Hospitality management firm Focus Hotels Management has acquired the freehold of the Mercure Hatfield Oak Hotel in Hatfield, Hertfordshire from Aviva Investors. Focus has for the last seven years operated the hotel under a lease.

The company has commenced a major programme of refurbishment at this modern three-star hotel covering all guest areas, creating additional capacity and upgrading its rating to four star.

Peter Cashman, chief executive for Focus Hotels Management, said: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of the Mercure Hatfield Oak Hotel, which complements our existing UK portfolio.

“The Mercure Hatfield Oak is already a well-regarded establishment with high occupancy rates, and our refurbishment programme will build on this existing success to enhance the business the hotel delivers.”

Located in Roehyde Way, the Mercure Hatfield Oak Hotel is popular with business and leisure travellers, thanks to its close proximity to three motorways – the A1(M), M1 and M25 – and easy access to central London, which is just 25 minutes away by train. Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are also all within easy reach.

The hotel currently offers 76 fully-equipped en-suite bedrooms, with family and accessible rooms available, complimentary wi-fi and free parking.

The £1.5 million refurbishment programme, which commenced in early January and will complete its first phase by mid-March, will see the conversion of several offices, unutilised back-of-house areas and a number of small meeting rooms into nine new executive bedrooms, taking the hotel’s total capacity to 85 rooms.