RafKa

Westin Hotels & Resorts to Debut in the United Kingdom

Marriott International, Inc. today announced plans to debut the Westin brand in the United Kingdom. Owned by 4C Hotel Group and managed by RBH, The Westin London City is set to open in 2020 and will boast a prime riverfront location in the heart of the City of London. This hotel signing illustrates how the global demand for well-being continues to propel Westin’s growth around the world, with recent openings in Australia and upcoming debuts in Malaysia and the Maldives.

“Transforming the way travellers experience wellness continues to be a powerful proposition for Westin, and one that has become increasingly important as people integrate well-being more holistically into their lifestyle,” said Brian Povinelli, Senior Vice President & Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “We are thrilled to not only debut the brand in London, but also to open this marquee hotel on the iconic River Thames, where travellers and locals alike are staying active every day.”

The Westin London City will be a key part of the redevelopment of the former Queensbridge House site, as well as an independently operated destination restaurant. The site stretches from Queenhithe Dock – the oldest in London – and runs north to south, bridging across Upper Thames Street and giving it a prominent position over one of the primary arterial routes through the City of London. Highly visible from the South Bank, the hotel will also benefit from panoramic views over the River Thames and will complete the northern riverbank walkway between the Tower of London and Millennium Bridge.

“This is an exciting chapter for the Westin brand,” said John Licence, Vice President Premium & Select Brands, Marriott International Europe. “It is clear that there is a strong appetite for the brand’s wellness positioning, innovative programming and premium accommodations. With its commanding riverfront location in the commercial and historic heart of the City of London, The Westin London City is sure to offer a reviving and memorable stay for guests in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.”

Led by British architects Dexter Moren Associates, the thoughtfully designed hotel is fluid and sculptural with a biophilic-focus, suggesting that a connection to nature enhances well-being. Upon arrival, guests enter into an atrium space that is at once open and airy, yet residential and intimate. The lobby leads into a riverside bar and restaurant, which opens onto the new public walkway affording spectacular views across the river towards Shakespeare’s Globe and the South Bank.

The hotel’s 220 guest rooms, including 29 suites and Presidential Suite, are designed to offer guests a nature-inspired respite in the centre of a bustling city, expertly balancing a calming palette of natural colours with contrasting tones, textures and materials. All rooms will feature Westin’s signature services and amenities, such as the world-renowned Heavenly™ Bed and reviving Heavenly™ Bath experience.

Embodying the brand’s Let’s Rise mantra that empowers guests to take back control of their travel routine through wellness, the hotel will feature an indoor swimming pool, idyllic (4036 square foot) spa and WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio with state-of-the-art TRX® exercise equipment. In addition, the hotel will offer the renowned RunWESTIN™ program with three and five-mile jogging routes along the riverfront and the brand’s signature Gear Lending program, allowing guests to pack light and stay fit with New Balance shoes and clothing for guests to use during their stay.

The hotel’s prominent location, combined with excellent airport, train and underground links, will appeal to the business and meetings market. 8900 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space will be available, including a Junior Ballroom and four meeting rooms, as well as a 24-hour business center.

For more information, please visit www.westin.com.

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About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, a leader in wellness and hospitality for more than a decade, empowers guests and associates to embrace well-being and be their best selves through the brand’s Six Pillars of Well-Being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well. At more than 200 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience offerings that include the iconic Heavenly Bed, RunWESTIN and Westin Gear Lending with New Balance, delicious and nutritious SuperFoodsRx™ and more. To learn more, visit www.westin.com. Stay connected to Westin: @Westin on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Westin.

About 4C Hotel Group
Founded in 2010, the 4C Hotel Group is a privately-owned hotel development company with a portfolio of 15 properties in key business centres and leisure hotspots across the UK, Canada, East Africa and the Middle East. Headquartered in London, 4C Hotel Group expects to introduce close to 1000 new rooms in the UK, Canada and East Africa by the end of 2018. To achieve its vision of becoming a market-leading hotel operator and developer, 4C Hotel Group collaborates with high-profile international hotel groups to open full and limited service properties in major markets. To find out more visit www.4chotels.co.uk

About RBH
RBH, the UK’s leading independent hotel management company, manages a diverse collection of over 70 branded and private label hotel properties. Working in partnership with five of the most prestigious international hotel brands, including IHG, Hilton, Accor, Marriott and Wyndham, RBH is a driving force in the hospitality industry. The company offers a wealth of hotel management expertise and currently has an annual turnover in excess of Ł350m. The RBH expert team of over 250 hotel specialists operate from offices in London, Leeds and Glasgow. The portfolio unites over 11,000 rooms and over 6,000 colleagues across the managed and leased hotels. www.rbhmanagement.com.

Westin Hotels & Resorts to Debut in the United Kingdom | Marriott News Center

RafKa

I imagine this will be ŁŁŁ and 100% occupancy during the week, and nearly empty on weekends.

yyznomad

It never dawned on me that UK never had a Westin until now.

craigthemif

Unlikely... Near Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St. Pauls, Tate Modern, South Bank, Borough Market, etc. Just as useful for tourism as for business (particularly since many of the banks are now in Canary Wharf and the fund managers in Mayfair...)

This location is nonetheless a big coup for Westin / Marriott...

Eastbay1K

No doubt, a Category 15 property.

joakgarp

Finally! Been waiting for this for a very long time. Westin is my favourite hotel brand so will be watching this.
I hope Marriott will open up more Westin hotels in europe.
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ajamieson

Westin Turnberry existed for many years until Trump bought it, so it's not a brand debut as Marriott claims. Although this as a new building it may have more of a Westin 'feel' I guess.

Oxon Flyer

Interesting choice of name for this hotel.

It’s undoubtedly in the heart of the ‘City of London’ - the historic centre and primary Central Business District - but for most travellers ‘London City’ has associations with the dockland/airport district.

ajamieson

Agree, bad choice; it should be Westin City of London or Westin Square Mile

yyznomad

Ah yes, the Turnberry! No wonder I was confused.
Maybe Trump is behind the brand "debut" communiqué. (but we'll leave the rest of this for the OMNI forum)

James Luckard

Westin also operated the 47 Park Street hotel in London from 1996-1999, when they had their Westin Demeure Hotels brand.

bennos

marriott.com lists the property as "Opening September 2021", but not yet bookable. Category 7.

From the limited pictures, the hotel looks pretty nice (if you're into modern design), and the rooms appear to have (slightly curvy) desks.

UKTraveller4Fun

Recently walked past the site where this hotel will be. I must say it didnt look like it would open in September and would imagine more November. Equally there is the riverfront part of the property and then the part further back almost linked by a bridge where it appears most of the rooms will be.

One observation from what I could see is that the majority of the rooms will be over / next to a very busy and noisy main road so I do hope they have world beating noise insulation at play otherwise there could be a few great rooms and a lot of rooms to be avoided.

Also noted that while when I checked the site for this at the start of the year Executive Rooms / lounge seemed to be mentioned however this now seems to have gone so assuming there won't be a lounge. I am curious about this property, the public spaces look like they could be very good but am a bit concerned on the actual room locations!

khabah

Yikes re the room location - good tip!

The photo gallery has a rendering of an executive lounge, and the executive and presidential suite room descriptions describe having lounge access so I wonder if this is a temporary thing. They've also got odd room categories like "Luxury" and "Privilege" as opposed to more conventional "Superior", "Deluxe" and "Executive" monikers you see at other Westins. Perhaps they'll update it all in the coming term, or maybe the lounge will just be removed in keeping with Marriott's spirit of no hospitality of late.

khabah

davidw70

I went to have a look at The Westin this weekend too - the photo shows the rooms over the road. Second photo shows what will obviously be public spaces and more expensive rooms overlooking the River.