TTN

Knightsbridge hotel finds favour with Arabs

Share  
The Park Tower Knightsbridge

With some 60 per cent of its guests hailing from the Middle East, the Park Tower Knightsbridge can rightfully stake claim to being a favoured hotel for Arabs heading to London.

And thanks to its strategic location near the hallowed Harrods and a dazzling line-up of haute couture outlets, as well as its selection of five-star accommodation and an Arabic menu to boot, The Luxury Collection hotel has the right ingredients to attract the most discerning Middle East traveller.

Despite its central location, the hotel is away from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly and Leicester Square in the British capital yet well linked with these areas via an Underground station within a stone’s throw.

Opened in 1973, the distinctive hotel stands amidst the historic streets that define Knightsbridge, one of London’s most stylish districts. Architecturally speaking, its inventive circular shape and panoramic windows that afford 360-degree views were considered avant-garde for the time. The hotel became part of The Luxury Collection – a portfolio of Starwood’s renowned hotels and resorts worldwide – in 1989.

Park Tower Knightsbridge underwent a major refurbishment in 2013 which was designed to reflect its indigenous link, hence it echoes the essence of the neighbouring Hyde Park. In line with this ethos, the hotel has links with local artisans such as Rococo for chocolates, Rachel Vosper for candles, and flowers from Neil Stream.

This major refurbishment coincided with the rebranding of the hotel when a new logo was designed to reflect the circular shape of the hotel, the leaves of trees in the nearby Hyde Park as well as the cobbles of Knightsbridge.

The hotel even has its own distinct ‘scent’ that pervades all areas of the property, giving guests the impression of having arrived ‘home’ to something that is familiar to them, according to Sue Finlay, general manager.

Its 280 rooms include five Penthouse Suites on the 17th floor, eight Panoramic Suites, 40 Panoramic Rooms, seven executive floors and 198 non-smoking rooms. The guest rooms with their curved walls, contemporary décor, luxurious furnishings and remoulded bathrooms in Italian marble, complete with walk-in showers, provide an oasis of calm in which to relax and unwind.

The room service includes a carefully selected Arabic halal menu that is offered round the clock – which would be particularly appealing during the month of Ramadan.

To enhance the experience in the suites, the hotel offers a butler (available as a supplement in the Panoramic room). These butlers are well-experienced and attuned to the needs of its Arab clients, according to Finlay, who points out that the secret to the hotel’s success is the loyalty of its staff.

Many of its staff have been with the hotel for decades, says Finlay, who took on the mantle at the Park Tower Knightsbridge some 30 months ago but has been with the Starwood chain for over 25 years.

In terms of dining, the hotel is home to One-O-One Restaurant, an award-winning seafood restaurant, where each serving exudes the culinary passion of French executive chef Pascal Proyat. In fact, Proyart’s cuisine inspired leading interior design firm Hirsch Bedner to create the unique décor of the restaurant including the Oyster Table, which dominates the restaurant’s lounge and becomes the focal feature of the breakfast buffet. 


By Bina Goveas

Spacer