Mention Edwardian and art deco together in a sentence and people who know upscale London will undoubtedly think: the Savoy.
It opened in 1889 and quickly became the favorite haunt of celebrities and royals. The 268-room property reopened this fall after a nearly three-year restoration.
"We are very excited to reopen the Savoy," said Kiaran MacDonald, general manager. "It is fair to say that this project has not been without its challenges. We are very aware of the place that the Savoy holds in many people's affections, and we firmly believe that the hotel will exceed people's expectations and reclaim its position as one of the world's great hotels."
The restoration was led by designer Pierre Yves Rochon, and more than 1,000 craftsmen and artists "have worked tirelessly to create interiors that are in keeping with the hotel's original and much-loved spirit," a statement from the hotel said.
Thirty-eight River Suites and guestrooms have been added, offering views over the River Thames. Nine Personality Suites will pay tribute to a few of the artists and well-known figures who made this legendary hotel their London home away from home including Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich and Frank Sinatra.
Its River Restaurant and Savoy Grill both were redone, and new to the hotel is the Beaufort Bar, built on the hotel's original cabaret stage.
A variety of packages is offered by the Savoy, which is managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. For a January weekend stay, rates range from about $550 per night to $1,300 for a junior suite, including breakfasts.
The restoration and atmosphere sound terrific, but we wanted to dig a little deeper. Below, MacDonald responds to our questions. Agents can learn more or book the hotel at www.fairmont.com.
Travel Weekly: What's the best thing about the Savoy's redesign?
MacDonald: For me personally, the finest feature of the Savoy's restoration is how the old has been blended with the new. So many people have an emotional attachment to the hotel that it was important that the Savoy still felt like the Savoy when people walked back through the doors.
For example, in the front hall, the original mahogany panels have been stripped back and repolished so that they glow. The ceiling treatment and famous frieze have been restored and painted in celadon, which shows off the true beauty of the work. Guests have said that it feels like a light has been turned on the hotel.
TW: What are the top three attractions within walking distance of the property?
MacDonald: The West End theater district, Trafalgar Square and London Eye.
TW: What's the wackiest request you've had from an American guest at the hotel?
MacDonald: We did have one guest asking about the possibility of water-skiing down the Thames, but having consulted with the relevant authorities, we had to advise against it and instead arranged a boat trip.
TW: What do you think most impresses an American visitor at the hotel?
MacDonald: The history of the Savoy. Some of the most well-known Americans of the 20th century have stayed at the hotel, so guests checking in today are following in the footsteps of Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Fred Astaire and Elizabeth Taylor. The Savoy still retains an unashamedly old-fashioned glamour, which gives guests a thrill.
TW: What do you think most impresses an American visitor to London?
MacDonald: The Savoy has one of London's most culturally cosmopolitan areas of London on its doorstep, and it's this diversity combined with the heritage that American visitors seem to enjoy. Within a 15-minute radius, guests can enjoy world-class opera and theater, Covent Garden, view both old masters and contemporary art, fly over London in the London Eye or immerse themselves in the history of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
TW: What is the American demographic the Savoy most markets to?
MacDonald: North America has always been the most important market for the Savoy, especially the East and West coasts. Business leaders, politicians and stars of stage and screen have made the Savoy their home away from home. But we would hope that any American walking through the iconic entrance of the Savoy would feel instantly at home.