The new Novotel London Blackfriars is opening in the capital as a trendy hotel property from France-based Accor group.
The hotel offers a stay in a contemporary setting for today’s travellers, and is located two minutes from Southwark tube station, and eight minutes from Blackfriars station. The 182-room hotel is offering free Wi-Fi, self check-in and check-out service, an interactive information system, smart boards in two meeting rooms, and an indoor swimming pool.
The restaurant dining area has a range of amenities including tables fitted with TVs for lone diners while waiting; and a multimedia table with iPads for guests searching for information on anything and everything.
The hotel will also have a Microsoft Surface Table in the lounge area, providing evening games and entertainment options.
For business travellers, the has offering seven meeting rooms, with Wi-Fi Internet access.
Thomas Dubaere, the managing director for Accor, UK and Ireland, said, ‘The quality, style and class of this hotel are noticeable at all levels. It’s our best Novotel to date and represents the new generation of Novotels that we want to offer in the United Kingdom. It’s an experience worth enjoying as quickly as possible.’
The company also plans to open another Novotel hotel in London’s Canary Wharf financial district, with 310 rooms. This is expected to open in 2015.
Accor is in an expansion period in the UK, and is also planning to open three more hotels in future. In Edinburgh, the company intends to open a 103-room Ibis Styles hotel on St Andrews Square in 2013. Two more hotels are expected at Edinburgh Park and SoCo Edinburgh, which will be branded as Ibis properties and will be opening in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Thomas Dubaere said, ‘Our investment in these four new hotels, two of which we will own and manage, is another step in our strategy to build on our leadership position and further grow Accor’s presence in the UK. It is also part of our flexible active asset management plan.
While we are focused on reducing our portfolio’s capital intensity, we have the financial strength to invest in owned assets, for key locations and flagship hotels for our brands.’
