Planning Permission Granted for New London Yacht Hotel to Replace Sunborn’s Existing Vessel

Main Photo: The current Sunborn Princess

Date: February 2021

Location: Moored at Excel event centre, London Docklands, England, UK

Name: The Sunborn Princess

No. of Keys: Currently 138…will be 220

Owner: Sunborn International, based in Finland who build yacht hotels, own and now manage the two current hotels in the fleet, in London, at the ExCel Centre…and Gibraltar, which also hosts a casino.

Planning permission has been granted for a new yacht hotel in London, which is bidding to become the ‘most environmentally friendly’ hotel in the capital.

Sunborn International has been given the green light to bring in a new luxury 220-bedroom, 134m-long yacht, to replace the company’s existing vessel which is moored at Royal Victoria Square near the ExCeL London exhibition centre.

Members of Newham Council’s strategic development committee voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.

Sunborn International Chief Executive, Hans Niemi: “It’s a very exciting project. It’s the most advanced ship we have built in terms of its sustainability targets. It will be the most environmentally friendly hotel in London, if not in the whole of the UK, in many aspects.”

Earlier this week, Boutique Hotelier reported that Finnish group Sunborn will take over the management of the hotel, previously operated by the hospitality arm of Danish facility services company, ISS, with both companies agreeing to transfer the management as of March 1. ISS has managed Sunborn London since 2006.

The current vessel is furnished to a high, five-star standard with 128 rooms and suites, with private terraces, 10,000 sqf over six floors, restaurant, bar and function space for 50 to 80 guests, and enjoyed great occupancy, mainly connected to events at ExCel.

Sunborn currently operates in Finland, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Malaysia and Gibraltar and the UK and is looking to grow its fleet of superyacht hotels over the coming years.

THPT Comment: We were fairly impressed with the current yacht, which itself is the second incarnation, so the one, with more rooms and facilities promises to be very exciting.

First Seen: Boutique Hotelier

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