The BDL group of hotels was formed in 1997 to develop and operate new build internationally branded hotels. It is now one of the UK’s largest multi-brand franchise hotel developers, with long and established working relationships across both the Wyndham and Intercontinental (IHG) Hotel Groups

Partnering IHG, BDL has developed hotels across all tiers of service level. These include the limited service Holiday Inn Express, the mid market Holiday Inn, the extended stay Staybridge and the four star deluxe Crowne Plaza brand.

BDL also has planning for the management and operation of a new five star Intercontinental Hotel in Edinburgh and is exploring the development of the newly launched Indigo brand.

With Wyndham Hotels Group, BDL signed a master franchisee contract in 2007 to exclusively develop the new and exciting lifestyle brand - Ramada Encore in the UK. An aggressive roll out plan is in place.

Formed with the support from a venture capital company, BDL opened its first hotel in 2000, the Holiday Inn London - Heathrow. BDL has gone on to develop further landmark hotels such as Crowne Plaza Marlow and Crowne Plaza London-Docklands which was a result of a joint venture with Marcole Group of London.

2003 was a pivotal year in the expansion of BDL, with the acquisition of a portfolio of Holiday Inn Express hotels and a further development of three wholly owned hotels.

By 2005, BDL expanded its portfolio to 18, but in the same year, thirteen Holiday Inn Express hotels were sold in a trade sale to another operator.

Making its first move into Europe in 2007, BDL agreed a deal with the Dutch Railway Company, NS Vastgoed. This involved developing Holiday Inn Express hotels in Rotterdam and The Hague.

In 2008 BDL identified opportunities in the unbranded mid market hotel sector with locations in strong demand markets. This lead to the creation of BDL Select, the groups first move into the independent hotel market through the acquisition of the four hotels of the Paten Hotels Group as well as the Swallow Dundee. Further acquisitions are in the pipeline.

In this same year, working with IHG, BDL re-branded the Holiday Inn Heathrow - the first Holiday Inn hotel in EMEA to be given the new Holiday Inn branding. 2008 also saw the opening of the Holiday Inn Express at Epsom Racecourse, a joint venture with The Jockey Club as well as building of several Ramada Encores.

Opening its doors in 2008, BDL launched the Staybridge Liverpool - the first Staybridge hotel in EMEA.

In 2009, BDL took over the manegement of the luxurious Princes Street Suites in Edinburgh.

Continuing this close relationship with both, IHG and Wyndham as well as exploring the unbranded hospitality sector, BDL now has over 1,500 guestrooms in construction or in planning.