H&E North sits down with Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport Hotel General Manager Chris Thomas to find out what the hotel can offer business travellers.
Sitting right next to London City Airport and just ten minutes’ walk away from ExCeL London, Marriott’s first Courtyard hotel in Central London is perfectly placed for those heading to London for conferences and events. General Manager, Chris Thomas, tells us why the hotel is a cut above the rest: “One thing that shines through our reviews and feedback from our regular guests is how much our service helps us stand out. Every team member shares our passion for delivering the best guest experience possible, and they’re on hand 24/7 to support guests during their stay. We describe our approach as being informally formal, so at check-in our guest service representatives will make a point of taking the time to find out how we can best help our guests, talking them through our facilities as they escort them from check-in to the lift.”
Food and drink is an important consideration for weary conference-goers finishing a long day on the expo floor, and the venue aims to make their dining experience a highlight of every stay: “Our food offering isn’t your traditional airport restaurant fare,” Chris explains. “We’ve got Arancini, fresh lamb koftas, and locally sourced Billingsgate market fish for the fish and chips. We have free range elements in the menu, freshly produced, locally sourced food. As part of our all-day kitchen & bar dining concept, we’ve also partnered with a local brewery called Fourpure to offer some of their IPAs. We also offer a full buffet breakfast every day.”
Another big draw for those travelling to London for conferences is the ease of access and connection that the hotel provides: “The DLR is only five minutes’ walk away, and it’s only five minutes walk to get from the hotel to the airport check-in area, we have direct transport links to central and east London.”
Ideal for group bookings, the hotel also offers convenient on-site meeting spaces for those looking to debrief after an event or meet with clients close to the airport. “We offer three private meeting and event spaces for up to 55 delegates, including our two interactive meeting rooms – one for six delegates, and the other for ten. With their floor-to-ceiling windows, they offer a really good opportunity for anyone who wants a satellite meeting space. We also have a great private dining room that can seat 25 people and that can also be used as a private meeting room. We have a business centre in-house, including a PC, and colour printer, and scanner, which is completely free to use. And we have high-speed Marriott Bonvoy Wi-Fi which is complementary and unrestricted.”
As for other amenities, the hotel takes care of guests in usual Marriott style: “We’re a Marriott brand, so we’ve got all the core fundamentals of a Marriott hotel. We have a super king-sized bed as standard. “Our luxury signature Marriott bedding is by far the most superior bedding package available right now. We also have 55-inch TVs in all of the rooms, and you can stream your own content directly to the TV, so you have access to Netflix, YouTube, and the like. We also have a fitness suite with cardio machines and free weights. It’s really an all-around experience.”
Courtyardlondoncityairport.com