Marriott brings stadium hotel expertise to UK

Marriott Hotels, which was the first company to build a hotel in a major Canadian sports venue, is repeating the feat in the UK by building a four-star hotel at the home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium.

Marriott built a 348-bed Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel at the city’s Rogers Centre (previously known as the Toronto SkyDome) in the 1980s. The stadium is home to the famous Toronto Blue Jays baseball team as well as the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

Just like the Toronto Downtown, the new London Marriott Hotel Twickenham, due for completion this winter, is integrated within its stadium location.

As at the Rogers Centre, where ‘field view’ rooms directly overlook the Blue Jays’ pitch, so the Marriott will have six luxury V.I.P suites that offer a perfect view of the hallowed turf, allowing guests to watch team warm-ups and training sessions as well as international and domestic matches.

The beautifully appointed ‘Grand Slam Suites’ include a private dining/seating area, plus separate bedroom, with both rooms offering views of the pitch. Each suite also has access to a private seating area within Twickenham’s South Stand.

A further six Junior Suites in the hotel will offer similar space. Some 76 of the remaining guest rooms will feature two Queen Size double beds while 24 rooms will have bathrooms with shower only cubicles in line with customer preference.

The contemporary design for the suites includes subtle details in carpets and artwork paying tribute to the hotel’s rugby heritage. Industry specialists Richmond International are responsible for the interior design throughout the hotel.

The hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, 22 South Chophouse, with separate private dining on the first floor. On the ground floor level of the hotel there will also be the Side Step Bar serving an extensive bar snack menu.

The 156-bedroom hotel is part of the new South Stand development. When it opens the South Stand is set to double the conference and banqueting capacity at the venue. It will provide 5000 square metres of conference and exhibition space, including ‘The Live Room’ performing arts centre offering tiered seating for up to 400 and the Rose Suite for dinners up to 800. In addition, 10 separate meeting rooms of varying capacity offer a range of banqueting, meetings and event options. Twickenham Experience, the official provider of meetings and events, will cater for every type of meeting from small board meetings to major exhibitions. It will be possible to book hotel rooms in conjunction with a Twickenham Experience event.

Birthplace of many a Rugby fan’s dreams and hopes, the romantically inclined will also be able to take advantage of Twickenham’s licence to hold civil wedding ceremonies in its St George’s and Spirit of Rugby suites.

“Our hotel will be the best of its kind within the UK, “said Paul Davies, General Manager, London Marriott Twickenham. “Using the experience we have gained from similar developments in North America, we are creating one of the most exciting new hotel developments in the UK and we are confident it will fast become a leading destination for business and sport,” he continued.

For further information about the London Marriott Hotel Twickenham, log on to Londonmarriotttwickenham.co.uk.