Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels announces groundbreaking ceremony for The Peninsula London

The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH) today celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for The Peninsula London in Belgravia, London. The Duke of Westminster attended as Guest of Honor at the ceremony which was hosted by HSH Chairman, The Honorable Sir Michael Kadoorie.

Speaking at the event, Sir Michael said: “This is an important day for our group. We were most pleased, after many decades of searching, to have found such a magnificent location for The Peninsula London hotel and residences. It is our vision that The Peninsula London shall be recognized as one of the finest hotels in the world. We will welcome international guests and showcase the best of British culture, design, art and cuisine combined with traditional warm Asian hospitality, while also ensuring that The Peninsula London is embraced as a prominent fixture in the community and equally beloved by local residents.”

HSH Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Mr Clement Kwok added: “The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels’ philosophy is to focus our business on a small number of hotels which are recognised as being amongst the best in the world. We emphasise quality rather than quantity and all our hotels are situated in the most prime locations in major international gateway cities. London is one of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant cities, with a unique energy and culture, and we believe it has a most exciting future. The Peninsula London hotel and residences will set new standards in luxury and service and we believe they will be the finest in the London market when complete.”

The project site for The Peninsula London is in a spectacular location overlooking Hyde Park Corner and the Wellington Arch and will comprise a 190-room hotel and 24-28 luxury residential apartments, with opening currently scheduled for 2021.

As part of the project, the owners will also provide affordable housing located at Buckingham Palace Road in Westminster. The project is expected to support over 2,000 jobs and deliver additional expenditure of £60m to the London economy annually, offering a significant boost to London’s tourism industry.

The Peninsula London hotel has been designed by UK-based Hopkins Architects Partnership, with the interiors designed by Peter Marino Architect. Food and beverage outlets are being designed by Archer Humphryes and CAP Atelier, with specialist lighting designed by Speirs + Major. Engineering services are provided by WSP and Cundall. The Development and Project Manager is Prime Development, construction management is being handled by Sir Robert McAlpine and cost management by Arcadis. Demolition by Keltbray is almost complete and piling by Cementation Skanska is now underway.