Page 30 - February 2021

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Locke offers design-led aparthotels for those who want

to experience the unique and authentic. Designed
for travellers, the brand immerses guests in the
neighbourhood’s culture through spaces that connect

them to their surroundings. In this interview,
RLI sits down with Stephen McCall, CEO

of parent company edyn to learn more.

EdEn LockE
Edinburgh ffering seven unique boutique hotels where all are looking at key gateway cities such as Paris, Milan, Barcelona,
the rooms are apartments, Locke believe life Madrid and Lisbon. We are also looking at doing a project in
shouldn’t stop when people are away from Helsinki, which is a top location within Scandinavia.”
Ohome. Staying at a Locke locations means When looking for new properties, they talk about finding
staying the way you want to stay and having the freedom the right micro-location, the right neighbourhoods that are
and autonomy to travel the way you want. on the cusp of becoming increasingly cosmopolitan. McCall
The company creates spaces where you can incorporate feels these locations can be judged and measured by the
all facets of life in one place instead of you just being another number of really innovative and interesting restaurants and
guest in another hotel. bars in the area.
The brand operates four locations in London, with the As for keeping them interesting, this is an area in which
latest having opened last month in the vibrant Dalston Locke excels. Once they have finalised negotiations on a
neighbourhood along with further in locations in Manchester, hotel, what they do is create a muse. What they do is spend
Edinburgh and Dublin. In March, a second site will launch in time in the surrounding neighbourhood and bring together
Dublin and in May two locations will open doors in Munich. people such as DJs, artists, creators, local restaurant operators,
“Germany is a key market for us because of its size, the independent brands among others to learn more about the
commercial value in the sector and the fact that Germany neighbourhood. This in turn allows them a better understanding
has multiple key cities whereas most European countries have of how to design the hotel, what it should look and feel like,
only got one or possibly two,” explains Stephen McCall, CEO how to programme the soundtrack, which restaurants and bar
of edyn, Locke’s parent company. “Outside of Germany, we operators to approach etc.

30 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 2021