Where to stay when you leave.
HotelChatter @ Openings: Andaz London Revealed
11/19/2007 at 9:31 AM
Tags: Andaz Hotels, Hotel Hype, Hotel Openings
We sent our London correspondent, Annabel Ross, to Hyatt Andaz to get a first hand look at the hype. Enjoy.
Stepping into Liverpool Street 's newly refurbished Andaz London for the opening of the Eastern Thinking exhibition, I knew I was in for a treat.
Like a scene from a modern-day Walt Whitman film, the adjacent bar, Aurora, was decked out with gorgeous chandeliers and sumptuous stylised décor evoking the feel of an upmarket nightclub. After gorging ourselves on the provided oysters, sushi and champagne, we took a grand tour of the new Andaz and permanent installations comprising works from some of the East end's most exciting modern artists.
The Guggenheim-inspired staircase is to-die-for whilst the softly-lit etched bridge is subtly effective. Each installation features a quote that each artist has carefully selected based on personal engagements and experience of living or working within the EC and E2 postcodes.
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Espousing a philosophy of casual luxury, the Liverpool Street site is the first of the Andaz chain set to open branches in New York, Austin, Beijing and Moscow to name but a few. The traditional check-in system has been cast aside for a unique, personalized self-serve system at the new Andaz, and the hotel prides itself on its "greenness" with features including water-reducing toilets and boilers, healthy foods in the mini-bars and infra-red detection in public toilet lighting.
The only dubious feature I encountered was the selection of stuffed animals in one of the rooms which was reminiscent of Norman Bates' motel. This example of taxidermy was apparently one of the art installations. Dead birds aside, however, the Andaz is a fabulously modern addition to the London stable of hotels, and for around $USD 800 per twin room, rest assured you will be treated accordingly.
Related Stories:
· Andaz Coverage [HotelChatter]
· London Hotels [HotelChatter]
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