Lycette & Associates receives Grand Tour of The Arch Hotel at Marble Arch London

One of the great plusses about the hospitality industry is the ability to work in other parts of the world. With L&A I travel far and wide to deliver our housekeeping workshops and conduct operational reviews for housekeeping departments. It is always a great pleasure if I can catch up with past colleagues and fellow housekeeping experts. This time I am in London to run a Housekeeping Development Programme as well as presenting at the UKHA Share Knowledge Day.

Last week I was fortunate to catch up with Grant Powell, fellow Antipodean and General Manager of the Arch Hotel in Marble Arch London. I was invited to visit the property and received the Grand Tour.

Executive Housekeeper Gitana proudly showed me throughout the 82 roomed boutique style property. It was designed by RDD Interior Architectural Design and was inspired by the London landmark, Marble Arch, and the local neighborhood. The Hotel spans seven Grade II listed townhouses and two mews homes encompassing approximately 55,000 square feet.

The Georgian buildings that make up The Arch London, were originally built as residential homes during the 18^th Century. During the Blitz of WWII, a cluster of bombs bisected Bryanston Square, damaging almost all of the buildings on Great Cumberland Place, including those of The Arch London. After the war, the buildings continued as private dwellings, until they were converted into two hotels, in 1975. AB Hotels purchased the buildings in September 2001, when The Arch London’s story began.

The rooms have been carefully designed including the great purpose built minibar area and compact bathrooms.