IHG Hotels and Resorts will open its first Scottish properties under the growing Voco brand in the coming months.
Voco Grand Central is a conversion of the existing Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, offering 230 rooms, Champagne Central bar, Tempus restaurant, and meeting and events space including a Grand Ballroom.
The property is attached to Glasgow Central rail station, and dates back to 1883.
Meanwhile Voco Edinburgh – Haymarket will be the first new-build property under the brand in the UK. The hotel is located in the city’s West End, and features 150 rooms, all-day restaurant The Blossom, and destination venue Edinburgh at the Bar.
The exact openings dates for the properties have not been given but IHG said that “Following recent Government guidelines announcing the expected re-opening of Scottish hospitality in April/May, the upcoming openings signal a welcome return to leisure travel”.
The Voco brand launched in 2018, and has around 15 properties open worldwide so far, with five of these in the UK in locations including Oxford, Reading, Cardiff and Solihull.
The brand recently added a property in Strasbourg, and the Mercure Brisbane is set to be refurbished and reflagged as the Voco Brisbane City Centre later this year.
Commenting on the news Karan Khanna, managing director UK and Ireland, IHG Hotels and Resorts, said:
“We are delighted to see our Voco brand enter the Scottish hotel market. Both properties reflect the Voco brand proposition, being reliably different while celebrating each hotel’s individual spirit and character.
Since launching in 2018, Voco has seen extraordinary growth and is proving popular with owners and developers alike given its strong conversion appeal. After launching the brand in China and the US just a few months ago, I am truly delighted that we’re now also entering a new market a little closer to home.
“We are all hopeful for a safe and continued lifting of lockdown restrictions so we can fully open the doors to these wonderful hotels for our guests to enjoy.”
