London will remain the number one destination for meetings and events in EMEA in 2020, according to CWT M&E’s recently published 2020 Meetings & Events Future Trends report.

While this is in part due to the uncertainty over Brexit – and the resulting devaluation of the pound – which has made the UK a more attractive and affordable destination, the ongoing boom in hotel development is also boosting the capital’s appeal.

Just this week, a study by Boodle Hatfield revealed that more than 200 new boutique and luxury hotels are currently in the development pipeline in London. Of the 210 hotels that have planning permission, or on which construction has started, almost a quarter (48), are in the Westminster borough, adding over 6,800 new guest rooms to central London.

2020 is expected to see the addition of 7,995 hotel rooms across 65 new hotels, marking the largest number of openings London has ever seen in one year (STR). With so much new product in the pipeline, luxury incentive and event planners are spoilt for choice. So, we round up some of the most exciting openings worth checking out…

Recent arrivals

The last few months alone have seen the opening of The Standard which debuted its first European hotel in the UK capital in July. Housed in the former Camden Town Hall Annex in London’s thriving King’s Cross neighbourhood, the 1974 Brutalist building has been meticulously restored.

The Standard, London (above) has 266 rooms in 42 unique styles ranging from Cosy Core rooms to terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs overlooking St Pancras station, and several dining options, including Isla featuring a seasonal coastal inspired menu, and Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ forthcoming restaurant on the tenth floor, which will showcase his live fire cooking and the building’s 360-degree views of London.

September, meanwhile, saw the opening of Hoxton’s third London outpost in Southwark, along with the Biltmore Mayfair. Designed by Ennismore Design Studio, the 192-room Hoxton Southwark features concrete ceilings, bare brick walls and a mix of antique and bespoke furniture sourced from British makers.

The Biltmore Mayfair (below), on Grosvenor Square features 308 opulent rooms, including 57 curated suites plus a number of special venues for dining and entertaining, all within easy walking distance of Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster.

At the signature restaurant, The Betterment, a brasserie-style all-day seasonal menu, created by award-winning chefs Jason Atherton and Paul Walsh, is served. Meanwhile, event planners will be impressed with the elegant Kendal Suite, which suits groups of up to 25 guests, while the 5,380 square-foot ballroom, offers a luxurious backdrop for up to 700 guests. 

Next month (December) will see the opening of Great Scotland Yard, in a historic building that was once the location of the original Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police HQ and later offices for the Ministry of Defence. The 1820’s Grade II listed property with Edwardian and Victorian architecture features 152 guest rooms and suites – no two of which are the same – and is first UK hotel to join Hyatt’s Unbound Collection.

Upcoming openings

Among the first openings in 2020, will be the Nhow London, located between the City, Islington and Shoreditch, within the ‘250 City Road’ development designed by Sir Norman Foster’s acclaimed architectural firm Foster + Partners. The eight-storey hotel will feature 190 rooms, a restaurant, bar, gym, networking spaces and several meeting rooms.

A ‘Big Ben’ rocket sculpture will be one of the lobby’s most striking elements. Eclectic ensembles of colourful furniture on ‘pixelated’ carpets will invite guests to unwind, while an installation made from wooden boards around an LED fireplace creates a relaxing atmosphere.

Located in the heart of London’s Marylebone W1, Nobu Hotel London Portman Square is expected to open in spring 2020, featuring 249 guest rooms and suites, together with a Nobu restaurant, ballroom and meeting spaces.

Sydell Group, the company behind hip luxury London hotel, The Ned, has announced plans to debut its NoMad brand in the city next year. The NoMad London (above), the brand’s first property outside the US, will be located in the heart of Covent Garden inside the historic, grade II-listed building famously known as The Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station.

The iconic 19th century building will be transformed into a 91-room hotel with much of the original architectural features preserved and woven into design. A collaboration with New York-based interior design firm Roman & Williams, the design will pay homage to the decorative traditions of England’s heritage while exploring the relationship between the New York and London art scenes. 

Edwardian will also open the much anticipated The Londoner, dubbed the capital’s first “iceberg hotel” — with more space underground than above – in London’s West End in 2020.

The subterranean levels of the 350-room five-star hotel will feature a ballroom accommodating up to 864 people, seven private meeting rooms, a spa, 15-metre swimming pool and gym, hair and nail salon, barber shop and two private screening rooms. Facilities above ground will include a whisky room, drawing room, public tavern and rooftop terrace restaurant. The hotel will have 350 rooms when it opens in June. 

Other 2020 openings will include The Guardsman, a 53-room boutique on London’s Buckingham Gate featuring a private members club, while German brand Ruby Hotels is to make its UK debut with a 76-room hotel located on the Southbank’s Lower Marsh.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s first London footprint, Pan Pacific London, is also set to open next year, featuring a 370-capacity ball room at One Bishopgate Plaza. Further ahead, Rosewood will also open a new luxury hotel on the site of the former US Embassy in Grosvenor Square by 2023.