Kempinski gains London foothold

Germany-based Kempinski Hotels has finally secured a foothold in London, with contracts to manage the Bentley in South Kensington and the Courthouse in the West End. Both hotels are owned by the Sanger family.

The five-star-standard, 116-bedroom Kempinski Courthouse, a former magistrates' court, is currently being developed and will open at the end of the summer. The 64-suite Bentley, which opened in October 2003, has been reflagged this week.

Kempinski has 36 hotels around the world but is set to increase this to 60 within the next three years.