The 5-star Lanesborough London St. Regis Hotel in Knightsbridge, London has been managed by Starwood Hotels for more than a decade. The problem though for Starwood Preferred Guest members is the hotel never participated in the loyalty program. SPG members have never been able to use points for free night awards at one of the most, if not the most expensive hotel in London.
Rate check today for Wednesday, October 17, 2012 shows rates starting at $762 per night or USD $914 per night after tax, however, that does include free internet and butler service.
On Monday, October 15 that all changes when the Lanesborough St. Regis London becomes a participating hotel in Starwood Preferred Guest entering as a SPG Category 7 hotel for 30,000 to 35,000 points per night for award stays. Members will earn points and be eligible for elite benefits and the hotel will participate in the SPG “Better by the Night” promotion for hotel stays through December 20, 2012.
The building was formerly a 19th century hospital
The Lanesborough at the corner of Hyde’s Park in Knightsbridge served as a hospital for over two centuries since 1733. The original Lanesborough House was torn down due to disrepair and the current building was constructed between 1827 and 1844 when it reopened as St. George’s Hospital. The hospital remained in service until the 1970s.
Rosewood Hotels and Resorts refurbished the property in the 1980s and opened the site as a hotel in 1991. The hotel was taken over for management by St. Regis in 2002 as a non-participating SPG property.
The hotel has 93 rooms with 43 of these suites.
The restaurant Apsleys – a Heinz Beck Restaurant apparently set a record for the fastest time a London restaurant received a Michelin star rating.
Even TripAdvisor reviewers love the Lanesborough. Starwood Hotels offers reviews on their own site now, but as yet no reviews have posted for The Lanesborough.
The Lanesborough London St. Regis photos Starwood site link.
Lanesborough.com website photos.
Ric Garrido, writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.
