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Building starts on Terminal 5 conference hotel
Construction is now underway on the Sofitel London Heathrow, the only hotel being built at the airport’s new Terminal 5.
The 600-bed hotel will be one of Europe’s largest luxury airport hotels and convention centres and is costing £180 million to build.
Link bridges will connect the terminal with the hotel, which will have a health spa and extensive underground car parking.
Conferencing facilities include rooms accommodating up to 1500 delegates, 30 meeting rooms and an in-house audio-visual service and lecture theatre for 150 people.
Due to open in March 2008, when the terminal itself opens, the property is being built by Arora International Hotels but will be operated under the Sotiel brand under a long-term franchise agreement with Accor.
The ground-breaking ceremony was a star-filled event, attended by Sir Cliff Richard, Cilla Black and Des O‚Connor.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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