Edinburgh ranks number one in UK for hotel investment and development according to industry report

Edinburgh has been ranked as the number one ‘hot spot’ in the UK for hotel investment and development by major brands, according to a leading industry report.

The city secured first place in the Colliers International UK Hotels Market Index, 2019, following a number of new developments in the capital. The city is also currently ranked 27^thin the International Congress Association (ICCA) World Rankings and second in the UK, only to London.

Convention Edinburgh, which works to bring conferences and events to the city, said the interest from world-leading brands is ‘reinforcing Edinburgh’s appeal as a world-leading conference, incentive meeting and events destination.’

YOTEL Edinburgh’s arrival as the brand’s first city centre hotel in Europe, follows InterContinental Hotel Group’s takeover of the Principal Edinburgh George Street, making the newly-named InterContinental Edinburgh – The George, the first hotel in the group outside of London in the UK.

This comes after last year’s announcement that Sir Richard Branson will open the first Virgin Hotel outside the USA, in Edinburgh’s historic India Buildings on Victoria Street.

Coupled with its reputation as a unique centre of excellence, innovation and heritage, as celebrated in the city’s current Make it Edinburgh campaign, these developments further boost confidence in the Scottish capital as the perfect place to host conferences and events.

Amanda Ferguson, Head of Convention Edinburgh comments: “Continued hotel investment from global brands gives conference and event organisers just one more reason to choose Edinburgh as a host city. Accessible, compact and beautiful, Edinburgh is renowned for its thriving knowledge economy and world-class academic credentials in sectors such as Technology, Life Sciences, Creative Industries, Food and Drink, Renewable Energy and Financial Services. These are huge drivers of business tourism.

“For the past 18 months, the Make it Edinburgh campaign, a collaboration of private and public organisations operating in the conference and meetings industry, has been striving to showcase these strengths to the business events market. So, it’s great to see Edinburgh gaining recognition globally as a place to invest. The more conferences we bring in to the city, the greater the opportunity for collaboration, innovation and lasting impact within these sectors, whether that’s through knowledge share, developing new technology or raising Edinburgh’s profile within these fields.”

Edinburgh’s reputation for innovation in technology specifically, was recognised by YOTEL, who’ve mirrored this by unveiling a number of tech firsts, including Imaginex – a state-of-the-art, 360-degree projection space providing a unique opportunity for film screenings, social events, product launches and meetings.

Stuart Douglas, General Manager at YOTEL Edinburgh, said: “A stay at YOTEL is all about intuitive service and technology driven experiences, offering an exciting alternative to the more traditional offering Edinburgh is known for.

“The city is thriving as both a popular tourist spot and a business hub and we’re incredibly excited about showcasing the YOTEL hospitality experience. Our hotel offers global travellers and in-the-know locals a stylish space to eat, drink, work, rest and play.”

Neil Ellis, Chair of the Edinburgh Hotels Association said: “Edinburgh presents an attractive proposition for hotel investors. It’s well connected, with direct flights from major long and short-haul destinations, offers a beautiful mix of history, heritage and contemporary flair, it’s friendly and inclusive as well as being innovative in its thinking. Major new developments like these provide an opportunity to shout about these truths, instill further confidence in Edinburgh as an events destination, while also increasing the variety of offering for locals and visitors alike.”

Launched in October 2017, Make it Edinburgh is a digital campaign, co-funded by flagship campaign partners: Marketing Edinburgh, Edinburgh Hotel Association, Edinburgh Airport, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Tourism Action Group. Their collective contribution of £40k was match funded by VisitScotland’s Growth Fund.