A DECISION to rename a Flintshire hotel has been slammed by Welsh politicians.
The recent renaming of the Gateway to Wales as Days Hotel – Chester North has angered politicians who say the change is a slap in the face for Flintshire and Wales.
Janet Ryder, AM for North Wales, said the county’s efforts at economic regeneration was being undermined by the rebranding.
She said: “We’ve heard about Liverpool MPs calling for a Mersey mayor that includes Flintshire and Wrexham.
"Now we see businesses rebranding themselves as Chester-based when they're in Flintshire. Where does it all end?”
The West Cheshire/North East Wales strategy is aimed at increasing ties between Cheshire and north-east Wales.
A 15,000-strong petition opposing the strategy was sent to the Welsh Assembly Government, the largest ever presented to the petitions committee. It is to be debated in the Assembly next month.
Matt Knight, general manager at the hotel, told the Leader: “Part of our requirement (in the rebranding) was that we kept our link with the hotel's name and were able to keep the Gateway to Wales as the name for the hotel’s thriving leisure club.
“We are a big part of the local community and fully understand people’s links with the hotel.
"However to compete in the national and international markets people feel more comfortable booking their stay with a branded property and this has been evident in the short time we have been Days Hotel.
“We have seen a large increase in business travellers from Japan, USA and Europe since the rebrand.”
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