Tag: The George Hotel

The George partners with Edinburgh College of Art to pay tribute to Susan Ferrier

Students set to compete in art competition in homage to the 19th century Scottish novelist who once lived in townhouse, now part of iconic hotel

InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel – part of IHG Hotels & Resorts – has launched a competition for students at the Edinburgh College of Art – University of Edinburgh offering budding artists the opportunity to paint a piece of history, marking the 200th anniversary of the release of Susan Ferrier’s novel, ‘The Inheritance’.

Launched ahead of International Women’s Day (IWD), students from the renowned art school have been commissioned to create an exclusive piece of artwork which celebrates the novel, originally released in 1824 and considered to be the author’s greatest work, as well as the hotel’s unique connection to Susan Ferrier.

A novelist of the Scottish Enlightenment, who sold more books than Jane Austen in her lifetime, but whose legacy has been less known to 21st century audiences, once resided in one of the townhouses which now makes up the InterContinental Edinburgh The George. A successful business woman and intellectual, Susan Ferrier challenged gender stereotypes of her time and was recognised for her writing by the likes of Sir Walter Scott.

Located at No. 25 George Street, the Ferrier family home was well known amongst Edinburgh intellectual circles during the 18th century, with Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns frequently visiting. Scotland’s national bard even penned a poem to the Ferrier sisters.

‘The Inheritance’ tells the story of the young heroine Gertrude as she arrives in the Scottish estate of Lord Rossville to take up her position as his heiress, but finds herself in the middle of a gallery of humorous and eccentric characters — and at the centre of a mystery. The novel is concerned with questions of morality and education, in particular, a woman’s role in marriage and education.

The book also references national identity and the differences between Scottish and English cultures in the aftermath of the Union of 1707 and the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745.

To mark the bicentennial of the novel’s publication, InterContinental Edinburgh The George has worked closely with ECA to create a brief to help inspire students. As well as becoming part of the hotel’s heritage, the winning artist will also receive a purchase price for their artwork, which will be displayed within the hotel lounge for the months of July and August, before being permanently installed in the hotel’s Ferrier Suite.

An overnight stay in the Ferrier Suite and dinner in the hotel’s restaurant Le Petit Beefbar will also be included for the winning artist whose work will be chosen by a panel from both The George Hotel and ECA.

Stephanie Lee, Director of Sales at InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel, said: “Partnering with the Edinburgh College of Art on this innovative competition to pay tribute to Susan Ferrier while raising awareness of her wonderful work and talent mirrors InterContinental’s deep respect for the arts.

“Edinburgh has a long lineage of producing world-class creatives and the fact that one of its most talented daughters is celebrating a milestone anniversary, deserves to be commemorated.

“We’re excited to see the student’s interpretations of ‘The Inheritance’ and what it represents for them through their art. We’re even more excited to see the winning painting displayed in the Ferrier Suite for guests from around the world to see. We wish all students the best of luck and can’t wait to see the entries honouring Susan Ferrier’s life and work.”

Susan Mowatt, Head of School of Art, University of Edinburgh; “The Ferrier Painting Award launched by Intercontinental The George to celebrate the achievements of the novelist and publisher Susan Ferrier, is a brilliant opportunity for our art students which will see the selected painting commissioned and installed in the original Ferrier rooms. A really exciting public project.”

The competition, which is being run directly with students at ECA, will close in May 2024 with the winner being announced shortly afterwards.

InterContinental Edinburgh The George ensures sweet dreams

·       Historic city centre hotel partners with sleep specialist Donna Fairley to create a recipe for the ideal winter’s night sleep as the UK prepares for clocks to change

·       InterContinental Edinburgh The George has also worked with independent Scottish perfume house, Jorum Studio, to create a new bespoke scent – featuring Scottish botanicals of lavender and gorse – to help guests drift off

·       Guests will also have access to in-room yoga sessions from Hot Yoga Edinburgh, to relax the mind and body

·       The room add-on service is bookable from 30 October when clocks change to Greenwich Mean Time for winter

Travellers to Edinburgh will have even sweeter dreams from October at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, as the luxury hotel launches A Moment of Tranquillity aimed at helping guests to unwind and get a great night’s sleep in time for the season changing.

The historic city centre hotel has worked with a selection of local partners to develop the ultimate relaxation package, which will launch on 30th October to coincide with the clocks changing.

Partnering with behavioural sleep expert Donna Fairley, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist for Insomnia from Sleep Consultancy Ltd in Edinburgh, the hotel has gathered expert tips on counteracting issues that the changing seasons can bring to slumber, to create the new room add-on package.  

InterContinental Edinburgh The George has also worked with Scottish perfume house Jorum Studio to develop a signature scent, which will be spritzed during a luxury turndown service.

Jorum was established in 2010 by Euan McCall as one of Scotland’s first fragrance houses.  In 2019, Euan launched Jorum Studio with his partner, Chloe Mullen, and the pair have been building a new, world-class perfume making industry in Scotland from their base in Edinburgh’s charming Stockbridge. Jorum crafts everything in-house, creating innovative and eclectic fragrances with the highest quality materials.

The new sleep-inducing room spray is named after the winter Celtic Goddess Cailleach, and encapsulates the soothing scents of chamomile, jasmine, ylang ylang, lavender and raspberry. The luxurious soft musk-based fragrance also features gorse, in a nod to the Scottish landscape that has inspired much of the interiors of the luxury property. 

Meanwhile, to help guest clear their minds before sleep, yoga studio, Hot Yoga Edinburgh, has provided a bespoke aromatherapy yoga class and morning wake-up routine, available for guests to view in room.

Instructor Allison Harrison will guide guests through a restorative series of gentle seated and standing positions to help clear the mind, relax the body and reduce stress levels.

Michael Martin, General Manager at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, comments: “We know that whether you are travelling for work or play, sleeping well can help you to have a far more successful and enjoyable trip.

“Our specially curated Moment of Tranquillity package will help guests relax and enable them to have the dream stay in any of our splendid rooms.

“Everyone wants to get the most from exploring beautiful, historic city destinations like Edinburgh and our new offering will allow guests to wake up refreshed after a peaceful night sleep, ready for the day ahead.”

Behavioural sleep specialist, Donna Fairley, comments: “Autumn is a wonderful time for long nights, curling up with cosy blankets and relaxing by the fire. Getting a good night’s sleep in winter should seem like no problem.

“However, for some people, winter can wreak havoc on sleep quality and quantity, particularly when we set our clocks back one hour for daylight saving time. If you’re busy and travelling, perhaps even more so.

“During the first few days after setting the clocks back, you will also notice that it’s bright outside in the mornings and becomes dark at an earlier time each evening. If you’re one of those people who finds that these colder, shorter months mean more tossing and turning at night it may be because fewer hours of daylight in the winter can have a big impact on your sleep-wake cycle.

“There is no single fix for everyone but there are great sleep hygiene tips available.  These scientifically validated tips have been included in ‘A Moment of Tranquillity’ to help visitors get the best night’s sleep possible in the luxury surroundings of InterContinental Edinburgh The George.” 

Donna’s top tips and strategies for practicing good sleep hygiene:

1.    Establish a consistent routine, try and keep a regular bed and wake time, including at the weekend, as this can help prepare you for time changes. 

2.    Get sunlight exposure as soon as you get up. Get outdoors in the morning, soon after the sun comes up. If that’s not possible, try to at least sit by a window during the first few hours of daylight.  

3.    Caffeine should be consumed in the morning as it can enhance performance. Caffeine consumed within six hours of bedtime can disrupt your sleep cycle. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. Alcohol has a sedative effect and will make you fall asleep quickly, but it has been linked to poor sleep quality and duration. 

4.    In the evening, dim lighting is important. The bedroom should be as dark as possible with black-out blinds and lined curtains. When you are ready to sleep, the room should be so dark you cannot see your hand. 

5.    The bedroom should not be too hot; the ideal temperature is around 18 degrees Celsius. A drop in room temperature should start around two hours before you go to sleep, coinciding with the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. 

6.    If you tend to be a worrier, factor constructive ‘worry time’ into the early evening but not too close to bedtime. Try to think about what went well that day. Have a to-do list for outstanding tasks for the following day, so that when you waken during the night, you can reassure yourself that everything is in hand. Let it go! 

7.    Relaxing scents and fragrances can help you unwind. 

8.    Have a hot bath or shower two hours before bed, using scented oils to help you unwind. This will not only help you to relax but will initially raise your body temperature which will then fall and thereby optimise the natural effects of melatonin. 

9.    Practice stretching before bed. Yoga has been proven to initiate and allow for a deeper, more relaxing sleep. 

10.With its soothing and mildly sedative effect, chamomile tea prior to bedtime can help with sleep.  

InterContinental Edinburgh The George is perfectly nestled in Edinburgh’s old town. Each of its rooms and suites sit above the city bustle with a colour palette matching the Scottish landscape of Highland glens to forest ferns and mountain heathers.

Luxury interiors with homely design touches including throws, bathrobes and black-out curtains, make it the ideal spot for a restful night this winter.

A Moment of Tranquillity is a pre-bookable luxury turndown service, using the bespoke Jorum scents and includes access to Hot Yoga Edinburgh’s evening and morning classes, Byredo bath products, and warm chamomile tea served just before bedtime to help guests fully relax. 

Building on the advice from sleep expert, Donna, the hotel’s housekeeping team will pre-set the room temperature to 18 degrees for guest arrival, to help them unwind from the moment the step inside the hotel. Guests can also dd a gentle morning wake-up call.

Guests booking Moment of Tranquillity are being offered an exclusive 20% discount at Jorum Studio, to explore the perfumery during their stay, and find their ideal winter scent.   

A Double Classic Room starts from £170. To arrange Moment of Tranquillity on a visit to InterContinental Edinburgh The George, email edinburghthegeorge@ihg.com. 

For more information, visit: edinburgh.intercontinental.com/offers/

InterContinental Edinburgh The George appoints new General Manager

InterContinental Edinburgh The George, located in the historic New Town of Edinburgh, has appointed Michael Martin as its new General Manager. 

Michael brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry including two decades in leadership roles within the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Previous roles include Regional General Manager and Opening General Manager of InterContinental Dubai Marina, Regional General Manager Singapore, Malaysia and Batam, and General Manager InterContinental Singapore.  

He returns to the UK following a 12-year stint overseas, most recently holding the role of General Manager at InterContinental Shenzhen in China. 

He will oversee day-to-day operations of the iconic Edinburgh property from guest experience, events, food and beverage at The Printing Press Bar and Kitchen and Burr & Co, as well as leading its award-winning team, maintaining its stature as one of the leading luxury hotels in the city.  

Mr Martin takes over from current Cluster General Manager Kieran Quinn who has held the role of GM for both the InterContinental Edinburgh The George and Kimpton Charlotte Square since 2020.

Kieran will move to focus on the Charlotte Square property, but both will work closely together to promote both hotels’ offerings to a global audience.  

Originally from Winchester, Michael is a family man and keen golfer.  

Michael Martin, General Manager, InterContinental Edinburgh The George, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed General Manager at such a prestigious Scottish property.

“I’m looking forward to getting started, exploring more of the wonderful city of Edinburgh, and having the opportunity to lead a truly iconic hotel.” 

Kieran Quinn, General Manager at Kimpton Charlotte Square and former GM at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, added: “Michael brings a wealth of international experience along with exciting new plans that will preserve the operational excellence that has come to be expected of a stay at InterContinental Edinburgh The George.

“We are looking forward to working together to promote both hotels and Edinburgh and all it has to offer.” 

InterContinental Edinburgh The George, a former collection of five Georgian townhouses, is home to 240 rooms and 13 suites as well as seven event spaces which can host up to 300 guests. Situated in the capital of Scotland, the hotel is a 25-minute drive from Edinburgh Airport and a five-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverly station. 

For more information, please visit edinburgh.intercontinental.com. 

The George commemorates 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott with special operatic performance

InterContinental Edinburgh The George has partnered with Scottish Opera to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott with a special balcony performance of ‘Spargi d’amaro pianto’ from Lucia di Lammermoor, an opera based on Scott’s historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor.

Yesterday’s performance – on 21 September, which is the anniversary of his death – featured Scottish Opera’s emerging artist, soprano Catriona Clark, accompanied by pianist Toby Hession. 

Forming part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of Sir Walter Scott, and in the wake of the pandemic, Scottish Opera will feature the novel, The Bride of Lammermoor as a creative stimulus and inspiration to explore issues such as loneliness and isolation.

‘Sweet Sounds in Wild Places’ aims to empower women who have been struggling during lockdown and to help build creative skills, as well as increase self-confidence and self-expression.

The hotel boasts a historical connection to Scotland’s beloved Sir Walter Scott and was originally a collection of five prestigious townhouses. James Ferrier and his family lived at Number 25, with many literary links including Sir Walter Scott, who was also a well-known friend of novelist Susan Ferrier and was regularly entertained at the family home.

InterContinental Edinburgh The George will welcome back Scottish Opera next year to host a curated exhibition of the artwork created throughout the ‘Sweet Sounds in Wild Places’ sessions.

Kieran Quinn, Hotel General Manager InterContinental Edinburgh The George said: “It is hugely exciting to host Scottish Opera at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, both to support the launch of Scottish Opera’s ‘Sweet Sounds in Wild Places’ as well as commemorate Sir Walter Scott. 

“This world-class performance is not only a nod to Sir Walter Scott, whom had a personal connection to the historical building of this hotel, but also highlights that InterContinental Edinburgh The George is open, following the many challenges faced by the hospitality industry.

“The impact from the pandemic has left many people with feelings of loneliness, isolation and anxiety and it is important that we support them. We look forward to our partnership with Scottish Opera, and to welcoming them back to host a selection of the artwork created during their ‘Sweet Sounds in Wild Places’ workshops.

Jane Davidson, Director of Outreach and Education, Scottish Opera said: “The past 18 months has been a challenging time for many people, and even although some things are returning to normal, some of us are struggling with mental health and well-being which can make it difficult to re-connect with our usual activities, social circles or with the places where we live and work.

“At times like this it is important not to undermine the power of opera and the ability individuals have to connect with the art forms involved. We thank InterContinental Edinburgh The George for its support in our ‘Sweet Sounds in Wild Places’ sessions and look forward to celebrating the artwork created during the workshops with them later in the year.”

As part of the partnership The InterContinental Edinburgh The George join The Cruden Foundation and Scottish Opera’s Education Angels in supporting the Sweet Sounds in Wild Places project.

For more information about the InterContinental Edinburgh The George visit:

https://edinburgh.intercontinental.com/.

For more information about Scottish Opera’s ‘Sweet Sounds in Wild Places’ sessions visit: https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/sweet-sounds-in-wild-places/