Work begins on the AECC Aloft hotel in Aberdeen

Construction has begun on the Aloft hotel at the site of the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).

The 150-bedroom hotel will be part of the multi-million pound development, which is being delivered by Aberdeen City Council and Henry Boot Developments, and will be near the 200-bedroom Hilton hotel adjoining the AECC, also under construction.

Aloft is the contemporary, design-led brand from Marriott International, of which there are 140 properties worldwide and four in the UK: at London's ExCeL centre and Tobacco Dock, Brighton and Liverpool.

Designed by Cooper Cromar, with interiors by Twenty2Degrees, the new hotel will include a WXYZ bar, Re:mixSM lounge and gym. It will be managed by Redefine|BDL Hotels, which manages a 75-strong UK hotel portfolio and will also operate the nearby Hilton.

Andrew Robb, chief business development officer for Redefine|BDL Hotels, said he was "delighted" to be involved in the group's second management agreement with the Aloft brand.

The AECC is part of the city council's largest regeneration programme. It is estimated it will secure an additional 31,000 business visitors to Scotland and generate an additional £11m visitor spend per annum.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader councillor Jenny Laing said: "This is another major milestone in the development of the new AECC which is a big part of our plan to transform the city with major new infrastructure projects."

Nick Harris, director of Henry Boot Developments in Scotland, said high-quality, modern hotels like Aloft on site will meet the needs of the new arena, on which groundworks have already begun, according to Robertson Group's chief executive Derek Shewan.

Hilton hotel to open at new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre >>

Starwood’s Aloft Hotels announces new hotel for Brighton next year >>

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