New London hotel ‘45 Park Lane’ with Media Room to open this September
The Dorchester ballroom suite under renovation for September launch
Coworth Park marquee revealed
Dorchester Collection today announced the creation of one team to oversee Groups and Events for its three hotels in the UK: The Dorchester, Coworth Park and 45 Park Lane. The new structure, headed by two new senior appointments, will ensure all department members have full product knowledge across all three hotels, providing clients a seamless enquiry and booking process handled by one point of contact.
With the launch of two additional hotels in the United Kingdom in one year, Dorchester Collection will offer an unrivalled range of Group and Event products in the luxury segment within 45 minutes from each other.
This September, 45 Park Lane will open just opposite The Dorchester adding another 45 rooms and suites to the hotel collection’s London room inventory as well as an additional Penthouse Suite. Hotly anticipated, the September opening will launch celebrated American chef Wolfgang Puck’s first restaurant in Europe, the popular modern American steak restaurant CUT made famous in LA. The contemporary style hotel will also offer a ten seat Media Room for private hire.
Iconic London hotel, The Dorchester, offers clients 250 rooms and suites, and ten event rooms with flexibility to cater functions from two to 1000 guests. Renovations over the past four years have included the contemporary Crystal and Park Suites, The Boardroom, White room and Study, while 2011 sees the renovation of the four rooms making up the Ballroom Suite this Autumn. The project will be led by international interior architectural design studio, Alex Kravetz Designs Ltd, which holds 20 years experience in luxury hotel and resorts, high end residential and real estate developments.
Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection’s new luxury country house hotel and spa in Ascot, Berkshire, which opened in September last year, offers 70 guest rooms, four contemporary event rooms and a semi-permanent marquee (350 for a lunch or dinner, 250 dinner dance) amidst 240 acres of beautiful pastoral grounds. Just 45 minutes drive from London, 20 minutes from Heathrow and with excellent train links to Waterloo and its own Helipad, the hotel has been a hit for meetings, conferences and product launches with both the local and international market.
Heading up the new team, James Partridge joins this month as Director of Group & Event Sales, overseeing a total of 16 event rooms and 365 guest rooms and suites across the UK hotels reporting to Trevor Owen, Area Director of Sales and Marketing. Joining from The Montpellier Chapter Hotel where he was appointed General Manager in June 2010, James’s previous experience includes the General Manager position at Gordon Ramsay Holding’s York & Albany and various managerial roles within Maybourne Hotel Group, mainly within Claridge’s, including House Manager and Private Events Manager.
In position since April 2011, Laura Prentice has been appointed Head of Group & Event Sales, reporting directly to James Partridge, overseeing a team of five Event Managers and nine Sales Executives. Laura was most recently Director of Events at Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel and has extensive events experience in the London market. In May 2011, Laura was awarded a Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn Award, an accolade that recognises the future stars within hospitality.
In the same month, The Dorchester has appointed Joe Flattery as Event Operations Manager with effect from June 2011. Joe joins the in-house event team from The Grove Hotel & Spa where he was Meetings and Events Operations Director. Prior to this role, Joe worked with the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai as Director of Banqueting & Events and in banqueting operations at Claridge’s and Mandarin Oriental. Jo will report directly to The Dorchester’s Director of Food & Beverage, Renaud Gregoire. Under the new senior executive appointments, groups and events at The Dorchester will be run by The Dorchester’s expert floor team who hold combined experience and client relationships spanning 57 years.
General Manager and Regional Director UK, Roland Fasel said: “We are delighted to welcome such a knowledgeable and reputable set of Group and Event specialists to look after our clients at our hotels in the UK. Dorchester Collection is committed to a constant programme of renewal, and we look forward to sharing the new ballroom suite at The Dorchester and our new hotel, 45 Park Lane, this September. ”
