Kempinski Group takes over London’s The Stafford Hotel
Kempinski, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, has taken over the management contract of the Britannia Hospitality-owned Stafford Hotel in London.
Renamed as The Stafford Hotel London by Kempinski, the five AA Red Star, 105-bedroom hotel in Mayfair is the first UK property to join the group, which includes 65 luxury hotels across the globe.
Stuart Proctor, general manager of The Stafford, told BigHospitality that the collaboration with Kempinski, which will allow the hotel to operate without the group’s direction, was ‘perfect’.
“We want to broaden our horizons at the Stafford and feel the collaboration of the Stafford with Kempinski, which is an exceptional international collection of individual hotels, will only enhance our position,” he said. “It’s putting The Stafford under the umbrella of a group with hotels that are in the best European destinations to attract business into London.”
The Stafford, which was sold to Britannia Hospitality by Shire Hotels, a subsidiary of brewer, pub operator and hotel company Daniel Twaites, in September last year, will now undergo an extensive refurbishment.
Renovations to the entrance lobby, main house, 24 bedrooms and restaurant, which is overseen by executive chef Mark Budd, are expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
