Robert Shepherd – Chief Development Officer, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) Europe; The Duke of York; Surinder Arora – Founder & Chief Executive, The Arora Group; Jason Kow – Chief Executive, Queensgate
An official ‘Topping Out’ ceremony was held on 5 February to mark the completion of the highest point in the structure of the impressive 18 storey luxury hotel, InterContinental London – The O2, opening Autumn/Winter 2015 in the historic Royal Borough of Greenwich.
At the construction site on the Greenwich Peninsula, adjacent to The O2, The Duke of York, joined key stakeholders involved in the landmark development to celebrate the milestone, including hotel operator and management company The Arora Group, private equity real estate firm Queensgate Investments LLP on behalf of Queensgate Investments Fund I, AEG Europe (owners of The O2) and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), from which the consortium secured a franchise agreement for the InterContinental® brand.
One of London’s most significant hotel developments
Speaking at the ceremony, Surinder Arora, Founder and Chief Executive of The Arora Group, commented, “We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone in the hotel’s construction. Working alongside great partners, we’re on track to open one of the most significant new hotel developments London has witnessed for several years, with events space to rival many of Europe’s largest conference venues and fantastic new leisure and business facilities to join the vibrant mix of entertainment and corporate space here in Greenwich.”
Jason Kow, Chief Executive of Queensgate Investments LLP added, “The InterContinental hotel and Conference Centre will be the best in class hotel in London, together with the adjacent Residences and annexed to the world’s largest music venue, in the most exciting rejuvenation area in London. The transaction’s success is testament to our strategy to pursue attractive capital value protected transactions, partnership with premier operating partners and opportunities with multiple value creation angles. ”
Sustainable standards
Designed to be sustainable to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards, the InterContinental® London – The O2, is part of a major development scheme on the Greenwich Peninsula, a destination cited as London’s most exciting new district following the 2012 Olympics and subsequent regeneration programme.
The hotel features 453spacious guestrooms and suites, luxury spa with indoor pool, destination restaurants and bars – including an all-day dining restaurant, Tea Salon and rooftop Sky Bar – and a dedicated conference centre with an impressive 3,100sqm pillar-free ballroom accommodating up to 3000 guests at full capacity and 20 additional meeting rooms.
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