ONE of the fastest-growing and most stylish hotel groups in Europe – Leonardo Hotels – is establishing its presence in Edinburgh after investing more than €7 million (£6.1m) refurbishing a former Premier Inn site in the capital.
The Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh, which boasts 282 rooms and is located close to Haymarket railway station in the city centre, will offer four-star superior accommodation – as well as the firm’s trademark design concept.
This development takes the company’s portfolio to more than 80 hotels in over 40 destinations, and follows the group’s focus on the creation of non-standardised establishments which the company says “are defined by their own regional character, local flair and bespoke style identity”.
The decision to create the hotel under the premium Leonardo Royal brand underlines the group’s positioning of Edinburgh – and Scotland – as a prime new location in its continuing European expansion.
Daniel Roger, managing director of Leonardo Hotels Europe, said: “We are proud of the fact that the Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh, coupled with our hotel in London, represent a successful market launch in the UK, which we will continue to develop in future with other projects.
“Our business model is never to open just one hotel in a new area. Since 2006, we have opened 63 hotels and we are already reviewing our plans for further growth in Scotland.
“The secret behind the success of our rapid growth is the correct instinct for attractive and economically strong locations with buildings in first-class condition.
“We are a chain hotel, but we are as far removed from a chain hotel as possible.
“The satisfaction of our customers is our greatest asset. In order to achieve it, we work at it daily, investing lots of time and money. We orient ourselves to the feedback of our guests and use that to define our strategy and direction.”
The new hotel’s design was created by acclaimed interior designer Andreas Neudahm and continues the group’s philosophy of developing hotels, each with their own character with a clear link to their location.
It is aiming to appeal to both leisure guests, given its location near to tram and train stops, as well as the city’s ever-growing corporate and business tourism market – fuelled by its proximity to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the under-construction Haymarket development. The hotel also offers more than 90 parking spaces – which is something of a bonus in the centre of Edinburgh.
In its latest annual results in March, Leonardo Hotels reported sales of €305m (£268), meaning annual revenues rose by 12.5 per cent compared to the year before. Occupancy rates also remained high, enabling the group to register about four million guests.
Leonardo Hotels is the European division of Fattal Hotels Group, which owns more than 120 hotels in more than 50 locations in Israel and Europe and has been active in the European market since 2006.
Roger added that the Edinburgh establishment was already open for business: “Although the full renovation of all the rooms, the lobby and the restaurant at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh has yet to be completed, we are already able to offer guests the trademark standards of quality, style and design associated with the Leonardo brand.”
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