InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts return to Edinburgh, bringing its signature luxury back to the historic Scottish capital.

31 July 2019 (London, UK) InterContinental Hotels & Resorts returns to the beautiful and cultured city of Edinburgh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the opening of InterContinental® Edinburgh – The George. The brand previously operated the hotel and this launch marks the completion of a multi-million-pound refurbishment which will see the highest standards of luxury, design and service delivered to guests visiting one of the world’s most popular city destinations.

The hotel is a collection of Georgian townhouses that were originally built in the 1780s for the city’s elite. In its former heyday, it would have been amongst the most exclusive addresses in Edinburgh, serving as an artist’s studio and entertaining the writers, poets and thinkers of the Enlightenment. The InterContinental brand has brought a touch of glamourous modernity to this iconic hotel, with the intention of inspiring today’s thought-leaders and travellers. The recent refurbishment combines luxurious natural materials such as oak, marble and leather with a palette of colours inspired by the great 19th-century Scottish landscape painters. 

Andreas Maszczyk, General Manager at InterContinental Edinburgh – The George commented, “With the opening of InterContinental Edinburgh – The George we are writing a new chapter in the story of this historic building which has housed some of Scotland’s best known and most celebrated writers and poets. InterContinental’s signature luxury and cultural capital is demonstrated in this iconic and prestigious address in Edinburgh, a city with strong links to the arts and we look forward to inviting our guests to create their own stories here for many years to come.”

Tom Rowntree, Vice President, Global Luxury Brands at IHG, commented on the opening, “InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world’s first and most international luxury hotel brand, celebrates cultural experiences in the most exciting destinations across the globe. InterContinental Edinburgh – The George is a fabulous addition to the brand, marking the return of InterContinental to Edinburgh.  This follows our two recent Kimpton hotel openings in Edinburgh and Glasgow, further demonstrating our focus on increasing our luxury footprint in the UK and across the world. We look forward to helping our guests unlock the heritage of this hotel and the enchanting city of Edinburgh.”

The property has been welcoming guests since it first became a hotel in 1881, hosting the likes of Scottish poet Robert Burns, novelist Sir Walter Scott and was once home to Susan Ferrier, known as “the Scottish Jane Austen.” Today, InterContinental Edinburgh – The George is a unique listed building in the city’s New Town, positioned close to Edinburgh’s top attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument. 
The central district of New Town offers a host of other attractions, including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh Playhouse, Charlotte Square (the hub of the Edinburgh International Book Festival) and Edinburgh Farmers Market. The hotel opens ahead of the celebrated Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world.

Restaurant & Bars

The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen is celebrated for its classic cocktails and offers traditional, quality, Scottish cuisine. The hotel’s coffee shop, Burr & Co, will serve a wide range of artisan coffees and teas, along with pastries, filled bagels and other delicacies to hotel guests and Edinburgh’s locals. 

Rooms & Suites 

Guest have the option of 10 different room types, from the Guest Room Double, offering a room size of 15-20 m2, to suites offering up to 60 m2 including a separate living area and walk-in shower.

Meetings & Events 

After recently winning Conference Hotel of the Year in 2018, InterContinental Edinburgh – The George is the perfect venue for conferences and events. The King’s Hall was originally part of the headquarters for The Caledonian Insurance Company, with this grand space able to accommodate up to 300 guests, while the Rose Suite is perfect for intimate gatherings or board meetings for up to eight guests. Each event space showcases unique 18th century detailing, as well as the expertise of a designated Events Manager to help personalise the experience.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the largest luxury hotel brand in the world with over 200 InterContinental hotels open worldwide and 60 new hotels in the pipeline. The brand is expected to expand its portfolio in the most desirable locations globally. Recent openings include Lyon and Hayman Island and this year will see InterContinental Hotels & Resorts open stunning resorts in the Maldives, Phuket and Beppu. 

Standard rooms at InterContinental Edinburgh – The George start from £229.