bedroom_add#2_var2_view1_finalAn Edinburgh hotel that puts profits back into advancing surgical standards worldwide to improve patient outcomes is to undergo a major £8.5m 52 room expansion.

Following record occupancy numbers, Ten Hill Place is increasing to 129 rooms – close to a 70 per cent increase on its current provision of 77 rooms.

The expansion will sensitively renovate neighbouring Hill Place buildings, also currently owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and used primarily as offices and by academics.

Operated by the college’s commercial arm, the hotel posted record turnover of £2.69m* in its last full recorded financial year – thanks to an impressive 88 per cent occupancy rate fuelled in part by highly positive TripAdvisor reviews.

Scott Mitchell, Commercial Director of RCSEd, said: “The tireless and inspiring work of the team involved with Ten Hill Place has given us this great opportunity to grow.

“In turn, our expansion will give us a greater platform to generate the profits that go directly towards improving lives for surgical patients all around the world – including those in areas of conflict and extreme poverty.

“As the number of visitors to Edinburgh has soared, we have been able to tap into the market and develop our reputation – meaning that the hotel is now busy all year round.

“Having initially targeted visiting academics, medical professionals and delegates to conferences; our customer base is now especially varied – especially during festival season and Hogmanay.”

RCSEd Commercial Enterprises – which started out as just three people and is now more than140 strong – will also rebrand to ‘Surgeons Quarter’ to mark the expansion of the organisation – with the full destination branding expected to be complete by Summer of 2018 to coincide with the conclusion of work at the hotel.

Capacity of the successful restaurant and wine bar will also be increased, and the expansion will provide space for a gym.

Scott added: “We are hopeful that the expansion will enable the hotel to deliver its full potential, furthering what we already currently provide, our food and drinks offerings, assisting our charitable aims and boosting tourism and hospitality jobs in Edinburgh.”

The Royal College is one of the most august institutions in Scotland. It provides education and assessment for medical students, surgical trainees and consultants and supports research to advance standards of care for the future. Surgeons trained and assessed through the College take their life-saving and life-changing skills all over the world.

The college’s Commercial Enterprises promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the College Campus, which includes arts and conferencing venue Surgeons’ Hall. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgery.

As part of the major rebrand of the College’s commercial activities under the Surgeons Quarter banner, the collection of buildings situated around the historic Hill Square will also become known as Surgeons Quarter.

The rebranding will allow for the area to be a recognised destination and highlight the scale of the venues within it. Each of the settings operated by the Surgeons Quarter team will also become recognised with the distinct @Surgeons Quarter, again tying in the destination brand.

*For Year End June 2015-May 2016.

The commercial arm of one of Edinburgh’s oldest institutions is rebranding to meet with the expansion of its venues and consolidate all aspects of the business.

Formed following the 500th anniversary of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), the College’s Commercial Enterprises was launched in 2006.

Now Commercial Enterprises – which started out as just three people – is rebranding to ‘Surgeons Quarter’ to mark the expansion of the organisation.

When launched it was tasked with making the most of the institution’s impressive buildings, with all the profits being invested back into the College, to train surgeons and surgical trainees who deliver life-changing skills and improve patient outcome to every corner of the world.

The collection of buildings situated around the historic Hill Square will be known as Surgeons Quarter. The rebranding will allow for the area to be a recognised destination and highlight the scale of the venues within it.

Scott Mitchel, Commercial Director, believes the rebranding of the Commercial Enterprises will help increase recognition of the area.

He said: “After a successful first 10 years rebranding was the next logical step.”

“We wanted to create a brand that encompasses all the venues to a single destination area. Each separate building is so unique that it was a difficult task to decide on how to achieve a single theme that highlights the scale of each building. “Branding the whole area Surgeons’ Quarter is the perfect fit.

Closely following the launch of Commercial Enterprises was the transformation of the College residencies into the 77 room Ten Hill Place hotel in 2006. The success of the hotel culminated in an impressive 88 per cent occupancy rate in 2016. The rebrand will be completed by the Summer of 2018 to tie in with the expansion of Ten Hill Place Hotel, which will then have 129 bedrooms and a completely refurbished restaurant and bar.

Each of the settings operated by the Surgeons Quarter team will be recognised with the distinct @Surgeons’ Quarter, tying in the destination brand.

The College is best known for its magnificent Playfair Building, dating back to 1832. Other venues include the King Khalid Building, formerly St Michael’s Church, which has been transformed into an outstanding 158-seated auditorium.

The stunning Prince Phillip building opened in 2015 following the transformation of a former Edinburgh University language school. It was welcomed by Marketing Edinburgh, which promotes the city across the UK and internationally.

The Royal College is one of the most august institutions in Scotland. It provides education and assessment for medical students, surgical trainees and consultants and supports research to advance standards of care for the future. Surgeons trained and assessed through the College take their life-saving and life-changing skills all over the world.

The College’s Commercial Enterprises promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the College Campus, which includes arts and conferencing venue Surgeons’ Hall. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgery.