 2014, led by design firm Tony Chi Studios, which addressed guest rooms, public areas, culinary offerings and meetings and events spaces.

The hotel includes Holborn Dining Room, Scarfes Bar, the Gin Bar and Mirror Room, along with a spa and meeting and event facilities. Its seven Houses span up to 185 square meters, and the Manor House Suite has its own independent street entrance. Rosewood London was ranked No. 56 among the world's best hotels for 2026 by The 50, according to Gencom's announcement. HVS Hodges Ward Elliott represented the seller.

HSBC and Santander Financing

HSBC and Santander provided the £225 million senior debt package. In a joint statement, Chris Liddiard, Senior Director, Real Estate Finance – Hotels at HSBC UK, and Jose Minguela, Senior Director, Hotels Financing at Santander, said the lenders were "delighted to have worked with Gencom, to provide a £225m senior debt financing package to support with the acquisition and development of Rosewood London."

They said Gencom is an existing long-term client of Santander and that the acquisition "further strengthens their portfolio and reflects their strategy of investing in landmark properties in a key global gateway." They described the hotel as a long-term HSBC client and said the financing "will support a focused capex plan to further enhance the asset."

Gencom's Strategy and Rosewood Relationship

Rosewood London is Gencom's second owned Rosewood asset; the firm previously acquired Rosewood Bermuda in 2017.

"Rosewood London has earned its place among the world's premier luxury hotels," said Karim Alibhai, Founder and Principal of Gencom. "This acquisition reflects our strong conviction in the long-term strength, resilience and global appeal of the London hospitality market."

Alessandro Colantonio, Gencom's Chief Investment Officer, said the hotel "exemplifies the type of investment opportunity we seek: an iconic, irreplaceable asset in a premier global hospitality market with strong long-term fundamentals and significant value-creation potential." He added that Gencom is focused on acquiring hotels in gateway destinations and partnering with brands and operators to "unlock their full potential."

Radha Arora, President of Rosewood Hotel Group, said the company is "delighted to build on our relationship with Gencom" and looks forward to supporting the hotel team going forward.

About Gencom's Portfolio

Gencom said its portfolio comprises $7 billion in assets under management and under development, including 17 owned assets in operation or under development with more than 5,000 hotel rooms. Through its third-party management affiliate, Pyramid Global Hospitality, it oversees 185 managed properties totaling 50,000 keys across the U.S. and Europe. Its affiliate Convene manages more than 2 million square feet of meeting, event and flexible office space.

The firm's hospitality portfolio includes and has included properties operated under brands such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Thompson Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, Andaz, Fairmont and Auberge Resorts.

Market Context

Gencom described London as one of the world's most supply-constrained hospitality markets, supported by year-round demand from leisure and business travelers, and characterized the acquisition as a strategic entry point into Europe. The hotel's Holborn location places it near cultural and corporate demand drivers in Central London.

The financing combines acquisition funding with capital for a planned capex program at the property.

Sources

• Gencom: Gencom Acquires Rosewood London, Expanding Its Footprint With Its First Luxury Hotel Acquisition in Europe