General Overview 

The Park Plaza London Waterloo was opened in 2017 and is an unrated purpose-built contemporary hotel positioned for business with facilities to support international, national and regional healthcare meetings. 

Location and Setting

The Park Plaza Waterloo is located in the heart of London and a 10-minute walk from the major rail and London Rail Underground station of Waterloo which provides access to the International airports of London Heathrow and Gatwick in 45 minutes or just over an hour away by car. London City Airport is 40 minutes away by public transport or by car and for those driving, although the hotel does not have its own parking, local valet parking and parking can be arranged through the hotel. Ample drop-off parking is available outside the hotel and coaches can park outside the hotel for max. 15min allowing pick up and drop off.

The hotel is just a short walk from Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital and 42 minutes from Excel, London’s largest congress centre in London, and home to International Healthcare Congresses such as EULAR and ESC.

Design

The hotel was purpose-built with an exterior that has corporate styling with small white and light brown panels and a ground floor of glass panelling. The Interior of the hotel presents a dark, contemporary product positioned for business rather than one aimed at the luxury market.

Delegates enter the mainly glass-fronted building from the ground floor and into an open, modern and contemporary lobby area with dark tiled flooring and vibrantly coloured seating and LED lighting. The long reception desk stands opposite the main entrance and double doors lead from the lobby to the meeting space. A large seating area sits between the lobby and the Florentine Restaurant which has its own public entrance. Also, with its own public entrance on street level, is the ‘Illy’ café, which is used as a location for informal business meetings.

The styling from the lobby area is continued throughout the public spaces and guests receive a vibrant ambience which is enhanced by the upbeat background music.

Bedrooms:

494 guestrooms are split into four categories; Superior (189), Studio (301), Executive and one-bedroom Suites.

Superior rooms are Park Plaza’s “standard” rooms and come with atrium or city views, from higher floors, and provide guests with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and tea/coffee facilities with a work desk, laptop safe and iron/ironing board.

Studio rooms come with added amenities of bathrobe and slippers, complimentary minibar and sleeper sofa however, these Studio rooms would, in our opinion, also be appropriate for allocation to HCPs, as the added amenities can be removed.

All rooms are decorated in the same design with dark carpet and wood effect floors with white bedding and walls. There are no pictures to provide any additional decoration however, some coloured lighting creates a contemporary feel but does not suggest a luxury product.

Executive rooms and suites would represent a significant upgrade and therefore their allocation to HCP’s should be avoided.

Meetings:

Six ground-floor meeting rooms offer a flexible and dedicated space, all with natural daylight. Park Suites 1 to 4, when combined, can accommodate 52 in classroom style with 5 & 6, two matching rooms, offering an extra 40 in a classroom style.

Park Suites 1 & 2 are of equal size and provide seating for 20 classroom each. The connecting Park Suites 3 & 4 are also of equal size and offer seating for 6 each in a classroom style.

Exclusive use can be obtained, and confidentiality assured when utilising all 1 to 6 Park Suites with 5 & 6 as the plenary with the option of using Park Suites 1-4 rooms as breakout / workshops or catering areas or alternatively with Blakes restaurant as the location for lunch.

Located of the hotel lobby on the ground floor, Blakes is the main hotel restaurant providing 84 seats for a privatised buffet lunch.

Restaurant:

Located off the hotel lobby, in the centre of the hotel on the ground floor, Blakes is the hotel restaurant providing 84 seats for buffet breakfast or lunches. The stylish décor with black tiled flooring with light brown tables and leather chairs and coloured lighting provide a sense of style and in our opinion, is an acceptable location for HCP lunches and dinners.

Florentine is the hotel’s a la carte restaurant and is located internally, opposite Blakes and has a street-side position. Breakfast, lunch and dinner service are offered here to hotel guests and the public, all a la carte. The décor follows that of Blakes with added pictures of iconic British actors.

Bar: The Florentine Bar is in a separate area between the restaurant and the café. Here DJs play background, which is more atmospheric music than a concert-style performance however, live music is played Saturday and Sunday but any programme involving HCPs would not have the bar included in any proposals.

Leisure:

Overnight guests of the hotel have complimentary access to the Mandara Spa (a Park Plaza brand) and fitness gym which provides machines and some free weights. There is a small pool with a sauna and steam room and pre-booked treatments are provided by two rooms but are chargeable. These facilities will not be included in any proposal for meetings and events that involved external HCPs.

The hotel is centrally located in London however, it does not overlook the main tourist sites the city has to offer, however, its location is attractive to travellers wishing to use the hotel as a base for leisure stays.

Styling throughout the property is modern chic but with touches that are boutique in style but should not influence bookers into considering the hotel as one not considered appropriate to hold healthcare meetings.

The hotel's leisure facilities include the Park Plaza brand, Mandara Spa. including a sauna and a steam room, however, there is no pool and treatments are chargeable.