BOURNEMOUTH'S biggest hotel group Blue Mermaid has just got bigger after acquiring the Tralee Hotel, quoted price £2 million.

Blue Mermaid's purchase of the Tralee means that it now owns five hotels - all in Bournemouth and all three-star - and employs more than 350 staff (420 in peak season).

The Tralee consolidates Blue Mermaid's foothold on the West Cliff where the group already also owns the Trouville.

On the East Overcliff Drive, Blue Mermaid owns the Cumberland and Cliffeside, plus the Queens Hotel in adjoining Meyrick Road.

Blue Mermaid - formerly Arthur Young Hotels - was offered the Tralee by Oram Hotels, which also owns Bournemouth's Hermitage Hotel.

Between them the five Blue Mermaid hotels now account for 430 bedspaces and 35 conference rooms in Bournemouth.

Blue Mermaid managing director David Young said: "We can integrate the hotels on the West Cliff in the same way that we have done on the East Cliff. Guests can share facilities.

"We still see the three-star market as being very strong but in the medium to long term we would certainly look at the possibility of upgrading one or two of the hotels to four stars."

Group operations director Derek Silk said the Tralee "adds two more conference and banqueting suites to already extensive entertainment facilities.

"Our ongoing plans for the continued improvement and expansion of our hotels in coming months will not only benefit ourselves but have strong and stimulating effect on the tourism and the economy of Bournemouth as a whole," he added.