YTL Hotels acquires three properties in the UK

PETALING JAYA (Sept 29): YTL Hotels has recently acquired three properties in the UK — in Edinburgh, Berkshire and London — strengthening the company’s presence within the UK, the group announced in a press release today.

The new acquisitions include The Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh, Monkey Island in Berkshire and The Academy Hotel in London.

“I am delighted to welcome these new properties into the YTL Hotels fold. We will be undertaking exciting enhancements to each property and its offerings to elevate their value in line with our best of class standards,” said YTL Hotels executive director Datuk Mark Yeoh.

“Last year, we opened The Gainsborough Bath Spa, our first classic hotel in the UK, and it has done us proud by emulating the same tradition of excellence known for in Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia and all the properties within our portfolio,” Yeoh added.

Another project, which is currently already in their portfolio, is the Muse Bray Cottages, an exclusive collection of three bespoke private residences in Berkshire.

According to the group, the acquisition of The Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh attests to YTL Hotels’ long-standing relationship with Marriott International since 1995 through the ownership and management of five properties: Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel, Brisbane Marriott Hotel, Melbourne Marriott Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, as well as the future development of The Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui, Thailand and the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village, Japan.

The Glasshouse Hotel, a part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, is already a 77-room luxury boutique hotel with a secret rooftop garden and was once the Lady Glenorchy Church built in the mid-19th century.

Meanwhile, the second acquisition — Monkey Island — is a centuries old retreat in Bray-on-Thames, Berkshire that nestles on an island in the River Thames surrounded by stunning gardens and accessible only by a footbridge or boat.

“The stately retreat will be redesigned by the award-winning New York-based Champalimaud Design who orchestrated distinctive interior design projects for The Gainsborough Bath Spa, The Green Leaf Niseko Village, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, The Carlyle in New York and the Dorchester in London, to name a few,” the group noted.

Lastly, the third acquisition — The Academy Hotel — comprises a collection of five restored Georgian townhouses combined into one charming hotel and is centrally located in London’s West End within a stone’s throw from The British Museum, fine restaurants and world famous shopping streets.

“The boutique hotel will undergo a full refurbishment that is reflective of YTL Hotels’ steadfast commitment to respect the cultural and natural heritage inherent in each property it owns and operates, with exacting quality standards, service and operational excellence being the key drivers,” the group noted.

These latest acquisitions mark YTL Hotels’ global portfolio expansion to a total of 29 assets with a footprint across Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, France, Spain and the UK.

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