As MEININGER Hotels enters the UK market with its first property in Edinburgh’s Haymarket, CEO Ajit Menon explains why now is the right time to expand, how adaptive reuse is shaping growth, and why the brand’s hybrid hotel-hostel model is primed for today’s flexible, experience-led traveller.
MEININGER is entering the UK market with its first active property in Edinburgh – why was now the right time to launch here, and what made the Haymarket location the ideal choice?
The UK has always been an attractive market for MEININGER Hotels, given its strong tourism appeal and the close alignment with our hybrid hospitality concept, which serves a diverse mix of travellers, including leisure guests, backpackers, families, groups, and business travellers.
Edinburgh is one of Europe’s most attractive city destinations, combining culture, history, and entertainment. From the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Hogmanay celebrations to its historic architecture, vibrant food scene, and growing calendar of major events, the city attracts a broad range of visitors throughout the year.
MEININGER’s Haymarket location is ideal for our guests, who are looking for a convenient base that allows them to make the most of their destination. The hotel provides easy access to Edinburgh’s main attractions while offering excellent transport connections beyond the city. Haymarket railway station is just a short walk away, with direct links across Scotland and the UK, while the tram network provides convenient connections to Edinburgh Airport and the city centre.
The Edinburgh property repurposes a long-vacant office building – how does adaptive reuse fit into MEININGER’s wider growth strategy, particularly in urban destinations?
We pursue both new-build projects and conversions of existing buildings. Conversions typically take around 12 to 18 months, meaning we can bring a property into operation faster than with a new build, and they also allow us to make a meaningful contribution to revitalising vacant buildings in city centres. Osborne House is a great example of this, and one we’re especially proud of.
Developed and owned by S Harrison and delivered by Ogilvie Construction, the scheme transformed a tired 1970s office building into a modern development. The work included demolishing part of the original structure, adding two new accommodation wings and an extra top storey, with the design led by Edinburgh-based Comprehensive Design Architects.
MEININGER sits at the intersection of hotel and hostel, how are you evolving that hybrid model to meet the expectations of today’s travellers, especially in a competitive market like Edinburgh?
The strength of the MEININGER concept has always been its ability to combine the best elements of both worlds: the comfort, quality, and reliability of a hotel with the social atmosphere of a hostel. This remains highly relevant in today’s travel landscape, where guests increasingly look for authentic experiences, value for money, and the opportunity to connect with others.
Especially in competitive city destinations like Edinburgh, we believe this flexibility is a key differentiator. Travellers are not looking for a one-size-fits-all accommodation experience, they want a place that adapts to their journey and allows them to experience the destination in their own way.
At the same time, we know today’s travellers are more digital than ever, which is why we continue to invest in services such as self-check-in, mobile key access, and other digital solutions that make the guest journey as seamless as possible. We are also placing greater emphasis on contemporary design that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the property. Our newest hotels, including Edinburgh, showcase this next evolution of the MEININGER concept, combining everything guests already value about our brand with an even more modern look and feel.
With 549 beds across 157 rooms, the scale of the property is significant, who is your core target guest for this opening, and how do you balance appeal across different segments such as families, groups and solo travellers?
We expect the Edinburgh property to attract our typical diverse MEININGER guest mix. The hotel offers a range of single, double, and multi-bedrooms for up to six people, allowing different types of travellers to find the accommodation options that suit them best. Solo travellers and couples can choose private rooms. Families and groups benefit from larger room configurations that allow them to stay together, while shared accommodation offers an affordable and social option.
Beyond the rooms, our communal spaces and facilities add further options: guests can prepare their own meals in the guest kitchen or explore Edinburgh’s restaurants, choose breakfast at the hotel or start their day discovering the city. This combination of choice and flexibility enables us to serve different segments while delivering one consistent MEININGER experience.
Looking beyond Edinburgh, what are your ambitions for expansion in the UK, and how important is this opening in shaping MEININGER’s long-term presence in the market?
Our expansion strategy focuses on building multi-city networks rather than isolated properties. Experience has shown that once our concept is successfully established in a market, further growth can accelerate as we leverage our brand awareness, operational expertise, and market knowledge. We have successfully applied this approach in markets such as France, where our initial presence in Paris was followed by further openings in Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille, with Strasbourg set to become our fifth destination in the country.
We see similar potential in the UK and view Edinburgh as an important first step in establishing our presence in the market. Dublin, planned for 2028, will be our next opening in the region, and we are continuing to explore further growth opportunities. Cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Cambridge and Brighton are of interest. As always, expansion depends on finding the right property in the right location.
