£8.5m expansion confirmed for charitable Edinburgh hotel

An Edinburgh hotel that puts profits back into advancing surgical standards worldwide to improve patient outcomes is to undergo an £8.5 million 52-room expansion.Following record occupancy numbers, Ten Hill Place is increasing to 129 rooms – close to a 70% increase on its current provision of 77 rooms.The expansion will sensitively renovate neighbouring Hill Place buildings, also currently owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and used primarily as offices and by academics.Operated by the college’s commercial arm, the hotel posted record turnover of £2.69m in its last full recorded financial year – thanks to an impressive 88% occupancy rate fuelled in part by highly positive TripAdvisor reviews.Capacity of the successful restaurant and wine bar will also be increased, and the expansion will provide space for a gym. The Royal College is one of the most august institutions in Scotland. It provides education and assessment for medical students, surgical trainees and consultants and supports research to advance standards of care for the future. Surgeons trained and assessed through the College take their life-saving and life-changing skills all over the world.The college’s Commercial Enterprises promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the College Campus, which includes arts and conferencing venue Surgeons’ Hall. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgery.As part of the major rebrand of the College’s commercial activities under the Surgeons Quarter banner, the collection of buildings situated around the historic Hill Square will also become known as Surgeons Quarter.The rebranding will allow for the area to be a recognised destination and highlight the scale of the venues within it. Each of the settings operated by the Surgeons Quarter team will also become recognised with the distinct @Surgeons Quarter, again tying in the destination brand.