A new £10million development is opening in Edinburgh a bid to attract younger visitors to the region.
Designed by Fletcher Joseph Architects, The Smart City Hostel development, which is expected to open in May 2006, is the first of a number of planned high quality, branded hostels specifically designed to meet the needs of travellers on a limited budget who are still looking for quality.

The developers have been working with VisitScotland to achieve a 5 star accommodation rating under the star-grading Quality Assurance Scheme.

Philip Riddle, VisitScotland, Chief Executive,  said: “Smart City Hostels is an exciting innovative development that is well founded on changing consumer expectations and needs.

“With more holiday opportunities than ever before, tourists are becoming more discerning and are looking for high quality and affordable accommodation options.

“This allows them to spend more on activities, entertainment, shopping and eating and drinking, which are some of the key ways we are going to achieve our ambition of a 50% growth in tourism revenues by 2015.

p>The £10m SCH Edinburgh development includes conversion of the 5 storey Blackfriars House, former offices, and new 8 storey extension to create a 132 room hostel.
 
Alex Stewart, Operations Director of SCH said: “Our level of pre-bookings from the travel trade is very encouraging and we have enquiries from China and India as well as from Eastern Europe, the US and England.”

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