Roomzzz has been selected to operate the aparthotel at APG and TH Real Estate’s £1bn Edinburgh St James development.
The 73-bedroom aparthotel will sit alongside Starwood Hotel’s W Hotel, which is the centrepiece of the 1.7m sq ft development.
The apartments in Roomzzz aparthotels feature kitchens, a separate living area with sofas and a flat screen TV, a working area and WiFi. Its own brand of convenience store, Essentialzzz, is in each hotel, as well as a Grab & Go food store.
The site in Edinburgh will be the company’s eighth. It has hotels in Manchester and Chester, and one scheduled to open in London in Stratford, E20 – its first London site – as well as a second Manchester site set to open at the Corn Exchange development.
It recently appointed agents from Christie & Co to oversee its expansion plan, targeting both leasehold and freehold opportunities between 30,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft, prioritising sites in London.
In October last year Dutch pension fund APG bought a 75% stake in the development, which will also include a 50,000 sq ft Next and a five-screen Everyman Cinema. Additionally, the 214-bedroom W Hotel will be increasing its room count by an additional 39 keys.
Ed Webb, director of development management for TH Real Estate, said: “The aparthotel, alongside the W Edinburgh, Everyman Cinema, rooftop restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, public spaces and homes, will create a bespoke destination, opening up a new vista with unique views across the city – creating a place that is actively sought-out by residents and visitors alike.”
Chief executive officer of Roomzzz, Naveen Ahmed, added: “The Edinburgh St James development is the perfect location for the Roomzzz brand to launch its first aparthotel in Scotland. Our expansion into the Scottish capital is a significant milestone for Roomzzz as we look to grow our successful portfolio of luxurious aparthotels across the UK.”
JLL and Rettie & Co are advising on the hotel and residential aspects of the development, which is due to open in 2020.
JLL acted on behalf of TH Real Estate, and Christie and Co acted for Roomzzz.
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