A senior executive at Marriott has underlined the hotel giant’s enthusiasm for Scotland where the company sees opportunities for growth in cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Tim Walton, who heads Marriott International’s hotel development arm in western Europe, said the firm is keen to continue an expansion programme which has seen it open five hotels under its brands in Scotland in recent months.

“Scotland has been good to us in terms of growth,” said Mr Walton, who added that Marriott is looking at a number of sites in the country.

He was speaking before the official opening of a new Courtyard by Marriott in Edinburgh, which the group sees as a particularly attractive market.

Mr Walton said: “Edinburgh has the best hotel market in the UK outside London ... it’s multi-faceted and it’s strong on a year round basis.”

Edinburgh has strong business and leisure markets, with many visitors coming from overseas.

Marriott continues to look at opportunities in Glasgow. The Courtyard by Marriott which it opened at Glasgow airport last year is expanding.

Mr Walton said Glasgow is a more rate sensitive market than Edinburgh, where hoteliers can charge higher rates for rooms.

The new 240-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott in the lee of Calton Hill in Edinburgh was developed by Chris Stewart Group, which specialises in reusing historic buildings. The hotel combines three adjoining Georgian townhouses with a new building.

The group is working on plans to develop a mixed-use complex out of former council buildings close to Glasgow’s George Square. This is expected to include a hotel and offices.