Hotel group Thistle is nearing the end of a £6.9million investment on refurbishments at two of its sites in Aberdeen.
The work at the Thistle Aberdeen Airport and Thistle Aberdeen Altens hotels is part of a programme of upgrades across the whole chain.
Heathrow-based Thistle, part of Guoman Hotel Management (UK), said yesterday its Granite City improvements meant better facilities.
A £4million five-year refurbishment of bedrooms and public areas at the Altens venue is in its final phase.
The last stage will cost £336,000 and involves a revamp of 36 rooms, including six which are being converted into studio accommodation.
Thistle Aberdeen Altens manager Kris Manship said the new-style rooms would appeal to business travellers working with energy-focused companies in the south of the city.
A growing number of guests were staying longer, he said, adding: “We had one last year who stayed for 265 nights, and there are many others who also spend a significant number of nights at the hotel. Altens is home to a large number of oil and gas operators and oil service companies, and in recent years we have seen a trend for people to stay at the hotel during the week and return home elsewhere in the country at weekends.
“When guests are staying in a property for that length of time they want it to be a home from home.”
The refurbishment at the four-star Thistle Aberdeen Altens is on schedule to be completed by the end of March. Meanwhile, a £2.9million five-year refurbishment of the Thistle Aberdeen Airport hotel was completed last month.
Alison Christie, general manager at the airport site, said: “It’s essential that we continue to offer a very high standard of accommodation in an increasingly competitive market in Aberdeen.
“The investment that has been made in Aberdeen represents a firm commitment from Thistle towards the city and also the collective drive across the hotel industry in the north-east to raise the bar.”
Ms Christie said the group’s Aberdeen hotels, which also include the Thistle Caledonian in the city centre, were performing well.
She added: “There have been major hotel developments in Aberdeen city centre and at the airport in the past two years. Hotels such as those in the Thistle group that provide facilities for conferencing and training are also seeing an increase from that business stream.”