Europe’s Largest Residence Inn by Marriott Attracts Visitors from GCC

Extended-stay brand celebrates opening of Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington

Opening follows strong growth in inbound visitors to the UK from the GCC

Marriott International, Inc. has celebrated the opening of Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington, a popular destination for GCC guests. The property is the largest in the extended-stay brand’s European portfolio.

According to VisitBritain, the UK saw a staggering 5% increase in 2017 from the previous year in inbound travellers from the GCC with a record spending of £2.2 billion making it one of the most popular holiday destinations for the region’s travellers.

The Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington is set to become a key location for a growing number of travellers from the Middle East & Africa region who are looking for an extended stay in London. The opening of 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.

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 spacious one- and two-bedroom 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.

“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.”

Located in a prime location, Residence Inn offers regional travellers access to some of the most iconic attractions in the city. These include the Kensington Olympia Exhibition Centre at just a 10-minute walk away, while cultural attractions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and the Natural History museum are less than one mile away. Guests also have access to fantastic transport links across London and to Heathrow Airport.

The property is owned by a controlled affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, and 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.

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 global expansion of the Residence Inn includes in its pipeline 12 hotels across the Middle East and Africa region. This represents a significant expansion of the brand’s current regional portfolio which includes Residence Inn Kuwait City, Kuwait, the Residence Inn Jazan, Saudi Arabia and Residence Inn Manama Juffair, Bahrain.

Suites at the Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington are available from £90 plus tax. For more information visit www.rilondonkensington.com / @yourresidenceinn on Instagram.

Residence Inn

Residence Inn by Marriott is the global leader in the extended-stay lodging segment, with more than 700 properties located in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Central America.  Designed for long stays, the brand offers spacious suites with separate living, working, and sleeping zones.  Fully functional kitchens; grocery delivery service; 24-hour markets and complimentary breakfasts help guests maximise their time and thrive while they travel. Each Residence Inn offers free Wi-Fi in both public and guests spaces to ensure continuous connectivity while on the road. As a member of the Marriott International portfolio, Residence Inn participates in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent guest programme.  Members earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage for dollars spent at any of the more than 4,000 Marriott hotels worldwide.

For travel tips, the latest on the brand or to connect with other travellers, “like” Residence Inn on Facebook: www.facebook.com/residenceinn and follow Residence Inn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/residenceinn. 

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,100 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 124 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®.

For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitterand Instagram.

About Cycas Hospitality

Founded in 2008, Cycas Hospitality is hotel management company which specialises in extended-stay and dual-branded properties. Its spacious hotel apartments combine the flexibility of home with classic hotel services.

With a total of 2,782 suites and rooms open or under development across 18 hotels, 12 are open and two will open in summer 2018. These are in key city centre locations across the UK (London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle) and include Cycas’ first properties in mainland Europe (Amsterdam, Paris). Following recent investment from the family-owned Huakee Group, Cycas intends to grow its portfolio to more than 10,000 guest rooms by 2022.

Having pioneered the branded extended-stay hotel concept in Europe, Cycas is London’s leading operator in this field and a partner of choice for major global hotel franchise brands plus international investors. Cycas delivers a combination of expertise in hotel operations, property development and asset management. Its overarching goal is to become one of the best hospitality employers in the market, making its hotels the best places to work as well as stay.

To find out more visit www.cycashospitality.com or connect with us via LinkedIn and Twitter.