Starboard opens new Gatwick hotel following £14m investment

Starboard Hotels has announced the opening of its flagship airport hotel, Ibis Styles Gatwick, following a £14m refurbishment and redevelopment. The 182-bed hotel is situated close to Gatwick, the world’s busiest single runway airport, and has undergone a “complete transformation”, including an additional floor providing expanded bedroom capacity. The new look hotel offers an “exceptional guest experience”, with contemporary designed rooms complete with 50-inch televisions, as well as a lobby and lounge area that feature art pieces including a vintage Fiat 500. Guests heading to the airport can check departures and arrivals on screens in the lobby, and breakfast is served from 4am. There is also a shuttle bus and park-and-fly services. The hotel features a number of amenities, including free unlimited Wi-Fi, and accessible, ambulant and family rooms, as well as a 130-cover restaurant catering for hotel guests and the local community. The hotel also has “impressive” green credentials, including going fully electric, with hot water being generated by two heat pumps. All guest rooms contain an energy-saving occupancy sensing system to maintain desired temperatures when occupied, but without wasting power on empty rooms. Further energy-saving features include exceptional insulation and LED lighting throughout, including motion sensors where possible. Paul Callingham, Starboard Hotels chairman and founder, said: “This is an important, landmark moment for Starboard as we open the new Ibis Styles Gatwick following an ambitious, three year refurbishment programme. “Our teams, including the architects and contractors, have worked hard to develop and deliver an exceptional hotel with state of the art facilities including sustainability features that really matter to today’s modern traveller. We are proud to offer guests a fantastic place to stay in relaxing and pleasant surroundings and are excited for the future with clear ambitions to grow the Starboard business. “ He added: “The opening of the Ibis Styles Gatwick is an important milestone for our business as we look to the future growth and expansion of the Starboard brand.” Kerian Barnes, Starboard Hotels group operations director, said: "We are always looking at ways to help the environment, and this hotel is filled with the best technology available. “We are sure that our guests will appreciate the hard work and effort we have put in to make this hotel as sustainable, and comfortable, as possible. “I’m sure that we will soon become a regular feature for travellers from all over the world, and we look forward to developing the business and welcoming back all our previous guests.” General manager Simon Fordham concluded: "This is a unique opportunity to stay in Gatwick’s premiere hotel. Ibis Styles Gatwick is the newest player in the Gatwick market, and thanks to the dedication of our team, we are sure to become a runaway success.”