Belmond today announced that it has signed a management agreement with Cadogan Estates Limited to operate The Cadogan, a 64-key hotel on Sloane Street in the heart of Chelsea, as part of the Belmond’s collection of luxury hotels and travel experiences.
The agreement comes at an exciting time in the 127-year history of The Cadogan, as the hotel will close at the end of July to undergo a US$48 million investment project. The fully renovated and re-conceptualised Belmond Cadogan will open in summer 2016. Working in tandem with Belmond and Blair Associates Architects, Cadogan Estates will fund the redevelopment, which will include the complete refurbishment of all public areas and the reconfiguration of 64 keys to 54 in order to accommodate demand from luxury travellers for larger junior suites and suites. The interior design project will be carried out by the London office of GA Design International, experts in international luxury hospitality design.
Built in 1887 in the Queen Anne style, The Cadogan has played an integral role in the social history of the Kensington and Chelsea area. The design project will draw inspiration from the beautiful architectural character of The Cadogan and surrounding neighbourhood as well as the hotel’s rich heritage, creating a stylish retreat and meeting place for international visitors and the local community. Belmond Cadogan will also offer a new gourmet dining experience opening out onto Sloane Street with views of Cadogan Place Gardens, taking advantage of the hotel’s superb location at the heart of one of London’s most vibrant and affluent retail areas.
“With its incredible heritage, unrivalled location and contemporary classic design, Belmond Cadogan will be renowned for its understated glamour and unique character, as well as for its standards of excellence in service and hospitality,” said John M. Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Belmond Ltd. “We are very pleased to be working together with Cadogan Estates on what will become one of London’s foremost luxury hotels and to be partnering with an owner who shares our vision for offering authentic and one-of-a-kind luxury travel experiences.”
Hugh Seaborn, Chief Executive of Cadogan Estates, commented, “The Cadogan has a colorful history – once home to Lillie Langtry where she courted the future King of England and also the location of Oscar Wilde’s infamous arrest – and a wonderful future. With its depth of experience overseeing the sensitive renovation of historic buildings and track record in luxury hospitality, Belmond is the perfect partner for us to preserve The Cadogan’s unique heritage, while evolving the hotel into a luxury retreat for today’s luxury traveller. It fits perfectly with Sloane Street’s international cachet and our vision and strategy for ensuring it becomes the most exclusive and luxurious shopping street in the world.”
Belmond owns and operates four other businesses within Great Britain: the Belmond British Pullman, Belmond Northern Belle and Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury rail experiences, as well as Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, a 32-key hotel and two-Michelin star restaurant in Oxfordshire.