IHG has brought the InterContinental Edinburgh-The George back into the company's system as it continues its integration of properties that had been in the Principal Hotels portfolio.
The move follows the opening of Kimpton-brand hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow earlier this year, and reintroduces the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand to Scotland.
The property had been part of IHG's portfolio from the early 1980s. In June 2005, IHG sold the property to the Principal Hotel Co. for £20 million and the hotel returned to its original name, The George Hotel. IHG's integration of the Principal portfolio—and the completion of "significant renovations"—gave the company the chance to bring it back in to the IHG family.
"We are excited to grow our luxury presence in Scotland as we continue the integration of the Principal portfolio," said Karan Khanna, managing director, U.K. and Ireland, IHG, calling Edinburgh "a key city" in the company's home market. "It’s great to reintroduce our flagship brand, InterContinental, to the city."
Located in the central district of New Town, the hotel is close to Edinburgh Castle, Charlotte Square and Edinburgh Farmers Market. The property is an integration of Georgian townhouses that were originally built in the 1780s. The original architecture of the building has been preserved.
The property is the third InterContinental open in the U.K., joining InterContinental London-Park Lane and InterContinental London-The O2. As of March, IHG had 349 hotels operating under eight brands in the U.K., with 26 in the pipeline.