14
| Hospitality
Today | Summer 2018
FOCUS
ON SLEEP
A Wilde
night’s
sleep on
the Strand
Staycity Group opened their first ‘Wilde
Aparthotel’ on the Strand in London, on
24th April. Merlin Holland, the only grandson
of Oscar Wilde, was the guest of honour at
the official opening. Holland, along with
Staycity Group CEO Tom Walsh, cut the
ribbon on the apartment building, the first
of the company’s premium Wilde brand,
the design and concept of which was
“very much inspired by Oscar Wilde himself”.
Said Holland: “I’m delighted to be involved
with the opening of Wilde. My grandfather took
a great interest in aesthetics, particularly in
interior design. He memorably said ‘have nothing
in your house that is not useful or beautiful’.”
The 106-room Wilde in the stunning location
of London’s Strand, close to the popular tourist
area of Covent Garden and the heart of London’s
theatre-land, offers guests a choice of studios,
superior studios and double rooms over
eight floors including three sky level studios.
Prices start from £160 per room per night.
CEO and company founder Tom Walsh said:
“We are honoured to have Merlin with us to
mark the opening of our first Wilde and to
share some insight into his famous grandfather.
It’s fitting that our first Wilde is close to
where Oscar lived in London. It is also opposite
the Vaudeville Theatre, currently hosting an
Oscar Wilde season, and is a short walk from
the Oscar Wilde memorial, near Charing Cross.”
Wilde, The Strand, general manager Atul
Prakash, who joined Staycity in August 2017
with a strong background in the serviced
apartment sector and hotel front-of-house,
said that he was delighted with the reception
the property had received so far.
“Our guests have already given us fantastic
feedback on Wilde – they love the quirkiness
of the rooms and the imaginative design
touches. The quality of the beds has come in for
particular praise too – as has the location of the
building with its impressive views over London.”
Staycity intends to roll out the Wilde
brand across gateway city centre locations
throughout Europe. The Strand will be followed
by a second on Edinburgh’s King’s Stables
Road (123 apartments) at the end of 2019, two
properties in Berlin opening 2019/2020, and
another on Manchester’s St Peter’s Square
opening in 2020 with 256 apartments.
www.staycity.com