Trends in London hotels are sure to be replicated the world over, and the latest fashions in London hospitality are not only the envy of hoteliers and restaurateurs all over the globe, but also serve to inspire the innovative new wave of international hotel, bar and restaurant fads.
Visitors to London can take advantage of all the latest in cool boutique hotels, cutting-edge design and creative cuisine. Why wait until it all comes to a town near you when you experience it in London? But it’s important to stay on top of the trends to know exactly what’s hip and what’s happening when.
The latest in London - according to local street press and national news sources - is the emergence and growth of so-called pop-up hotels. We’re all familiar with pop-up bars and pop-up shops, the ever-present feature of summer music festivals and large-scale events, but the fad for the future according to Euromonitor International and World Travel Market Global Trends will be the hotel equivalent. Designed to be easily and cheaply assembled and then disassembled, the hotel facilities aim to meet the demand for event-specific accommodation in close proximity to a conference, sporting event or concert. The M-Hotel promises to be the first of its kind for London’s hotels; it can be put up or taken down in three days, reveals architect Tim Pyne, and is designed to be transported by either road or rail.
Price drops were the order of the day for London hotels in 2008 and 2009 as the city’s hotels competed for the dwindling pool of overseas visitors - yet what might the future hold? London is generally acknowledged as one of the world’s most expensive cities for both residents and tourists, so any savings made on accommodation definitely are a big bonus. Figures indicate that the average room prices at London hotels were £10 lower in 2009 than in 2008, and this trend is anticipated to continue. Despite the weaker pound and the slashed prices from hoteliers, official reports suggest that the number of international visitors to the UK fell in the period 2008-09.
If you’re looking for a classy Left Bank hotel, you no longer need to rely on
Paris hotels. Forget the Seine, we’re talking the Thames - and its south bank to be precise. Word on the street is that south London is being developed as London’s Left Bank. Too soon to tell? Let’s see: however talk about the new hotel Rafayel, considered to be an eco-innovation masterpiece, is certainly encouraging.