Stakis Hotels has launched its ''Assured Meetings'' brand across 45 of its 52 UK hotels, to offer a guaranteed standard of facility for small meetings.

The group has invested #1.6m to develop the brand as a leader in the #2000m small meetings market.

It is providing 250 rooms and over 10,000 square metres of space under the brand, has trained more than 600 staff, and has developed five menus with 65 new dishes.

Anthony Harris, managing director of Stakis Hotels, said; ''Next year over 500,000 people will attend small meetings and conferences within Stakis hotels.

''We guarantee that no matter in which hotel they hold their meeting they will receive the same high standard of technical back-up.

''At the moment no other UK hotel operator can make this promise.''