S Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality subsidiary of Singha Estate PCL has partnered with CapitaLand Investment’s The Ascott Limited to reposition two UK hotel properties under The Unlimited Collection brand.
As part of the deal, Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel and The Grand Hotel Leicester will be rebranded, with the collaboration marking the European debut of The Unlimited Collection brand which originates from Singapore.
By the end of 2024, the 169-key Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel will be rebranded as Mount Royal Hotel Edinburgh by The Unlimited Collection. And from Q2 2025, The Grand Hotel Leicester will be known as The Grand Hotel Leicester by The Unlimited Collection. The hotel’s 104 rooms and suites, restaurant and conference facilities will undergo refurbishment before reopening.
Looking ahead, S Hotels plans to expand its partnership with Ascott to include hotels in two additional key UK cities, with the aim of increasing revpar up to 30 per cent by 2026 compared to 2023 levels.
What they said
Michael Marshall, chief executive officer of S Hotels & Resorts said: “Partnering with a strong hospitality company like Ascott is a great strategic move for Singha Estate and S Hotels & Resorts. These iconic buildings play a pivotal role in our UK strategy, and I am confident that, under The Unlimited Collection umbrella, they will fully realise their potential as investment properties. The rebrandings are key to the success of our overall UK strategy, positioning us to achieve our financial goals for 2024 and beyond.”
Kevin Goh, chief executive officer for Ascott and Lodging, CapitaLand Investment added: “Ascott is delighted to collaborate with leading Asia-based companies, Singha Estate and S Hotels & Resorts, to make our mark on the hospitality sector in Europe, a key market in Ascott's global expansion. We will leverage Ascott's established conversion capabilities to swiftly bring both hotels to market while preserving their original characters. We look forward to continuing our support for the owners with our diverse portfolio of brands, tailored solutions and in-market knowledge, exemplifying the strengths of Ascott's flex-hybrid hotel-in-residence model.”