Business Traveller takes a look around the first UK property by W Hotels’ sister brand Aloft, attached to the Excel exhibition and conference centre.
The 252-room Aloft London Excel opened to the public last week, in time to welcome the thousands of journalists, travel buyers and hoteliers descending on Excel for this week’s World Travel Market.
Starwood’s first Aloft property in the UK (and only the second in Europe after the Aloft Brussels which opened last year) is attached to the new International Convention Centre (ICC) at Excel, and just a couple of minutes’ walk from the Prince Regent stop on the Docklands Light Railway (Excel is also served by Custom House station on the same line).
The exterior of the property has a curved shape, clad in thousands of “specially treated, highly reflective stainless-steel shingles”, which create a purple/gold shimmer effect. The hotel was designed by Jestico and Whiles, also responsible for sister hotel the W London which opened earlier this year (for a review click here).
Guests can enter the hotel either via the main ground floor entrance, or via the second floor where Fede restaurant is located, and then down the lifts or spiral wooden staircase to reception, where you can check in / out either at the desk or using self-service machines.
Opposite reception is a 24-hour shop (known as re:fuel) selling snacks, drinks, ready meals by the Cook brand, and paid-for continental breakfast – the hotel does not offer breakfast in the traditional style, but guests can purchase items from the shop and then sit down in the hotel’s bar area to eat.
The property’s leisure facilities are located to the left of reception, with a gym (re:charge) featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and Technogym equipment, a sauna and steam room, and a swimming pool (splash).
To the right of reception is wxyz bar, a spacious, curved area with high-backed sofas, a cocktail bar and a pool table at one end. The public areas have a relaxed feel to them, accentuated by reception staff who are dressed in jeans and Aloft-branded fleeces.
The hotel’s meeting facilities are modest, but when you are attached to one of the UK’s largest exhibitions and events complexes, there would be little point in trying to compete. Indeed both the hotel and the ICC are owned by the same company – the Abu Dhabi-based ADNEC.
There are five “tactic” rooms on the first floor, two of which can be combined to create a space for up to 40 people. There is free wifi throughout the hotel, and the first floor also has a couple of computer terminals for guest use.
One floor up is Fede, the hotel’s restaurant. Aloft’s select-service concept is such that a restaurant is not a brand standard, but it was decided that with around 300 events per year at Excel, there was an opportunity to attract both guest and non-residents to the property with an F&B outlet. The restaurant is run by caterers Elior, and at the moment it is not possible to charge meals to guest rooms, although this option is set to be added soon.
There are breakfast options including butties, pancakes, croque monsieurs and continental / full English dishes for those not wanting to avail of the re:charge facility, as well as sharing plates including “The Borough Market” - cured meat selection, sun blushed tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, marinated olives, aged balsamic, grilled ciabatta (£19.50), main courses including the Fede burger (£9.50) and rib eye steak (£17.50), and desserts including blackberry and bramley apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding (both £5.50).
Guest rooms are located on floors 2-8, with 181 King Rooms, 59 twin rooms and 12 Savvy suites. Travellers familiar with the Aloft offering will recognise the room concept here, with 42-inch flatscreen TVs, free wifi, workdesk with ergonomic chair, and a wooden partition separating the bedroom area from the walk-in shower (no bathtubs), wardrobe, iron and ironing board, and empty fridge (rather than a mini bar). As with W Hotels, Bliss amenities are provided.
Rooms start from 24sqm with most being 28sqm or above, and décor is a muted grey and white, punctuated with stripes on the blinds, carpets and bed cushions. Savvy suites feature a bedroom area similar to standard rooms, along with an attached living area with sofa and dining table and chairs, and a guest toilet.
With the Olympic Games coming to London next year, and Excel being one of the event venues, the hotel has opened at the start of what will be a busy year for the capital. Note though that travellers hoping to stay at the hotel during the Games themselves will find that all rooms have already been allocated to LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games).
The hotel is also well-located for travellers using London City airport, with the airport located six stops away on the DLR or around ten minutes by car. There are also 65 car parking spaces at the hotel.
Lead-in rates for an Aloft King Room start from £120, with Savvy suites starting from £260.
For more information visit aloftlondonexcel.com, excel-london.co.uk.
Report by Mark Caswell
