Christie + Co has advised Europoint Holdings Ltd, a member of Palm Holdings, on its acquisition of the Edinburgh-based, 5-Star Howard hotel and 4-Star Channings hotel, from the Town House Collection, for an undisclosed sum.
Situated in a superb city centre location, the 18-bedroom Howard is a boutique town house hotel, whilst the West End-based 41-bedroom Channings hotel features a bar; a restaurant; plus a number of meeting and function rooms. One of the Channings townhouses, 14 South Learmonth Gardens, was home to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer, while he was secretary of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society between 1904 and 1910.
Europoint operates a further two hotels in Edinburgh, the Old Waverley Hotel on Princes Street, which the company acquired through Christie + Co; and the Holyrood Aparthotel just off the Royal Mile, which was acquired in March last year.
The company’s purchase of the Howard and Channings hotels follows its recent expansion in Canada, where it acquired two hotels in Waterloo, Ontario — the Best Western St Jacobs Country Inn and the Destination Inn & Suites, in October.
Ricky Kapoor, Commercial Director at Europoint Holdings, said: “This acquisition now creates a wonderful collection of hotels offering the perfect choice to meet our clients’ needs in terms of quality, facilities, price and location. With our collection of unique properties, we are expertly placed to meet the needs of every type of visitor to Edinburgh, be that business travellers and tourists seeking city centre locations; discerning corporate and leisure visitors looking for that added luxury; families; or long or short-stay guests who prefer a home away from home environment.
“Our plan is to integrate The Howard and Channings Hotel into our existing portfolio whilst ensuring they both retain their special and personal characteristics and also providing them with the necessary investment. This portfolio will become known as ‘The Edinburgh Collection’.”
Ken Sims, Director at Christie + Co, said: “Having been a long-term hotel advisor to Sheetal and Ricky I am delighted we have been able to assist in their acquisition of these well-known hotels.
“Through their planned investment and marketing skills, both hotels will grow and improve even further under their ownership. Capital city markets such as Edinburgh have proved relatively resilient to the woes of recent times and “The Edinburgh Collection” is uniquely placed to fully capitalise on the market when it returns to full strength.”