The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hotels group plans further Scottish expansion
Berlin-based company to build on multi-million-pound hotels deal
The new owner of Huntingtower Hotel outside Perth has revealed aggressive growth plans to increase its portfolio to more than 100 sites within three years.
Leonardo Hotels Europe managing director Daniel Roger said the prospect of Brexit would not be used as an excuse to temper its growth ambitions.
“We have just taken over five hotels in the UK,” Mr Roger said.
“This is a clear statement.
“The ultimate target of the company is to promote and strengthen the brand Leonardo Hotels Europe-wide.
“Our future strategy is to continue our investment in growth and to have 100 hotels across Europe by 2020.”
German-headquartered Leonardo bought over the Perthshire country playground in a multi-million-pound deal in August.
The move also saw it pick up four other sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and took its UK-based accommodation over the 1,000-bed milestone in the process.
The hotel group recently reopened a former Premier Inn unit in Edinburgh following a €7m refurbishment and has plans to roll-out further investment across its Scottish estate.
It said Scotland was now a “prime focus” destination for Leonardo and was expected to be an area of further growth for the group.
“With the market launch in the UK two years ago, our main targets were to increase our portfolio and strengthen the recognition of Leonardo Hotels brand in Scotland,” Mr Roger said.
“This plan underlines our latest coup, which is the takeover of the Portland Hotels with five properties in Scotland; expanding our portfolio to include two hotels in Edinburgh as well others in Glasgow, Perth and Aberdeen.
“Leonardo’s portfolio will grow to seven hotels with 1,048 bedrooms, which represents a significant strengthening of our presence in the UK, and Scotland in particular.
“And we still have a lot to offer.”