Marriott International has purchased the historic Berners Hotel in London, which it plans to redevelop over the next two years into a boutique Edition brand hotel.

The London Edition marks the latest new property announcement for a brand which only opened the doors of its first property a few weeks ago in Hawaii.

The building will now be totally redeveloped by Ian Schrager, Marriott’s partner in the Edition venture and the man credited with creating the “boutique hotel” genre.

Marriott president Arne Sorenson said that it offered a great location and beautiful facade, describing it as a “perfect canvas for creating a true work of art”.

Reviews of the first Edition property opened in September in Honolulu, Hawaii, have been overwhelmingly positive.

However, the Edition Istanbul, originally expected to be open by the end of 2010, will instead open in the first half of 2011.

The new London property will join a host of other openings from names such as W Hotels, Shangri-La and Sol Melia.

They are set to transform the London hotel market over the next two years ahead of the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.