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Aberdeen Hotel Opportunities

Aberdeen Hotel Opportunities

The Top Ten Facts You Need To Know

1. AberdeenisScotlands third citywithapopulationofmorethan200,000.

2. Itsthrivingoilandgasindustriesaccountformorethan40,000jobs (source: Aberdeen Convention Bureau)andhasearneditthetitleEnergyCapitalofEurope.

3. Global energy giants includingBP,Chevron,Halliburton,MarathonOil,ShellandTotalhaveasignificantpresenceinthecity.

4. Aberdeenboaststhesecondhighest rate of business formationinScotlandwith900energycompaniesand400internationallyownedcompanies.

5. TourisminAberdeengeneratesmorethan550 millionperyearandsupportsmorethan20,000 jobs.

6. WorldclasshoteloperatorssuchasHilton,Marriott,Jurys Inn,Holiday Inn,Mercure,RadissonandMalmaisonhaveapresenceinthecity.

7. Aberdeencurrentlyhasmorethan6,000 hotel roomsandworld-classconferencefacilitieswhichcanhandleupto2,000 delegates(source: Aberdeen Convention Bureau).

8. AberdeensGrossValueAdded(GVA)percapitaiswell ahead of the UK averageatnearly30,000.

9. WeeklyearningsinAberdeenoutstrip the Scottish average,whilethecityhasoneofthecountryslowestunemploymentratesatjustover2%.

10.AberdeenAirportisScotlands third busiest,handlingnearly3.1millionpassengersin2011 (source: BAA website).Itshelipad,whichsupportsoffshoreindustriesandrescueservices,is one of the busiest in the world.

The area is already known for its dramatic scenery and opportunities for outdoor pursuits. The strengthened hotel offering, combined with the new 250 million Union Square retail development and the further modernisation of the Bon-Accord shopping centre which has seen an influx of brands such as Karen Millen, Swarovski, Hobbs, Jo Malone, Kurt Geiger, Radley and Phase 8, make the region even more attractive as a holiday and short-break destination.

With increased activity in the oil and gas sector, significant growth opportunities in renewables and a thriving business base operating globally, Aberdeen City and Shires economy continues to outperform other city regions in Scotland and the UK.

Tom Smith Chairman, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF)

Dunnottar, Stonehaven

Why Invest in Aberdeen?

Bed Spaces:Therearemorethan6,000hotelroomscurrentlyavailableinAberdeenandthecitypresentsanexcitingopportunityforhoteloperators,developersandinvestors,particularlyinthefourtofivestarluxurysegment.

Occupancy Rates and Performance:AberdeenshoteloccupancyratesareamongthehighestintheUK,withtheoffshoreoilandgasindustryensuringyear-rounddemand.Ashortageofrooms,particularlyinthefourtofivestarluxurysegment,meansvisitorsareoftenforcedtolookelsewhereduetoalackofavailabilityintheAberdeencityarea.Theaverageannualoccupancyratein2011was73.8%

Business Tourism: Aberdeenshotelguestsarepredominatelybusinesstravellers,withthisgrouprepresentingaroundthreequartersofallvisitors.ExpenditurebybusinessvisitorsistwicethatofleisurevisitorsandthereisparticularlyhighdemandfromoffshoreworkersforaccommodationbetweenMondayandThursday.

Aberdeen Convention Bureau:Aberdeenhashosteda

rangeofinternationalconferencesandeventsincludingtheWorldHeavyOilCongress,theEuropeanConferenceonEntrepreneurshipandInnovation,theWorld

ConferenceinMarineBiodiversityandtheInternational

FederationofAgriculturalJournalists.Beingaglobal energyhub,Aberdeenisakeydestinationforindustry

eventssuchasthebiennialOffshoreEuropeExhibitionandConferenceandtheannualrenewablesconferenceandexhibition,All-Energy.HelpisathandfortheorganisersofmajorconferencesandeventsthroughtheAberdeenConventionBureauwhichprovidesawiderangeofsupportfunctionssuchasvenueandaccommodationbooking.

Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC): For25yearstheAECChasdemonstrateditsflexibilityasavenuebyhostingcongresses,tradeandpublicexhibitions,rockandpopconcerts,livesportingevents,awarddinnersandcorporatedinnerdances.Facilitiesincludeseatingforupto2,000delegatesand7,300sqmofpurpose-builtexhibitionspace(source:AberdeenConventionBureau).

International Connectivity:Aberdeensair,roadandraillinksconnectthecitytotherestoftheUK,Europeandbeyond.AberdeenAirportisjustsixmilesfromthecitycentreandoffersscheduledflightstoawiderangeofdestinationsincludingmajorEuropeancitiessuchasLondon,ParisandAmsterdam.Planstoextendtherunwayhaverecentlybeenapproved,allowinglongerrangeaircrafttoservethecity.AberdeenisalsoeasilyaccessibleviatheM90motorwayandotherroadlinks,whileregulartrainservicesplaceAberdeenwithinreachofthemajor

Scottishtownsandcities,andfurthersouthviatheeastcoastmainline.AberdeenHarbourhandlesaroundfivemilliontonnesofcargovaluedataround1.5billioneveryyear(source:aberdeen-harbour.co.uk),forawiderangeofindustries.ItisalsothecentreofactivityfortheoffshoreoilandgasindustrysmarinesupportoperationsinNorthWestEurope.

International Popularity:Whilesteepedinhistory,Aberdeenisamoderncosmopolitancitywithastrikingskylineofgranitebuildingsandmoderncontemporaryarchitecture,aswellasalivelysocialsceneandampleshoppingandleisurefacilities.Itistheperfectbasefromwhichtoexploresomeofthespectacularsurroundingcountryside.TheruggedNorthEastcoastlineishometoprettyfishingvillagesandstunningbeaches,whilelushfarmlandandpicturesquehamletsawaitvisitorsinland.Aberdeenisalsosurroundedbyhistoriccastlesandsomeoftheworldstopgolfcourses,whilewhiskyenthusiastsflocktothedistilleriesinnearbySpeyside.ManyvisitorsuseAberdeenasabasetoexploreRoyalDeeside,theareaaroundBraemarandBallaterwheretheRiverDeeflowsfromtheCairngormmountainsthroughstunningcountrysidepastBalmoralCastle,whichliesintheshadowofLochnagarMountain.

Aberdeen is a thriving and cosmopolitan city. Situated in the countrys north east corner, it has ancient roots dating back over a thousand years giving it a strong sense of history, while its booming oil and gas industries make it the proud Energy Capital of Europe.

Aberdeenshire is renowned on the world tourism stage as an area of outstanding natural beauty and in the tourism sector demand is currently outstripping supply.

Malmaison, Aberdeen

Why choose Aberdeen?

March2012

MarchYeartoDate

Annual2011

OccupancyRate 75.4% 71.4% 73.8%

AverageDailyRate 75.21 75.17 71.40

RoomsYield(RevPar) 56.69 53.68 52.72

Latest Key Performance Indicators for Aberdeen from STR Global:

TheEnergy Capital of Europehasahighlyskilledworkforcewiththousandsofpeopleemployedintheoil,gas,engineeringandsciencesectors,andmanymoreinthesupplychainfortheseindustries.Thepopulationiscash-richandhigh-spending,whilethecitysindustrialstrengthattractsasteadyflowofaffluentvisitors.

A350millionprojectisalsounderwaytoimprove the citys transport infrastructurethroughthecreationoftheAberdeenWesternPeripheralRoute.BackedbytheScottishGovernment,theroadisbeingdevelopedbyTransportScotlandthenationaltransportagencyinpartnershipwithAberdeenCityandAberdeenshirecouncils.TheAWPRisoneofanumberoftransportprojectsplannedtohelpimproveroadsafetyandaccessibility,reducecongestionandgrowthelocaleconomy.

EducationinAberdeenhasastrong traditionwithtwofamousuniversitiesandScotlandslargestfurthereducationcollege.Around30,000studentsattendtheUniversityofAberdeenandRobertGordonUniversity,whichwasnamedtheSundayTimesScottishUniversityofTheYear2011.AberdeenCollegehasseveralcampusesthroughoutthecityandthereare12secondaryschoolsand54primaryschoolswithinthecityboundary,inadditiontoanumberofprivateschools.

Aberdeenhasanarrayofattractionsandfacilitiestooffervisitorsandresidents,rangingfromartandculturetosportandshopping.Therearefourmajorshoppingcentreslocatedwithinwalkingdistanceofeachother,andtherecentlyopened250millionUnionSquaredevelopmentisthesecond largest shopping and leisure complex in Scotland.Thenightlifeisvariedandlivelywithbars,clubsandcasinostosuitalltastes.

Thenewly-brandedMerchantQuarterinthehistoricalareaaroundTheGreenaimstobethe beat and soul of the city,cateringforvisitorsandlocalslookingforalessconventionalexperiencewithqualityhotels,restaurants,cafesandbars,independentshopsandboutiques.

Aberdeenhassuperbdedicatedsportsfacilitiesandabeautifulbeach.Thesurroundingcountrysideisidealfora wide range of outdoor pursuits suchasgolf,hillwalking,salmonfishing,estateshootingandhorseriding.

Othercitydevelopmentsincludea140millionplantotransformthecentreofAberdeenbycreatinganew civic square atUnionTerraceGardenstoprovidethecitywithanaccessible,safe,connectedandvibrantpublicspace,whilethenew57millionUniversityofAberdeenLibrarycouldprovideadramaticvenueforfutureevents.

Aberdeen Harbour

A cosmopolitan vibe, flourishing arts scene and lively caf culture.World Travel Guide

The powerhouse of the north east.Lonely Planet