Ownership change at Grand Metropolitan Hotels Group

Ownership change at Grand Metropolitan Hotels

Martin R. Smura

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Worldwide: Gravity Capital Hong Kong has become the new shareholder of Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding B.V., marking the conclusion of the former joint venture structure with VZB. 

Through the acquisition of Kingstone Capital UAE, Gravity Capital has indirectly acquired 70.3 per cent shareholding in Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding B.V.

Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding B.V. is a Dutch company previously operated as a joint venture between Kingstone Capital AG Switzerland and Versorgungswerk der Zahnärzte Berlin (VZB)

As a result, Kingstone Capital AG Switzerland has fully exited the former joint venture structure with Versorgungswerk der Zahnärzte Berlin (VZB).

The joint venture had been in a “prolonged state of deadlock” after several proposals, including the reciprocal acquisition of each party’s shareholding as well as a potential capital increase, failed to gain mutual support. 

Kingstone Capital Holding AG Switzerland remains a strategic investor in the Grand Metropolitan Hotels Group and will continue to support the group’s international expansion.

The directors of Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding B.V. and the members of its supervisory board have resigned from their respective positions. The company lost the right to use the Grand Metropolitan name, so it will now operate as Gravity Capital Hospitality.

“When we established the joint venture, we were convinced that we had found a reliable and long-term partner in VZB,” said Martin R. Smura, founder of the Grand Metropolitan Hotels Group. “However, the developments of recent months have demonstrated that continuing the partnership was no longer feasible.

“We sincerely regret this development,” he added. “Our common objective was to build and develop this investment over the long term. However, once it became clear that there was no longer a viable basis for cooperation, separation became the only logical course of action.”

Also part of the transaction, Gravity Capital acquired the majority interests in the hospitality technology companies Genesis AI, Room Hub and Xenios. 

Grand Metropolitan Hotels is an international hotel management and brand group. Its portfolio includes TOP INTERNATIONAL Hotels, Voile d’Or Hotels & Resorts, Signature Hotels, Park Avenue Hotels, Grand Metropolitan Hotels, Private Selection Hotels.

The group is currently in exclusive negotiations to acquire another business in the hotel affiliation sector. An announcement is expected in September 2026.

Highlights:
  • Gravity Capital Hong Kong has indirectly acquired a 70.3 per cent stake in Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding through Kingstone Capital UAE.
  • The transaction ends the joint venture between Kingstone Capital AG Switzerland and Versorgungswerk der Zahnärzte Berlin after a prolonged ownership deadlock.
  • Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding will operate as Gravity Capital Hospitality after its directors and supervisory board members resigned.
  • Gravity Capital has also acquired majority interests in hospitality technology companies Genesis AI, Room Hub and Xenios through the transaction.
  • Grand Metropolitan Hotels is negotiating another hotel affiliation acquisition, with an announcement expected in September 2026.

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