IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Crimson Hotels are pleased to announce the opening of the Crowne Plaza Gatwick-Crawley, further strengthening IHG’s portfolio of hotels at Gatwick Airport when it opens in October 2007.
The Crowne Plaza Gatwick-Crawley, which is owned by Crimson Hotels and run at present as a Clarion, will be operated under a franchise agreement between Crimson Hotels and IHG.
The property is currently undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment – this is in addition to an £8 million investment made in the hotel in 2005 – to bring it in line with the facilities and exacting high standards of the Crowne Plaza brand.
Crimson Hotels felt that the Crowne Plaza brand was a perfect fit for the property and would better serve their guests‘ needs. The ongoing programme of refurbishment to all public areas, as well as to guest bedrooms, is creating a greatly improved guest experience and delivering an exciting and dynamic new product at the hotel. As such the relationship with IHG is proving a great opportunity for the hotel, as well as for both companies.
In addition to this, a number of the rooms are being enlarged and redesigned to create a more relaxing and comfortable environment. This redesign has created two rooms where previously the hotel had offered three, thereby offering customers a greater level of space to work and unwind.
The hotel’s in-room facilities have also been extensively upgraded to include flat screen LCD TVs, re-styled bathrooms with power showers, added room security systems and WiFi access.
In keeping with Crowne Plaza’s commitment to its business guests, a dedicated Club Lounge is being added to the hotel with complimentary business services, along with eight new guest rooms, bringing the total room count to 236. A further three new meeting rooms, which will allow the hotel to accommodate up to 400 delegates, and a further block of 50 Club rooms will be added within the next 12 months.
The hotel also features the Cube Restaurant and Lounge along with The Gallery Sports Bar, which will appeal to both business and leisure travellers taking advantage of the hotel’s excellent location at London Gatwick.
The Health Club boasts the largest hotel swimming pool in the area along with a spa pool, a fully equipped gym, sauna and steam rooms, plus two beauty therapy rooms.
Alykhan Kassam, Director of Crimson Hotels, said: „It is a pleasure for us to be re-branding this hotel as a Crowne Plaza property and to be working with the staff and management of IHG. We have undertaken a great deal of work over the past couple of years to improve and develop this hotel so that it is a natural fit for the discerning Crowne Plaza guest. We have no doubt that it will prove exceptionally popular with travellers using London Gatwick Airport, as well as those doing business in and around the local area.“
Richard Hartman, IHG’s Managing Director EMEA, said: „We are obviously pleased to be working with Crimson Hotels on this project and delighted that they felt that Crowne Plaza was the right brand for their property. We are looking forward to strengthening this relationship over time and delivering a truly quality Crowne Plaza to Gatwick Airport. This is a great strategic location and a great opportunity for Crowne Plaza, which offers business travellers a comfortable and relaxing environment in which to work and rest.“
