Meininger Hotels is in talks about a second outlet in Edinburgh just weeks after opening the doors to its first in the capital’s Haymarket area.
The Berlin-based company operates from a former office block in Wester Coates that was converted by Ogilvie Construction into a hotel with 157 rooms and 549 beds.
During a visit this week, CEO Ajit Menon explained to Daily Business why Edinburgh had been chosen as the location for its first in the UK since it closed its London operation in 2023 at the end of its lease.
“Edinburgh is a cultural centre, it has sport and concerts, the location is near the train station, the city centre and Murrayfield. It ticks all the boxes,” he said.
“We are in discussions with a property owner about another hotel in the city.”
Formerly Osborne House, the Haymarket building dates back to the 1970s but stood empty for a number of years. It is owned by S Harrison and the conversion was a £3.6 million investment.
It is Meininger’s 38th hotel in Europe – of which just under half are in its German homeland – and it is looking to expand into other UK cities including Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast to take its tally to 50 by 2030.
The hotels provide a ‘hybrid’ model that is part-budget hotel and part-hostel, with a mix of private rooms and shared accommodation.
There is a self-catering kitchen area which is popular with backpackers and families, while the provision of towels, and en suite facilities in every room, as well as TVs and desks are additions not available in most hostels. The Haymarket facility has a bicycle storage area.
Will Harrington, who manages it, said it was fully booked within three weeks of opening and was boosted by the Bon Jovi concert at the nearby stadium. About 5% of bookings are classed as ‘business’ people and contract workers.
There have been more than 1,600 bookings in the first two months and there has been no indication that Edinburgh’s 5% visitor levy was a deterrent.
“No one has mentioned the levy. It is not an issue,” he said.
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