Further to the acquisition in December 2021 of Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa by Arora Group, one of the UK’s leading hotel owner-operators, the signing of an agreement has been announced to redevelop the hotel under the globally renowned Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand. The announcement demonstrates the growing partnership between Arora Group and world leading hospitality group Accor, whose expansive collection of brands includes Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
The hotel will join iconic Fairmont properties across the UK and Ireland, such as The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in London; Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland; Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in Ireland; and the Arora-owned Fairmont Windsor Park near historic Windsor. With more than 90 destinations around the globe, Fairmont is known for its grand and awe-inspiring properties, many steeped in rich history and all assuming a very special place at the heart of their local communities.
Prior to taking on the Fairmont flag, Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa will undergo a multi-million-pound redevelopment over the next few years, bringing the hotel to new levels of luxury, unparalleled in the area. Dating back to 1601, the estate spans 1,100 acres of pristine land on the border of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Beyond the magnificent and historic facade of the Mansion House, today stands a 5-star country house hotel boasting exceptional facilities and offering luxurious yet relaxed service.
Excellent transport links between St. Pancras and Luton Parkway railway stations mean the hotel is easily reachable from London or Cambridge. As one of the most accessible hotels to Luton airport, it is a convenient destination for domestic and international travelers alike.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner again with Arora Group, building upon our tremendous success at Fairmont Windsor Park,” said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor. “This is an exciting project, truly a piece of history in this region, and we are honored that Arora has entrusted it to Fairmont.”
Adds Mark Willis, CEO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, “There are few hotels in the world with the incredible heritage and grand, elegant estate of Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa. This is a perfect addition to a collection of hotels that already includes such icons as The Plaza in New York, The Savoy in London, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. We will be honored to welcome the Luton Hoo Hotel to the Fairmont family, and are excited to see the property’s transformation unfold over the coming months and years.”
Surinder Arora, Founder and Chairman of Arora Group, commented: “We are incredibly proud to bring the prestigious Fairmont brand once again to Arora’s portfolio of hotels. Last decade, our estate has grown significantly, and we are excited to have this historic hotel join our other flagship properties. Luton Hoo’s heritage is exceptional with guests such as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spending part of their honeymoon there and Sir Winston Churchill giving his famous post World War II speech to a crowd of 110,000 people. Building on our existing expertise with the brand at Fairmont Windsor Park, we cannot wait to commence the redevelopment and bring this stunning hotel back to is full glory and potential.”
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce the creation of ‘Center Stage’ – an exciting new music program that supports the talents of tomorrow, pairs emerging and established artists and provides studio time and suite time to foster musical collaboration and mentor the creative process. Over the next three years, Fairmont, with the support of Abbey Road Studios, the most famous recording studio in the world, will provide 1,000 hours of studio time and 1,000 hours of suite time to up-and-coming artists across the globe, while documenting their artistic journeys – from writing and recording to live performances.
The Center Stage program launched at the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in London, on February 8th, 2023, featuring special performances by Rema and 0207 Def Jam’s rising star, Debbie. At the event, Fairmont lifted the curtain on the music writing process by sharing a documentary of its first collaboration – including the evolution of a track during a studio session, delving into the meaning behind the song, and where the artists found inspiration. The chronological docuseries will begin in The Royal Suite by Gucci at The Savoy, highlighting the way brilliance often strikes in meaningful settings. The artists are then followed to Abbey Road Studios’ Writing Rooms where they shape their creation with the help and support of their paired mentor and Abbey Road’s world class engineers and experts.
“Fairmont is where guests experience the grandest of feelings. We are passionate about delivering authentic experiences that share the best that our destinations have to offer – and music plays a significant role in making those connections,” said Mansi Vagt, Global Vice President Fairmont Brand, Accor. “Music is highly emotive and can be a powerful way that travelers connect to their favorite memories. Through our work with Abbey Road Studios we look forward to tapping into many diverse genres of music that will resonate with our Fairmont guests and our local communities around the world.”
Nigerian singer and rapper Rema has been making waves around the world with his gently provocative sound. Rema’s signature Afrorave style weaves African, Arabian and Indian influences for an upbeat sound that reverberates with good vibes and rave energy. Having learned to sing as a child in church, Rema got his first break in 2018 when D’Prince spotted him freestyling to Gucci Gang on Instagram, leading to a record deal with Jonzing World. Following his first breakout hit, Dumebi, Rema gained global attention when his track Iron Man was included on Barack & Michelle Obama’s Summer Playlist 2019. The following year, Beamer was selected for the FIFA 2021 soundtrack, and in 2022 he collaborated with Selena Gomez for a remix of his hit single Calm Down, which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 and is No.6 in the UK Official Charts.
“Center Stage is an incredible program that Fairmont and Abbey Road Studios have put together, and I’m honored to be included as a performing artist,” said Rema. “Using their power and resources to reach out to young talented artists – not only giving them a platform to access the world with their music, but helping them along the way to shape and refine their sound, their vision, and their community. It’s very inspiring, and I love being a part of it.”
