FDBusiness.com

Diageo has sold Gleneagles Hotel to a private investment group led by Ennismore for an undisclosed amount. Ennismore is a real estate hospitality firm which owns The Hoxton brand, and develops and operates a series of unique hotels in Europe and the United States. The group has its origins in Shoreditch, East London.

Gleneagles Hotel was opened in 1924 and has been wholly owned by Diageo since 1984. In the year ended 30 June 2014 the business generated revenues of £43.5 million and an operating profit of £2.6 million with a return on invested capital of 4% based on book value for the year ended 30 June 2014.

Ivan Menezes, chief executive of Diageo, comments: “Diageo is proud to have been the owner of Gleneagles but the hotel is not a core business for us and therefore following the success of the Ryder Cup we feel this is an appropriate time to realise value through this transaction. I am pleased that Diageo’s brands, especially our scotch brands, will continue to be an important feature at this iconic Scottish hotel. We wish Ennismore and all the staff at the hotel a successful future.”