A prime Aberdeen city centre site has been sold in a multimillion pound deal to create a new four-star hotel complex.
Canadian operator Sandman Hotel Group plans to invest £20million in its first development in Scotland after acquiring the St Andrew Street site from the Robert Gordon University (RGU).
First Minister Alex Salmond was in Aberdeen yesterday for the announcement of the deal, which will help RGU fund its new campus at Garthdee.
The planned hotel complex will provide 220 rooms, including 61 one-bedroom suites, a restaurant, and convention facilities.
It is estimated that nearly 80 new jobs will be created during the construction phase, with more than 150 workers required for the hotel and restaurant.
Mr Salmond said: “Today’s announcement by the Sandman Hotel Group is excellent news for Aberdeen’s tourism industry.
“While this new hotel will undoubtedly benefit business tourism in the Aberdeen area, visitor numbers from overseas markets continue to grow.
“The Sandman Hotel Group has seen the golden opportunity Scotland presents and I’m delighted to see them investing upward of £20 million in their new Aberdeen city centre hotel.”
Mitch Gaglardi, managing director of Northland Properties Corporation said: “This is our third property in the United Kingdom, and we are elated to be doing business in Scotland. We look forward to bringing our hospitality brand to Aberdeen.”
Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of RGU said:
“The sale of St Andrews Street to Sandman Hotel Group will provide major benefits to the city as well as RGU.
“The capital received will allow us to continue with the development of our teaching and learning facilities, providing our students with an outstanding educational environment. In addition, the city will benefit from a new four-star hotel and a development which will help drive forward the regeneration of Aberdeen’s city centre.”