13 Oct 2016
YTL Hotels expanding luxury portfolio in the UK
BY Jane Kitchen
Malaysian conglomerate YTL Hotels, which owns the newly opened Gainsborough Bath Spa – the only hotel in the UK with direct access to natural thermal waters – is expanding its luxury portfolio with the acquisition of three properties in Edinburgh, Berkshire and London.
Dato Mark Yeoh, executive director of YTL Hotels, said the company will be undertaking “exciting enhancements” at each property.
“Our core philosophy of not just building properties, but crafting inspired experiences for guests, will guide us in our enhancement and development plans for these newly acquired properties,” he said.
The three new hotels include The Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh, a part of Marriott’s Autograph collection that was once the Lady Glenorchy Church, built in the mid-19th century.
Monkey Island, a centuries-old retreat in Bray-on-Thames, Berkshire, is nestled on an island in the River Thames surrounded by gardens and accessible only by a footbridge or boat. The hotel will be redesigned by New York-based Champalimaud Design, who also worked on The Gainsborough.
The Academy Hotel comprises a collection of five restored Georgian townhouses combined into one hotel located in London’s West End.
These latest acquisitions mark YTL Hotel’s global expansion to a total of 29 properties across Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, France, Spain and the UK.
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