Edinburgh's visitor information centre at 249 High Street has been secured for the next 25 years.
Councillors on the Finance and Resources Committee have unanimously agreed to lease the prominent location for £150,000 a year to the Cobbs group, a family-run hospitality business with 35 sites across Scotland.
The decision follows the departure of Visit Scotland from the building in March, as it closes all of its in-person tourism hubs in Scotland.
With Living Wage employer Cobbs at the helm, up to 15 jobs are expected to be created at the visitor information centre. It will feature stalls promoting Edinburgh attractions and Scottish tour operators, a Cobbs café selling traditional Scottish baking and a 'Made in Scotland' showcase as part of the centre's retail offering.
Councillor Mandy Watt, Finance and Resources Convener, said:
While more and more visitors are planning their trips to Edinburgh online, you can't beat a warm Scottish welcome face to face.
We believe there remains an appetite for this type of in-person experience for visitors, particularly with the draw of a shop and a café, so I'm pleased that we've been able to secure the visitor information centre's future.
This will prove invaluable as we encourage tourists to visit all parts of the city in all seasons as part of the city’s tourism strategy, and as we introduce Edinburgh's Visitor Levy next summer. The lease will also support us to raise income worth £3.5 million over the next 25 years.
Cobbs is well established throughout Scotland with the family nearing 40 years of tourism experience and we're looking forward to welcoming them into the space.
Fraser Campbell, Managing Director of the Cobbs Group, said:
We're well established in Scotland as the Cobbs group and we proudly operate 35 sites across the country. Opening a tourism office in the heart of Edinburgh is a dream and we're excited to take over the lease. Right in the heart of Edinburgh's festival action, it is the ideal site for showcasing everything the city and Scotland has to offer.
We’re particularly keen to highlight local experiences and ‘Made in Scotland’ items where we can and I’d urge makers and crafters to please get in touch so that we can offer a unique and authentic range for tourists to enjoy on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.
Makers, crafters and businesses selling locally produced products are welcome to contact irene.hurwood@cobbs.info to express an interest in collaborating with Cobbs on their 'Made in Scotland' retail showcase.