London’s Royal Garden Hotel completes refurb

The Royal Garden Hotel in London’s Kensington district has become the latest property in the capital to undergo refurbishment ahead of next year’s Olympic Games. The hotel says it has spent a total of £45 million of the project, with the final stage being the renovation of 154 rooms and suites on the first to fourth floors of the property. The new-look rooms are decorated “in neutral calming shades and set off by rich fabrics”, with features including iPod docking stations, flatscreen TV and a media hub. All 394 rooms within the property have now been refurbished, along with the meeting and events spaces, two restaurants, three bars, and the hotel’s public areas. The hotel is one of a raft of properties opening or being refurbished in London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games. Marriott's Renaissance brand officially opened The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London on May 5, while The Dorchester Collection is set to open its second London property, 45 Park Lane in August. Corinthia has opened its first London property on Whitehall Place, and St Ermin's has also made its London debut close to St James' Park Station. W Hotels opened its first London property in Leicester Square in February, while the Four Seasons London at Park Lane reopened in January after a two-year refurbishment. The Savoy unveiled its £220 million revamp late last year. Kempinski's The Stafford unveils its revamp this month, and the boutique Eccleston Square hotel will follow open in Pimlico this year. Bulgari Hotels will also open its first London property in Knightsbridge towards the end of the year. The Hyatt Regency London – the Churchill is undergoing a “multimillion-pound” refurbishment of all guestrooms, while Guoman’s Charing Cross has completed its project to add a new Executive Wing, and the London Marriott Grosvenor Square has completed the final part of a £3.5 million renovation project. For more information visit royalgardenhotel.co.uk. Report by Mark Caswell