The man behind Queensway Group’s hotel expansion strategy
With over 30 years of property and construction experience, development director Andrew O’brien talks about the group’s 2023 highlights, why hotels outside of London are a key growth area, and the trends that will carry over into the New Year
Can you tell us about your career so far in the hotel industry?
I have brought over 30 years of property and construction experience to my role as development director at Queensway Group – who owns Point A Hotels – having joined this spring. I started my career in quantity surveying and project management consultancy, before pivoting to hotel development for the likes of De Vere Group and VUR Village Hotels and Leisure.
As 2023 is wrapping up, what highlights has the company had this year?
First and foremost, we have developed our relationship with Tristan Capital to power our hotel expansion strategy, namely acquiring a new office space in prime Edinburgh location, St Andrews Square, to convert into a hotel. We have also refurbished one of our leading London locations at King’s Cross, spending £6.5m on the 249-room location.
Why do you think Edinburgh was best for Queensway’s most recent acquisition?
We made the decision to purchase a new space in Edinburgh, given the successes our Haymarket location has had. Edinburgh is a tourism hotspot, and purchasing a second space in St Andrew’s Square – seen as one of the cities’ oldest cultural hubs – means we can take advantage of the tourist footfall.
What led to the decision to add two more floors on the Point A Hotel in Dublin, as well as build a second location in the same city?
Dublin has a strong tourist economy, and the demand for budget boutique accommodation there is unmatched. For our guest demographic, the city is a perfect complement to our growing collection of hotels in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Why do you think hotels outside of London are a key growth driver for business, and can you explain why you think consumers want city escapes?
We have a large UK customer base, and UK and Ireland city breaks are very accessible when you want an escape but don’t have a lot of time to plan. A large part of our guests stay with us multiple times per year as they’re visiting family, travelling for work, or having a weekend away with their partner.
What trends do you see becoming popular (or continuing to remain popular) in the new year?
Automation in the hotel industry is increasingly becoming a priority for travellers, and in response we’re introducing self-check-in across our fleet of hotels starting with King’s Cross and Liverpool Street. The design of the arrival experience is evolving to facilitate this, and there is a big focus on providing clever multi-functional spaces for guests to work, eat and drink and socialise.
Many of our guests travel as tourists, and as such spend little time in their hotel rooms. As such, they want a room which is comfortable, yet functional. Our rooms offer just that, including five-star beds, smart TVs, and fast and free wi-fi.
We are committed to ESG goals, and with that in mind, are constantly striving to re-purpose disused buildings such as office blocks, rather than tearing them down and rebuilding them. This is the case with our new Edinburgh location. Similarly with new builds, we want to reduce our use of fossil fuels; our Edinburgh location will be completely electric. I think this focus on ESG will continue – and only grow – as we go into next year and beyond.
