Find a Forte Hotel in London
The Forte Hotel group sold all the brands under its ownership by the end of
2001. These included
Pothouse Hotels,
Le
Meridien,
Travelodge, Heritage
Hotels and London Signature Hotels.
The Forte Hotel group itself was part of Granada Compass PLC. It grew to be the largest hotel operator in the UK and the third largest in Europe. Its portfolio included over 440 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide
of which 140 were in the UK and Ireland. They employed over 47,000 people worldwide.
Originally called Trust House LTD when founded in 1968 and became Forte PLC in
1996.
The groups founder was Lord Charles Forte and he handed full control of the
group to his son Sir Rocco Forte in 1993. Roccoe Forte since selling the company has
gone on to establish a totally separate brand,
Rocco Forte Hotels, which
specialises in
luxury hotels. Roccoe
Forte still has control of the Forte trademark. Granda Compass de-merged in 2003
and handed control of the trademark back to Rocco.
Charles Forte died on February 28th 2007 at the age of 98. An Italian, born in
the village of Monforte Casalaticco in 1908 and who emigrated to Scotland where
he worked and learned his trade in the his families restaurant. When he was 26
he opened London's first Milk Bar for kids below the age of being allowed into a
traditional pub/bar. Made a Knight by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970 and a Lord in
1982.
PAST HOTELS:
FORTE CREST GATWICK NOW>>>
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HEATHROW
FORTE CREST ST JAMES (55 JERMYN STREET SW1) NOW>>> SHUT
FORTE CREST BLOOMSBURY NOW>>>
HOLIDAY INN BLOOMSBURY