One of the largest, luxury airport hotels, meetings and events venues will open at Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) today. The 5-star, 605-bedroom Sofitel London Heathrow is joined to T5 with a direct link bridge and is just 21 minutes from central London on the Heathrow Express. It also has the largest onsite, undercover parking facilities in the area.
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According to the hotel, 'at the heart of Sofitel London Heathrow is the luxurious 'art de recevoir' and noble 'hotellerie savoir-faire' - legendary Sofitel values that offer every guest moments of 'plaisir', elegance and 'bien ¨ºtre' during their stay.' Surinder Arora, chairman of Arora International Hotels, owners of the hotel, operating under a Sofitel franchise, added: 'The Sofitel London Heathrow is not an airport hotel, it's a five star luxury hotel which just happens to be at an airport.'
Concept architect was Stephen Williams who previously designed the Conrad Hotel in Chelsea Harbour and Khuan Chew of KCA International has designed the glamorous interiors of the hotel. Renowned for her work on the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Khuan Chew has focused on the concept of 'gateway to the world' as her design inspiration. Themes of country and continent resonate throughout the hotel; in the entrance lobby 'Antarctica' takes central stage with a dramatic water fountain centrepiece commissioned from RHS Chelsea winner David Harber. Khuan Chew's touches in the hotel's fabulous Imperial Suite (165m squared) include the first Swarovski crystal bathrooms in a European hotel.
Chef Consultant Albert Roux will oversee the hotel's fine dining restaurant Brasserie Roux offering the best of French regional cooking. Under the leadership of executive chef Julian Jenkins it offers 'Vivre - l'exp¨¦rience des saveurs' with 5 live cooking theatre kitchens. 'Tea 5' is an exclusive Tea Salon with its own Tea Master and signature delicacies. The Icelandic blue Sphere Bar is described as 'the ideal meeting place - informal, yet with a vibrant atmosphere'. Or, for signature cocktails taken from London's hippest bars, soak up the atmosphere of the more intimate Library Bar.
Sofitel Heathrow also introduces the UK's first experience of 'couture meetings' facilities. With 45 individually designed meeting rooms (maximum capacity of 1700 in the 1309m squared Arora Suite), a 117 tiered-seated theatre and 3 high-tech boardrooms (with a choice of a private dining room or Chef's table in Brasserie Roux) everywhere is equipped to the highest standard of technical excellence.
Finally, 'the Spa at Sofitel London Heathrow' will provide a luxurious sanctuary for soothing relaxation and natural treatments using ESPA products. Wellness programmes include a specially formulated 'Bodyclock' programme. |
