REVIEWS HOTEL By Tom Newcombe
Le Meridien Etoile Paris
SERVICED APARTMENT
Leman Locke London
By Paul Revel
81 Boulevard Gouvion Saint-Cyr, 75848 Cedex 17, Paris, 75017 • Tel: (33)(0)1 40 68 34 34 •
lemeridienetoile.com
LE MERIDIEN ETOILE PARIS recently re-opened its flagship property in the capital following a multimillion-euro renovation. Located in le bobo (‘bourgeois bohemian’) 17th district of the city and within easy walking distance of both the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower, the 1,025 room hotel is the largest in Paris.
ROOMS: There are six room types: Urban, Smart, Chic, LM Club, and Junior and Senior Suites. The basic Urban Room is 21sqm with each guest receiving an Illy coffee voucher and free entry into a local attraction, such as the Palais de Tokyo. All rooms come with free wifi, 42-inch TV, safe and Malin and Goetz skincare products. The senior suite (52sqm) comes with a lounge area big enough for a small business meeting. The LM Club room and suites have access to the Club Lounge, which provides complimentary drinks and food that can be enjoyed on the roof terrace with views of the Eiffel Tower. RESTAURANT & BARS: The Ma Chere and Tendre Steakhouse is an excellent restaurant offering premium cuts of meats, including Limousin and Salers, and a quality wine list. It can sit groups of up to 40 people. Due to the size of the hotel, the bar at the rear of the hotel is large and sits next to the Jazz Club Etoile, where you can order light meals, snacks and cocktails. The patio area can be reserved for private functions for up to 150 people. Members of Starwood’s
132 BBT January/February 2017
SPG programme can earn points on dining. MEETINGS & EVENTS: The hotel offers extensive meetings and events facilities. The latest innovation is ‘creative meetings’, where guests can use their hired spaces to take part in team building activities, such as coffee and éclair making classes, as well as culinary walks around the local area. All set-ups, including theatre-, conference- and reception-styles are possible. The hotel offers more than 20 event and meetings areas, from banquet halls to small boardroom-style spaces. LEISURE: The hotel is home to the Jazz Club Etoile, which can count BB King and Cab Calloway as ex-residents. There is an in-room spa service offering massages and a fitness centre, open 24 hours a day. VERDICT: Despite the fact this is one of the largest hotels in Europe, Le Meridien Etoile manages to capture the more inclusive feel of smaller rivals. The refurbishment of the rooms and lobby area is impressive. In all, it’s an excellent choice for any type of business trip.
15 Leman Street, London E1 8EN • Tel: 0203 327 7140 •
lockeliving.com
SACO’S NEW LOCKE BRAND aims to combine a design-led lifestyle hotel with a serviced apartment that appeals to younger travellers. It is situated within sight of the City’s Square Mile, and a minute’s walk from Aldgate East underground station. It is a short walk from a supermarket and choice of cafes, bars and restaurants.
ACCOMODATION: 168
apartments include 105 studios and 63 one-bedroom suites, from 29sqm. My studio, on the 19th floor, felt spacious compared to an average hotel room. With its stylish décor and comprehensive facilities, it provided a relaxing living space. The kitchen area was well equipped with Smeg appliances, including dishwasher, fridge freezer, oven and eye-level microwave/ grill-combo, two hobs and a washer-dryer. There was a good range of cooking utensils and a toaster, plus crockery, cutlery and glassware for four people. Nice touches included a Hemsley & Hemsley cookbook, a welcome pack with tea and coffee, plus fresh milk in the fridge. The decent- sized bathroom featured a walk- in rainshower, heated towel rails and Kinsey Apothecary products. Other facilities included a flatscreen TV and safe, plus iron and board. FACILITIES: Free wifi is available throughout the property. The ground floor features 24-hour reception, communal lounge areas and café/bar serving pastries and snacks. The F&B offering will be significantly
expanded when the Treves & Hyde restaurant opens in February. It promises a changing menu, organic produce and breakfast dishes such as folded eggs with truffle and field mushrooms. For lunch and dinner, tartares and ceviches, and dishes such as black cod with kale and brown rice, or Hereford paprikash with red cabbage and buttered noodles will be on offer. The bar will include craft beers, cocktails and snacks, while an outdoor terrace will feature a smoker and grill for barbecue dishes. On the first floor is a small gym. There are also two meeting rooms on the 21st and 22nd floors. They offer 52-inch smart TVs, London views and organic coffee. VERDICT: The new brand’s stated aim is to appeal to the ‘modern traveller’, and it has the smart contemporary design and tech essentials to do this. I’m not sure if I count as a ‘modern’ traveller, but I found the friendly atmosphere and comprehensive amenities made a comfortable and stylish living space. I can see Leman Locke being a popular choice for business travellers, particularly those working in the City area.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144