This announcement follows the signing of an agreement between IHG and Trinity Hotels to develop the hotels, which IHG will manage under the Staybridge Suites brand on a 20-year management contract.

Staybridge Suites Aston will be located on Aston Park Way in the Aston Science Park, close to Birmingham city centre, and will offer 120 suites. Subject to planning approval, construction will start in autumn 2007.

The 120-suite Newcastle hotel will occupy a prime city centre site in Melbourne Street, ideally located for the city’s main business district. Construction of Staybridge Suites Newcastle will commence in July 2007.

Each Staybridge Suites hotel will contain spacious one bedroom and studio suites, with modern interior design to create a residential ‘home from home’ environment for extended stay business travellers – those who typically stay more than five nights. All suites will include a fully equipped kitchen, with public areas incorporating a Hub Kitchen and Living Room with open fire, the Pantry, a 24/7 mini convenience store and an outdoor terrace with barbecue.

IHG-commissioned research shows that business travellers on long-term assignments want to stay in something distinctly different from a regular hotel room and the brand has already proved highly successful in the US, with the recent opening of the100th Staybridge Suites.

The Staybridge Suites brand was launched in the UK in 2005 with the announcement to open a 124-suite hotel in Brentford and a 113-suite property on London’s South Bank. The Aston and Newcastle hotels will be the third and fourth Staybridge Suites hotels in the UK.