Hyatt has announced it is to open a new 196-room Hyatt Regency, the eighth Hyatt in the capital and the second Regency property alongside The Churchill, as part of the redevelopment of the Olympia exhibition centre in west London.
Olympia, for many years the home of the Business Travel Show until its recently announced move to ExCeL, and the neighbouring tube and rail station are being redeveloped as part of a new 14-acre scheme.
The development, which retains the venue’s famous glass arched roofs, includes a 4,000-person music and performing arts venue, a 1,500-seat theatre, a multi-screen arthouse cinema, a 2.5 acre rooftop sky garden, as well as restaurants, shops, cafés, hotels and 550,000 square feet (51,096 square metres) of office and co-working space.
The hotel will offer four meeting rooms and will be directly connected to the convention centre.
Felicity Black-Roberts, vice president of development Europe, Hyatt, said, “Expanding Hyatt’s brand footprint with these plans to add a second Hyatt Regency hotel in London contributes to our ambitious growth strategy for the UK.”
“Having Hyatt on board is a real positive for London and a clear indication of confidence in both the city and this iconic landmark as a destination for culture and creativity,” said Olympia chairman John Hitchcox.
The development will also include a 145-room citizenM property over four floors on top of the existing building, the group’s fifth property in London.
Klaas van Lookeren Campagne, CEO of citizenM hotels, said: “We’re taking a strategic approach to expansion in London. Despite the current challenges in both the hotel and conference industries, we are confident in the positive future outlook for citizenM, and therefore Olympia London fitted the brief perfectly.”
The hotel's guest rooms will include XL king-sized beds, rain showers and large flat screen TVs. Technology will be key to citizenM guests who will be offered online check, in-room mood pads and contactless stays through the company’s app.