News

Bulgari Hotels set for London debut

1 Feb 2011 by BusinessTraveller

The joint venture between Bulgari and Marriott International looks set to unveil its first London hotel, a luxury property on the site of the former Knightsbridge Palace Hotel.

Rumours of Bulgari Hotels and Resorts arriving in London have been reported in the media for several years (see a report on The Times website from October 2008).

But the deal looks close to being finalised according to a report in The Times today (February 1), which says that the billionaire co-founder of the Spanish chain Zara is in “final-stage talks to invest £350 million in a ‘super luxury’ London hotel bearing the Bulgari name”.

Indeed a page on the website of industry roofing specialist Rock, a firm which has been chosen to supply the roofing package for a luxury hotel project in Knightsbridge, states that “Bulgari is preparing to open the Knightsbridge Palace Hotel, its first in London”.

The Knightsbridge Palace Hotel name refers to the original hotel which stood on the site of the new project overlooking Knightsbridge Green. According to Prime Development, the property developer behind the project, “the Palace’s name and style will live on, offering a 21st century take on the comfort and luxury that made the original hotel a by-word for elegance in its heyday”.

The developer’s January newsletter says that the building’s topping out ceremony is due to take place in late February, with an opening date of early 2012. Facilities detailed in the newsletter include a 25-metre swimming pool, “fully decorated with gorgeous mosaics “, as well as a double height ballroom, private cinema in the basement, and residences on the upper floors with terraces and views over Hyde Park.

Bulgari currently operates hotels in Milan and Bali, as well as restaurant and luxury café concepts in Tokyo.

The Bulgari project is the latest in a long line of luxury hotel projects in the capital. The Four Seasons London at Park Lane reopened this week after a two-year refurbishment programme, while The Savoy unveiled its £220 million refurbishment project late last year, and W London will open on Leicester Square on February 14. 

The Corinthia Hotel London is also now taking reservations, while the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will open on March 14, and the boutique Eccleston Square Hotel will follow suit in Pimlico later this year.

The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is to undergo a “multi-million-pound” refurbishment of all guestrooms over the next few months, and Guoman’s Charing Cross hotel is nearing the completion of its project to add a new Executive Wing.

Business Traveller is also conducting a hard hat tour of the forthcoming St Ermins Hotel in Westminster, currently undergoing renovation and due to reopen in April. We will be publishing a report on the project later this week.

For more information visit bulgarihotels.com.

Report by Mark Caswell

Loading comments...

Search Flight

See a whole year of Reward Seat Availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls