Lambeth Palace Road Development in south London, England, UK
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The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, 200 Westminster Bridge Road, London
2007-10
BUJ Architects with Uri Blumenthal Architects & Town Planners
"London's largest hotel opening in a generation"
Boris Johnson bolts final beam of London's largest new build hotel
21 July 2009: Tonight, Mayor Boris Johnson bolted the final beam of the largest ever purpose-built hotel in London, as the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London marked its "Topping Out."
When it opens early next year on the South Bank, the £350 million hotel will feature more than 1,000 guest rooms and 2,700 square metres of meeting space.
photos : J. Alden
With Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament as his backdrop, the Mayor secured the final bolt in the final beam high on the penthouse floor as part of a traditional "Topping Out," a ceremony that marks the completion of the external structure of a building.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "This impressive development has removed an awful eyesore that has blighted this corner of the capital for too long. A sparkling new hotel is just what the South Bank needs. I am sure it will act as a major springboard for the regeneration plans for Waterloo Station and the surrounding area, on top of creating hundreds of jobs and boosting the local economy.
"What's more, the huge investment being made today demonstrates great confidence in the future prosperity of our great city."
Owned and operated by Park Plaza Hotels, which already operates four 4-star deluxe and one five-star hotel in London, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge will employ approximately 800 people and will be a key player in the ongoing regeneration of the South Bank. The 16-storey, contemporary glass-panelled hotel is on the former site of the derelict Greater London Council (GLC) building, which was widely regarded as one of the ugliest buildings in London.
Park Plaza Hotels President & CEO Boris Ivesha cited the construction of the hotel as an example of the company's commitment to London.
"We are passionate about London and are on track to deliver 5,000 beds across the capital, establishing Park Plaza Hotels as one of the city's most important hotel operators," he said.
Tracy Halliwell, director of Business Tourism for Visit London, said the new hotel would be a welcome addition to the capital.
"London is the number one city destination in the world for international travel and Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London will add to the already strong business offer. It will provide visitors with a spectacular new hotel with an outstanding range of high-end facilities' which will be able to service both leisure and business visitors. The construction of Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London is a real confidence boost to tourism and we are delighted to be supporting them with this official topping out ceremony," she said.
In addition to its 1,021 guest rooms and extensive meeting and event facilities, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge will offer South Bank visitors a choice of stylish new restaurants, a chic bar and lounge, and a luxury spa.
photos © Nick Weall
Location: SE1 - south bank of River Thames
Height : 14 storeys
Building Type : Apartment Hotel
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Facilities:
1,021 contemporary guest rooms
2,700sqm of flexible meeting space
30 Meeting Rooms
signature restaurant
luxury Spa
Opening 2010
photos © Nick Weall
More details online soon
London Hotel Buildings
Key Buildings close by:
Houses of Parliament
photograph © Nick Weall
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Buildings
Hotel Buildings
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London : Interior
About Park Plaza Hotels:
Park Plaza Hotels Limited is owner, operator and franchisor of hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The majority of the group's hotels operate under the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand (part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide), over which the Group has exclusive rights in 56 countries in EMEA, or art'otel, a brand which the company fully owns. Park Plaza Hotels also manages the luxury all-suite Plaza on the River - Club and Residence, London.
Through it strategic partnership with Carlson, one of the world's largest travel and hospitality companies, Park Plaza Hotels has access to Carlson's powerful reservation and distribution system, airline partnerships with 21 airlines, loyalty programmes such as goldpointsplusSM for guests and Look To Book® for travel agents and cross-selling opportunities.
There are currently 38 hotels and aparthotels and over 7,000 rooms in the Group's portfolio. By the end of 2012, the Group's committed projects and territorial franchise agreements are expected to increase the number of rooms to over 13,000.
Projects under development include Park Plaza Marrakech (2009), art'otel marrakech (2009), art'otel cologne (2009), Park Plaza Nuremberg (2010), art'otel amsterdam (2010) Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (2010), art'otel amsterdam (2011) and art'otel london hoxton (2012).
Park Plaza Hotels' shares are admitted for trading on London's AIM Stock Market.
Key London Buildings:
Battersea Power Station
Waterloo Station
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Comments / photos for the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel London Architecture page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
Website : www.parkplaza.com/London
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