The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh has announced record-breaking results for 2006 – a 22 per cent rise on the previous year.

The increased profit resulted from a 16.5 per cent increase in the average room rate accompanied by a rising demand for the more expensive luxury suites and castle-view bedrooms.

The hotel’s wedding business also increased its revenue by 30 per cent, after being named best wedding hotel and top third wedding location in the world by The Independent in April 2006.

The majority of its visitors come from the UK, Russia, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland. One in four guests are from the US.

General manager Debbie Taylor said: “We have enjoyed our best year ever, with outstanding business performance and room sales and 25 prestigious awards. We have a business strategy in place to sustain this for 2007, including a dynamic sales and marketing plan, and an investment project which includes a bathroom refurbishment.

“Our key focus will, however, always remain on staff development and training in order to continue our exemplary service levels, which is necessary to service this high level of business” Details: www.thebalmoralhotel.com