Reality Check ➔ HOTEL LONDON BRIDGE HOTEL, LONDON
THE HOTEL: A great location next to London Bridge Station and at the heart of the regener- ation works that will deliver the iconic Shard, a new corporate HQ and public piazza in 2012. This 1916-built hotel has 138 rooms and three long-stay apartments and is styled as a contemporary boutique hotel. THE CHECK-IN: Must be a record; I was in the lift within 60 seconds and up to my fourth floor room. The lobby is small and welcoming, with ample seating, newspapers, wifi and so on. THE ROOM: The room was uncluttered, modern and decorated in easy-on-the-eye neutral colours. A large bed and even larger headboard dominated the average-sized room. The usual modern facilities filled the room, including flatscreen TV, desk, iron and ironing board, clothes press and, cleverly hidden inside a chest of drawers, tea and coffee making facilities and an automated minibar. Bags of characterful lighting augmented the ceiling lights and there was just enough space for one soft chair. Small and simple white bathroom. All in all very comfortable. THE BUSINESS: Meeting space is spread across two floors, lower ground and basement, and comprises five rooms with capacities stretching from eight in boardroom style to 80 in theatre set-up. The rooms may
lack natural light but the hotel has raised the bar on innovative conference catering, which helps during those post-lunch graveyard sessions. Day delegate rates are from £59. February saw the launch of high-definition videoconferencing facilities at the hotel, available in all meeting and event rooms. THE RESTAURANT: The large Londinium is a little lost on the lower ground floor but made up for it with interesting and well presented modern British cuisine served in elegant
➔ HOTEL CENTARA GRAND, BANGKOK
THE LOCATION: Soaring above Bangkok’s business and main shopping districts, the five- star hotel is located right at the heart of the city. Close to Siam Square, it is linked to the Centara Convention Centre at CentralWorld, a site billed as Bangkok's first fully-integrated hotel, convention, retail and leisure complex. THE CHECK-IN: This usually takes place on the 23rd floor, in a large bright and airy lobby area. A hotel centrepiece features water running down the walls in a fountain set up and chandeliers hanging from a high ceiling. Those staying in a World Executive Club room enjoy an exclusive check-in on the 51st floor. THE ROOM: With 505 luxurious rooms and suites – and a bewildering number of different room categories – The Centara Grand is one of the largest hotels in Asia-Pacific. My room featured a king-size bed, AC, minibar, safe, satellite TV and an iPod and docking station. A huge bathroom featured a sizeable sunken bath and ‘bucket’ showerhead. THE BUSINESS: All rooms have wireless or cabled high-speed internet and there’s a small business lounge on the 23rd floor. Free internet facilities are also available at the exclusive Club Lounge on the 51st floor, which serves complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés and drinks. The venue has a
surroundings. Starters are from £6 and mains from £15, including steak, fish, duck and good non-meat options. Between 5.30-8pm there is a two-for-one deal running on all main courses. Lunch and room service features a good selection of Pieminister pies. The London Bridge Quarter, a casual tapas bar and lounge, will open on the hotel's ground floor this May, just off the lobby, and should give All Bar One a run for its money next door. THE FACILITIES: There's free entrance to Fitness First, free wifi internet throughout the building and a really knowledgeable and friendly concierge, but no parking facilities. THE VERDICT: This is a well-located hotel, small enough to offer personal service and clearly well positioned for the significant transformation that’s taking place in the immediate area over the next 12-18 months. Friendly staff give it that extra cachet. Fortunately, the hotel seems well insulated from the noise of the daytime building works. THE DETAILS: 8-18 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG; Tel: 020 7855 2200; email:
sales@londonbridgehotel.com; see:
www.londonbridgehotel.com. Weekday rates for a standard double room start from £190 excluding VAT. Weekend deals are available. GILLIAN UPTON
wide variety of meeting rooms and function facilities and a dedicated events team. THE FACILITIES: The hotel has some nine restaurants and bars including Red Sky, a stylish and spectacular rooftop venue. Try 55 for great steaks and fine wines or Ginger for tempting Japanese, Chinese and Thai dishes. The World, on the 24th floor and open 24 hours, serves a wide variety of international dishes. There is a magnificent outdoor swimming pool, set in a tropical garden that overlooks Bangkok's crowded skyline. There's also a gym, sauna, tennis courts and The Spa
Cenvaree with a full menu of treatments. THE VERDICT: This is the perfect choice for discerning business travellers looking for a top-class hotel within easy reach of the airport, business district and downtown attractions. The hotel is vast, spacious and classy. THE DETAILS: 999/99 Rama Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand; Tel: +66(0) 2 7691234;
www.centarahotelsresorts.com. Special nightly rates for April through to August 2011 start from around £65 for a Deluxe World room £100 for a World Club Executive room. IAN LINTS
82 I FIND MORE REALITY CHECKS AT
WWW.THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM
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