This week saw the opening of the Holiday
Inn London Kingston South, and Business Traveller was there for a tour of the property.
The 116–room new-build offers free wifi internet access throughout as well as seven meetings rooms, a restaurant and a bar.
All rooms have a safe, ironing board, a fridge with complimentary water and a choice of five different pillow types. Bathrooms have Italian granite and Taylor’s of London toiletries.
There are 21 executive suites over the four floors, which are a little larger than the standard rooms, and have balconies with views over the river Thames, King size beds (standard rooms have Queen size or twin beds) and a separate desk area. Other perks for the executive guest are more toiletries, a bowl of fruit, and free mini bar (non alcoholic drinks and healthy snacks).
Hotel manager Sudip Sengupta said: “Since the soft opening just before Christmas we have had a lot of positive feedback from our guests. We will be seeing corporate business from Monday to Thursdays, and, just like every other hotel, this will swap to leisure at the weekends.”
Kingston is home to the headquarters of Nuffield Health and Dairy Crest, while Unilever and SHL also have offices in the area. Hampton Court and Chessington World of Adventures will be the main attractions for leisure travellers, as well as Kingston, which is a popular shopping destination outside London.
The seven meeting rooms can seat up to 250 people and all have daylight and flexible room layouts. Delegate packages are available including free car parking and food options from the 100-cover Riverside restaurant, which serves continental as well as pan-Aisan cuisine.
Sengupta also said a small fitness room would be opening shortly. He added: “Just when everyone is saying not to open new hotels, we have done it and it’s all going very well.”
The hotel has easy access to the A3 corridor (linking London to Portsmouth), the A240 and the M25, with London Heathrow nine miles away. There are also regular trains to central London from Surbiton train station, a ten-minute walk from the hotel.
The Holiday Inn London Kingston South is operating under a franchise with The Sun Hotel Group – the first for its UK operations.
For more information visit hikingston.co.uk.
Report by Felicity Cousins
