Peninsula plans new hotel in London

EUROPE – Plans have been unveiled for a £500 million luxury meetings hotel in the heart of London. The sister hotel to Hong Kong’s Peninsula is set to open in Belgravia in 2021, new plans reveal today. According to the planning application under review by Westminster Council the hotel will have have 190 rooms, a ballroom, a spa and 28 residential apartments. It has been designed by Marylebone-based Hopkins Architects and alos features a walkway and main public entrance on Grosvenor Place and an internal “palazzo-style” courtyard. The plans, developed in partnership with landowner Grosvenor, include improvements to the pavements and pedestrian crossings in Grosvenor Place, Halkin Street and Grosvenor Crescent. The Peninsula, owned by The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, is the oldest hotel. In Hong Kong It opened in 1928 opposite the ocean liner terminal with the aim of being “the finest hotel east of Suez”. The Peninsula will be the third of Asia’s luxury hotel brands to open in London, following the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in Knightsbridge in 2000 and the Shangri-La in The Shard last year. The company runs 10 hotels, but only one in Europe, The Peninsula Paris, which opened last year. Clement Kwok, chief executive of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, said: “Each of our hotels embraces the local culture, style and history. As one of the world’s most important destinations for business and tourism, London will be an exciting addition to our global network.” Peter Vernon, chief executive officer of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland said: “This is an exciting opportunity to shape a very special corner of London. For over 300 years Grosvenor has carefully curated its London estate in Mayfair and Belgravia and The Peninsula London is another important step in our journey. This high-quality development is sensitive to its surroundings, sustainable and will support around 2,800 jobs in the wider economy. It will enhance the West End’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost places to visit and a driving force for the UK economy.”