Starwood Capital Group is to invest £100m in a new brand of urban, lifestyle hotels is to be created from a portfolio of UK properties acquired by firm over the last two years.
The major investment is for renovations and expansions that will be required to create the new brand identity.
The brand name is yet to be revealed but the firm has confirmed it will comprise the Hotel Russell in London; Royal York hotel in York (pictured); the Palace Hotel in Manchester; the Blythswood and the Grand Central both in Glasgow and three hotels in Edinburgh: the Bonham Hotel, the George Hotel and the Roxburgh Hotel.
Work has already begun on the renovation of the George Hotel in Edinburgh and the Royal York in York. Work on the remainder will start later this year.
The new brand will be launched in 2016, once all the renovations have been completed.