Starboard Hotels opens new Gatwick Airport hotel following £14m investment
Award winning hotel owner and operator Starboard Hotels has announced the opening of their premiere Gatwick Airport hotel, Ibis Styles Gatwick, following a £14m refurbishment and redevelopment.
The exciting 182-bed hotel is already creating a buzz with guests, holidaymakers and business travellers, who are enjoying a unique Wanderlust themed stay at this stylish hotel.
The hotel, situated close to Gatwick, the world’s busiest single runway airport, has undergone a complete transformation including an additional floor providing expanded bedroom capacity, at its Crawley, West Sussex, location, rebranding to become an Ibis Styles property.
Paul Callingham, Starboard Hotels Chairman and founder said: “This is an important, landmark moment for Starboard as we open the new Ibis Styles Gatwick following an ambitious, three year refurbishment programme.
“Our teams, including the architects and contractors, have worked hard to develop and deliver an exceptional hotel with state of the art facilities including sustainability features that really matter to today’s modern traveller.
“We are proud to offer guests a fantastic place to stay in relaxing and pleasant surroundings and are excited for the future with clear ambitions to grow the Starboard business.
“The opening of the Ibis Styles Gatwick is an important milestone for our business as we look to the future growth and expansion of the Starboard brand.”
The new look hotel offers an exceptional guest experience, enhanced by contemporary designed rooms complete with 50-inch televisions, an exciting lobby and lounge area, complete with photo opportunity art pieces including a vintage Fiat 500, reflecting the wanderlust theme.
Guests heading to the airport can check departures and arrivals on screens in the lobby, and breakfast is served from 4am, as well as a shuttle bus and park-and-fly services.
The hotel features a number of impressive amenities, including free unlimited Wi-Fi, and accessible, ambulant and family rooms, as well as a 130-cover restaurant, catering for hotel guests and the local community.
Kerian Barnes, Starboard Hotels Group Operations Director, said: "We are always looking at ways to help the environment, and this hotel is filled with the best technology available.
“We are sure that our guests will appreciate the hard work and effort we have put in to make this hotel as sustainable, and comfortable, as possible.
“I’m sure that we will soon become a regular feature for travellers from all over the world, and we look forward to developing the business and welcoming back all our previous guests.”
Starboard’s latest property, its third hotel in the London, South east region, contains a number of initiatives aimed at creating exceptional guest satisfaction, while streamlining operations and implementing eco-friendly practices.
The hotel boasts impressive green credentials, including going fully electric, with hot water being generated by two heat pumps.
All guest rooms contain an energy-saving occupancy sensing system to maintain desired temperatures when occupied, but without wasting power on empty rooms.
Further energy-saving features include exceptional insulation, well above statutory requirements, and LED lighting throughout – including motion sensors where possible.
Even the showers in the sleek, modern bathrooms are set to release the optimum volume of water for a comfortable shower that reduces waste.
General Manager Simon Fordham said: "This is a unique opportunity to stay in Gatwick’s premiere hotel.
“Ibis Styles Gatwick is the newest player in the Gatwick market, and thanks to the dedication of our team, we are sure to become a runaway success.”
As well as creating 50 new local jobs, Simon and the hotel team have reached out to the local community and neighbouring businesses and are planning a number of events.
Starboard Hotels portfolio includes 21 hotels across world renowned brands from Hilton, IHG, Accor, Best Western and Wyndham, own brand properties The Cliffden in Teignmouth, Windermere Manor in the Lake District and The Bridge Hotel in West London.