The joint venture between Marriott and Ian Schrager will debut in the capital, following Marriott’s purchase of the historic Berner’s Hotel in Fitzrovia.
Previously operated by JJW Hotels and Resorts, Berners Hotel has been closed since 2006, and recently went into administration. Marriott International has now acquired the property and will spend the next 18-24 months renovating the hotel before reopening it as the first Edition property in London.
The hotel is located on Berners Street, also the location for the Sanderson, part of the Morgans Hotel Group, a company founded by Ian Schrager before he left in 2005 to set up the Ian Schrager Company.
The Berners Hotel dates back to 1835, and originally comprised five residential houses before being converted into a hotel. The building has retained original architectural features including ornate ceilings and a marble-clad reception area, and the president and chief operating officer, Marriott International, Arne Sorenson, said that the property’s “great location and beautiful façade” means the building is “ia perfect canvas for creating a true work of art”.
The first Edition hotel opened on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu last month, with future properties under development in Istanbul, Miami, Barcelona, Mexico City and Bangkok. The brand has been conceived to combine “the personal, intimate, individualized and unique lodging experience that Ian Schrager is known for, with the global reach, operational expertise and scale of Marriott”.
For a closer look at the joint venture, including an interview with Ian Schrager, see First Edition in the forthcoming December 2010 / January 2011 issue of Business Traveller.
Visit editionhotels.com, marriott.com.
Report by Mark Caswell