Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington Opens in Earls Court

Date: August 2018

Location: Warwick Road, Earls Court, London, UK

Name: Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington – opened July 2018

No. of Keys: 319 one and two bedroom suites

Owner: Starwood Capital Group, who bought the property as one of four Think Apartments blocks for £206m (for all four) in January 2015.

The property is operated under a franchise agreement with hotel management company and specialists in the extended-stay market, Cycas Hospitality – London’s largest operator of serviced apartment and apart-hotels.

In a prime position on Warwick Road in Earls Court, the hotel features 319 suites, of which several boast private terraces with impressive views across the capital. Guests can also take in the London skyline from the hotel’s eighth floor terrace, which will also be available to hire as an events space.

The property’s suites include separate living, working and sleeping areas, designed for those taking longer stays. Guests can expect fully-functional kitchens in each of the seven suite categories, in addition to complimentary Wi-Fi, smart TVs, USB plug points and work desk space to help maximise their time during long stays.

Complimentary breakfast is served seven days a week, while the Grab’n Go market and Fitness Centre are both open 24/7. There is also a grocery delivery service available.

The Kensington Olympia Exhibition Centre is just a 10-minute walk away.

“Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington has been one of our most highly-anticipated launches in Europe; not only is it the largest Residence Inn in Europe, but it is the third largest in the world, and a flagship property for the brand,” said John Licence, Vice President Premium and Select Brands Europe at Marriott International.

“London is a key market for extended-stay travel and we are delighted to launch the city’s second Residence Inn following last year’s opening of Residence Inn by Marriott London Bridge.”

John Wagner, co-founder of Cycas Hospitality, said: “We know that guest expectations and travelling styles have evolved in recent years, creating a growing demand for centrally-located properties that bridge the gap between hotels and home.

Opening London’s biggest aparthotel will therefore allow us to widen the accommodation options available to business travellers whilst also putting the capital’s most popular cultural attractions within easy reach of our long-stay leisure guests.”

The opening of Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington marks the brand’s seventh property in Europe with further expansion in the pipeline, including the brand’s entry into new markets such as France, with the opening of Residence Inn Toulouse-Blagnac.

THPT Comment: Cycas continue their march upwards, following rapid growth in the past few years…Cycas is owned by extended-stay veteran, John Wagner, partnered up with Dutch Eduard Elias. Their turnover under management is forecast to treble over the next two years from €38 million to over €100 million.

First Seen: Luxury Hospitality Magazine