Gorgeous Smiling Hotels buys back all shares from Auctus Capital

Hotel group Gorgeous Smiling Hotels (GSH) has bought back all shares held by the financial investor Auctus Capital, ending the investor's stake after eight years. Auctus Capital Partners, a partner-led private equity firm based in Munich, entered the group in 2018 with a buy-and-build strategy. The company says it is now independent.

GSH says the buyback and debt repayment were funded by portfolio transactions completed in 2025. These included the sale of eight hotels with 1,538 rooms to Premier Inn and a franchise agreement covering 25 properties with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The group also reports that all bank loans have been fully repaid.

Heiko Grote and Andreas Erben now lead the company. Grote oversees operations and hotel development, while Erben covers finance, development and strategic expansion. GSH says it is focusing on digital tools, including an AI-based phone assistant in 13 languages, and reports occupancy up 10% year on year and revenue per available room up 4.5%. The portfolio includes six projects in the pipeline.