Work to refurbish the hotel's 151 bedrooms and introduce five new suites as well as redesign the lobby, executive lounge and meeting rooms will start next March with RPW Design responsible for providing a new look that will aim to 'bring out the historic building's more intimate character'.
RPW Design’s managing director Jan Wilson said the makeover, which is expected to happen in phases and will take six months, would give the hotel a more residential feel to mark a departure from the more corporate style room design previously offered and the reception desk would be replaced by two seated desks to allow more personal service.
New room layouts will include entrance lobbies and will be decorated in soft shades of white, dove grey and lavender with materials such as leather, taupe silk, solid wood and marble to be used throughout.
“The redesign of the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane will return the interiors back in line with the exterior architecture, in some ways giving the building back to itself,” said Wilson. “We will be bringing out the hotel’s inherent townhouse ambience with elegantly designed rooms and public spaces which have all the facilities expected in a traditional five-star hotel, and create a far warmer and more intimate atmosphere than what exists at the moment.”
The new design has already been trialled as a mock-up room and has been well-received by brand representatives and guests from around the world according to RPW who has been tasked with helping to re-position the hotel to appeal to a more luxury market.
Lanes of London
The refurbishment will also coincide with the opening of new restaurant Lanes of London at the hotel in January.
The new-style restaurant, led by executive head chef Anshu Anghotra, will combine old-fashioned British heritage with the diverse cultural identity of modern-day London.
Dishes will be influenced by the capital's diverse cuisines, such as the Indian cooking from Brick Lane, Vietnamese from Kingsland Road and Lebanese from Edgware Road while the bar, managed by Francesco Turrini, will offer snacks, starters and entrees alongside cocktails, real ales and spirits.
Design agency Blacksheep is reponsible for the restaurant's design which will incorporate elements of marble, aged brass, traditional leaded glazing, racing green leather, rustic oak and antique detailing.
The restaurant and refurbishment are part of Marriott's plans to make the hotel appeal to a more luxury market. "We are reducing the number of standard guest bedrooms and increasing our suite count, taking our service and in room amenities to a much higher level thus making us more appealing to a luxury market, while maintaining the Marriott brand. We aim to be the jewel in the crown of Mayfair hotels," said Sarah Borges de Sousa, director of sales and marketing at London Marriott Hotel Park Lane