Hilton chain annouce Scottish expansion

30 May 2008

Hilton Group are poised to lodge planning permission with Glasgow City Council for a 250-bed hotel at the SECC Glasgow. If it goes ahead it will end a quest to find a second hotel operator for the SECC site, which is seen as a priority in terms of developing the waterfront gernerally and the Commonwealth Games agenda specifically.

The scheme is being developed by MacDonald Estates who also plan a 1750 space multi-storey car park, a 150,000 square foot office as part of the £100m project.

Hilton say that the hotel will operate under their Garden Inn mid-budget brand. It comes on top of news that they aim to boost  their presence in Scotland from 11 hotels to 22 through a series of  takeovers, franchise deals and new build which together will represent a £200m investment.

Plans include refurbishing the Dumblane Hydro and the Aberdeen Patio which will then trade under the Hilton's four-star Doubletree brand.

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