Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec) and Starwood celebrated the official opening of the 252-room, Aloft London Excel hotel with a launch party last week.

The hotel, the first-ever Aloft project in the UK, was built by Adnec at a cost of Dh246 million ($70 million) in the heart of London’s Docklands, adjacent to Adnec-owned ExCeL London.
 
The new property will boost hotel room capacity at ExCeL to 1,400, said a senior official.

It is the sixth hotel to be connected to ExCeL - London’s largest events venue, which also has the honour of serving as the site for 7 Olympic and 6 Paralympics disciplines at the 2012 Games.

The launch, featuring young, up and coming talent from the fields of music, mixology, urban art and urban sport, was attended by more than 300 guests including city leaders, senior management from Adnec, ExCeL London, Starwood and Locog (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games), as well as key players from the UK capital’s event and travel industries.
 
Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, managing director, Adnec, said: “The Aloft London Excel is an exciting new milestone in its growing partnership with London, made just in time for the city to host the Olympic 2012 Games.'

“In the long term the new hotel will enhance ExCeL’s growing events calendar by providing quality, stylish and affordable accommodation. We will continue to look at more opportunities to enhance our offerings to ExCeL visitors,” he added.

Designed by architects Jestico + Whiles, the Aloft London Excel is operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1071 properties in 100 countries.

Bin Harmal said, 'We have a very strong and successful relationship with Starwood Hotels & Resorts following our collaboration on Aloft Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2009; we are very confident that this success with continue with Aloft London Excel.”

'Aloft London Excel boasts atmospheric public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mixSM lounge and  wxyzSM bar.'

'Designed with the digital generation in mind, the hotel has free wireless internet access throughout the whole hotel,'said Bin Harmal.

'Each room is also equipped with a unique plug-and-play connectivity solution which connects almost all electronic devices to the 42’’ flat-screen TV, turning the room into a high-tech office as well as an entertainment centre,' he added.

Roeland Vos, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, MEA and Europe said, “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Adnec, first with Aloft Abu Dhabi, and are delighted to be working with them once again to introduce the Aloft brand to the UK.'

'The launch of two new hotel brands in London this year underlines Starwood’s long-term commitment to the UK market,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service