The first British Days Hotel-branded property has opened in Wakefield.

The property is the first franchise agreement between hotel operator, Kew Green Hotels (KGH) and Cendant Europe, which franchises the Days brand.

'The Days Hotel Wakefield sets the standard for the new Days Hotel brand,' says Roy Murray, managing director franchise services, Cendant Europe.

The Days Hotel Wakefield is the first of seven Days Hotel-branded properties that Cendant Europe is developing with Kew Green and other partners in the UK over the next few months. Other sites include Belfast, opening this month, and South Ruislip, opening in July. They will join the existing portfolio of 17 Days Inns.

While remaining a budget concept, Days Hotel differs from its sister chain, Days Inn, by offering additional amenities and services, such as a restaurant, bar and meeting rooms. Like Days Inn, the new brand has a choice of bedroom types - standard and work zone (business) rooms.

Standard and work zone bedrooms have direct-dial telephone and modem point, en-suite bathroom with power shower; satellite TV with movies; complimentary tea/coffee; choice of breakfast and complimentary newspaper.

In addition, work zone rooms have work stations with two telephone and modem points; mini-fridge; iron and ironing board; complimentary snack pack and express check-out.

Murray says to ensure its successful launch, it was essential to find the right development partner: 'The management team at Kew Green Hotels has a wealth of experience, in both operations and hotel development and they bring a new level of credibility and quality to the brand. We are confident that they will make a success of this and their other Days Hotels venture, which is due to open in Derby in June.'

The hotel division of Cendant is a franchisor with over 6,600 hotels, open on five continents.

Kew Green Hotels was founded in 2001 by Paul Johnson and Jeremy Richardson to develop a group of ten to 12 hotel properties in the budget sector, through franchise agreements. It plans to open hotels in Derby, Portsmouth, Gun Wharf Quays and Nottingham this year and a 250-bedroom hotel at Stansted Airport in 2004.

Paul Johnson, joint managing director of Kew Green Hotels, said the Days Hotel brand was a perfect choice for the development portfolio: 'It is positioned at the top end of the limited service hotel sector. We are pleased that the hotel will set the benchmark for Days Hotels in the UK and are confident that the hotel will be a valuable addition to our portfolio.' Details: www.daysinn.com /0800 0280400