Starwood Brings W Hotels Brand to Scotland

By Keith Loria, Contributing Editor

W Edinburgh hotel rendering

Edinburgh, Scotland—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced plans to open W Edinburgh, a new 12-story hotel that will become the brand’s first entry into Scotland upon completion in 2021.

W Edinburgh will form the centerpiece of a 1.7 million-square-foot development, which will incorporate a vibrant blend of retail, entertainment, leisure and residential space, further reinforcing the city’s reputation as a booming cosmopolitan capital.

“As an established business hub with a thriving global tourism industry, we are confident that there will be a huge appetite for our innovative lifestyle brand in the Scottish capital,” Michael Wale, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East, said in a prepared release. “W Edinburgh’s location at the pulsing heart of the new Edinburgh St. James development, combined with its innovative design, contemporary interiors and the W brand’s signature programming, will create the perfect setting for the second W hotel in the United Kingdom.”

When completed, the hotel will offer 214 guestrooms, including 20 suites and one Extreme Wow Suite (the W brand’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). The rooftop will feature a destination bar and outdoor terrace, offering guests and locals 360-degree panoramic views of the historic skyline. Other areas of note include the W Lounge, a signature restaurant, and an AWAY Spa offering. W Edinburgh will also provide 2,450 square feet of ultra-modern event space.

The hotel will be designed by award-winning architecture and interior design practice Jestico + Whiles, in conjunction with Allan Murray Architects.

The Edinburgh St. James development will see the shopping center currently on site replaced with 850,000 square feet of retail space, a multi-screen cinema and up to 250 new homes, as well as W Edinburgh.

“From the outset, our intention has been to secure a truly world class hotel operator for Edinburgh St. James, complementing the rest of the development and forming an integral part of the scheme’s vibrant offer,” Stephen Wicks, TH Real Estate director of shopping centers, said in the release. “We are delighted to have finalized this deal with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and to be welcoming such an iconic and established brand as W Hotels to Scotland for the very first time.”

The addition of W Edinburgh to Starwood’s UK portfolio complements the iconic W London – Leicester Square, which opened in 2011.