GSAIR 2025 | Page 88

Credit: Domus Stay

LONDON

London remains the UK’ s prime growth market, with just under 3,000 committed units( ≈ + 26.7 % on stock), keeping it the number one target for new branded openings through 2026 – 28. 40

The capital will continue to take the lion’ s share of UK pipeline. Operators and investors overweight London as the entry point for corporate demand, relocations, and leisure.

Office-to-aparthotel conversions will quickly add more keys. New 2026 openings in the City, South Bank, Battersea, and Nine Elms reflect lender appetite for conversions. 41

MANCHESTER

Corporate demand will underpin big-ticket hospitality and residential schemes like Nobu Hotel Manchester within Viadux-2, keeping the city on global brands’ radars and boosting extended-stay demand alongside projects and relocations. 42

Rapid city centre growth will bring added pressure on accommodation supply. Expect more serviced apartment developments or conversions near the core business districts to meet demand in 2026 and beyond. 43

BIRMINGHAM

Regeneration schemes in city centre schemes like Smithfield, Digbeth and Eastside around HS2 Curzon Street are set up to add more long-stay / aparthotel stock from 2026 onward. 44

These include an 80-unit aparthotel and 175-room hotel on Digbeth High Street, the conversion of The Royal Angus Snowhill to the 161-unit Aparthotel Birmingham and the incorporation of an Adagio aparthotel into the Beorma Quarter. 45

GLASGOW

The impending arrival of Radisson Serviced Apartments’ UK debut in Glasgow positions serviced apartments as an institutional-grade asset class locally, which is likely to draw further attention from private equity, institutional investors, and lenders.

Having a top-tier international group in-market raises the competitive bar and de-risks entry for other major aparthotel or extended-stay brands. Expect increased activity from both operators looking for sites, and developers seeking to secure management or franchise agreements. 47

BELFAST

With the opening of Staycity’ s first Belfast aparthotel via a tax-office conversion, expect additional proposals as conversions gain favour with lenders. 48

Demand is buoyed by rising tourism, business travel recovery, and limited current supply— creating high absorption potential for new, professionally managed long-stay product. The regulatory environment remains friendly, with fewer licensing hurdles compared to nearby markets.

Operators that can deliver consistent experiences and service, deal with issues quickly, look after their team, the environment, and their customers, will snap up business because they are nimble enough to adapt.

EDINBURGH

The city is chronically undersupplied relative to demand, with record tourism levels and major festivals and conferences supporting extended-stay occupancy. Supercity Aparthotels’ new 66-suite Forth House and planning for Leith Walk 28-bedroom aparthotel signal sustained brand interest into 2026. 46

The visitor levy ramps up in July 2026, so operators are likely to flex their pricing and Average Length of Stay( ALOS) strategies. Expect more small-scale serviced apartment schemes too.

There’ s a huge opportunity to use technology to improve efficiency. You have more time for your customers because the admin is being done by technology in the background.

- Steve Lowy, CEO, AES

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