There have been a number of new openings and refurbishments in the past year – here’s a round-up. For a map and key to these and other hotels in and around Heathrow, click here.
THE NEW…
Sofitel London Heathrow
Connected by a covered bridge, the Sofitel London Heathrow, which opened in August last year, is the only hotel attached to T5. The low-rise property comprises of five atria joined by a central “avenue”, where the restaurants and bars are located. These include Brasserie Roux, a fine-dining eatery offering French regional dishes, Tea 5 salon, and Vivre, an all-day restaurant with five “live cooking-theatre kitchens”. The rooms are arranged around the atria, with Luxury rooms and suites towards one end, alongside premium services such as a separate check-in desk and an executive lounge. Rooms feature Sofitel’s signature “My Bed”, a Hugo Boss armchair and footrest, a workdesk with wired and wifi internet access, a “media hub” allowing guests to feed iPod content through the flatscreen TVs, and a separate bath and shower. The hotel has one of the largest meeting and conference facilities in the UK, with 45 rooms and a separate entrance. The Arora suite can take up to 1,700 delegates theatre-style. There are also five treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and hydro pool. For a review of Sofitel London Heathrow, click here.Travelodge
Travelodge has opened two new properties, the first being Travelodge Heathrow Terminal 5. Located in an industrial estate just west of junction 14 off the M25, this hotel is about five minutes’ drive from the main T5 building. It opened in November 2007 and has 297 rooms, all of which have a workdesk, wifi internet access (there is no wired internet or telephone), tea and coffee-making facilities, flatscreen TV and air conditioning. Bathrooms have a combined bath/shower. There is a bar next to reception that is open till 11pm, and a buffet breakfast is available for £7.50 per person, although the hotel chain is encouraging guests to pre-order breakfast and other meals online by offering discounts. The 304-room Travelodge Heathrow Central opened in January and is on Bath Road. For a review of Travelodge Heathrow Terminal 5, click here.Ramada London Heathrow
Opened in September last year, the 200-room Ramada London Heathrow is part new-build and part conversion of the previous Ramada Heathrow property that stood on the same site. The hotel is located on the Bath Road, accessible from the central Heathrow bus terminal by Hoppa bus number H41, or the several free public buses plying the area. Standard rooms are located on the first four floors, with the larger Executive rooms on the fifth floor. Two-thirds of the rooms look outwards, with the rest facing into an unused internal courtyard, and all come with air-conditioning, flatscreen televisions with on-demand movies, wired and wifi internet access for £6 per hour, a combined trouser press and non-steam iron/ironing board, a workdesk, a safe, a single or double sofa bed depending on the room, tea and coffee-making facilities and free mineral water. The hotel’s restaurant and bar are on the ground floor. Arts Bar is a trendy area with several different styles of furniture, while past this is the all-day restaurant Arts Brasserie, where a buffet breakfast is served. The six meeting venues are on the first floor. For a review of the Ramada London Heathrow, click here.Easyhotel London Heathrow
The budget hotel brand’s first Heathrow property opened in January and is located on Brickfield Lane, about a mile and a half north of Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The hotel has 53 air-conditioned bedrooms with an en suite shower room, flatscreen TV and wifi access. It’s also the first property to feature the brand’s new-look room design. Easyhotel has toned down the use of its trademark orange décor, with a vertical orange stripe replacing the wall of colour.Hilton London Heathrow T5
At the beginning of last year, Hilton Hotels Corporation signed a franchise deal for a hotel close to T5. The 350-bedroom Hilton is expected to open early next year and will operate under a 20-year franchise agreement with Shiva Hotels. Hilton has also signed an exclusive contract to offer a free shuttle bus service between its T5 and T4 properties.… AND IMPROVED
Sheraton
Sheraton’s two Heathrow properties have both completed refurbishment projects. The Sheraton Heathrow Hotel has renovated its 426 rooms, bringing the number of Club rooms up to 98, while the Sheraton Skyline has added 65 Club rooms. These come with upgraded amenities and access to the Club lounge. The Skyline is due to reopen its Sky Garden, bar and pool this April, following the replacement of the atrium roof. The Skyline has also become the first Sheraton hotel in the UK to add the Link@Sheraton experience, featuring a lounge area, plasma-screen TV and free wifi.Radisson Edwardian
The Radisson Edwardian London Heathrow Hotel underwent a £4 million refurbishment of its 120 Deluxe rooms last year. A further £5 million is being spent on refurbishing the Standard rooms and upgrading technology in its conference rooms.Marriott
The Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel, part of Marriott International, has undergone a £2 million renovation of the bar, ballroom, restaurant and lobby, with new colour schemes and carpeting. The London Heathrow Marriott’s 393 bedrooms have been given a new look using cherry-wood furniture, granite-finish desktops and new lighting, while its 15 meeting rooms have been upgraded as part of a £4.5 million refurb. In addition, a £5 million facelift of the Heathrow/Windsor Marriott Hotel was completed last spring, giving the ballroom, public areas and bedrooms a facelift. A restaurant and café-bar were also added.Hilton London Heathrow Airport
The 32 conference rooms at T4’s Hilton London Heathrow Airport Hotel, which can cater for up to 300 people, underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2007 with new flooring and a digital electronic signage system installed. The hotel has 395 rooms and suites and guests can dine at one of three restaurants. Facilities include a pool and health club, with spa treatments available.Accor
Accor’s budget property, Hotel Ibis London Heathrow Airport, now has the brand’s new-style rooms, which are gradually being rolled out across the portfolio. In addition to fresh décor, rooms now have duvets, LCD TVs and access to movies, music and high-speed internet. The upscale Novotel London Heathrow has been upgraded to a four-star property, after an ongoing two-year refurbishment (all rooms will be upgraded by the summer). The new rooms have flatscreen TVs with pay-per-view satellite channels and movies on demand, a dedicated workspace and wifi. The atrium has also had a makeover and the hotel has introduced the Elements food and drink concept, allowing guests to eat where and when they want.Holiday Inn
Intercontinental Hotels Group announced a US$1 billion relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family (comprising Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Express by Holiday Inn hotels) in October 2007. The relaunch programme, which will affect the Holiday Inn London Heathrow Ariel and the Holiday Inn London Heathrow, is expected to be completed by the end of next year. It will include a redesigned welcome experience, a bespoke music programme, a signature scent in reception, refreshed bedding and bathroom products, and a new logo.Park Inn Heathrow London Hotel
Park Inn’s Heathrow property has opened the Blue Conference Centre, consisting of a 2,045 sqm venue that can be subdivided into smaller rooms. This is in addition to its existing Red Conference Centre. The hotel has also renovated 200 of its 895 rooms in the new colourful style, and added comfortable work areas, laptop safes and flatscreen TVs. All guests booked in Standard rooms will now have the newly refurbished product. A new restaurant, Bravo! Bravo!, has also opened, serving à la carte and buffet-style menus. After 10pm it turns into a late-night entertainment venue, with dancing and music until 3am. The hotel’s KI spa is now fully operational, and there is an indoor pool and gym.Arora International Heathrow
Until last September, the Arora International Heathrow was for flight crew only, but it now takes bookings from the public. The bedrooms were given a soft refurbishment last summer, while the restaurant, menu and bar were refreshed. The Arora has 358 bedrooms with amenities including safes, tea and coffee-making facilities and broadband connection. All public areas have wifi access. The hotel also has six meeting rooms and a gym, and buses run every five minutes to all the terminals.
