Hotel to Heart: Andaz Liverpool street in London

During my latest trip to London I stayed in the fabulous Andaz Liverpool street hotel. It was the first hotel I stayed in that gears to the special needs of women travelers with a focus on high service standards. The Andaz acknowledges that the average business traveler is no longer a male in his forties, and that things are shifting. Young female professionals, like myself, are on the rise. According to The Travel Industry Association research, women now make up 43% of business travelers, with 75% of all travel decisions made by women. The Andaz Liverpool street which is part of the Hyatt group, took note of that and found ways to accommodate to our particular requirements and interests with a special women’s experience:

• Extra female service staff  who go the extra mile to make us feel welcome
• Larger rooms that are close to the elevators
• A built-in dressing table in your desk
• Piece of Mind: an unique service that offers complimentary items like make-up pads, nail polish remover or hair spray. You can even borrow a yoga mat or hair straightener!
• A collaboration with Women for Women International : Women in war-torn communities make laundry bags for Andaz, bringing authenticity to each room. By using the laundry bag you support these women, providing them with an income and enabling them to learn a new trade that equips them to support their families. Watch the video about this inspiring project here.
• High quality bath amenities
• Communications cards on your night stand that allow housekeepers to provide personal confirmation of a thoroughly cleaned room and open the door to two-way communication, enabling guests to share additional needs during their stay

Did I notice all these extras? Certainly!  When I arrived I was immediately greeted by a female host who unlike other hotels doesn’t wait for you to come up to a reception desk, but rather approached me in a engaging and friendly manner, and with an iPad in hand.  I was immediately invited to relax in the sleek and stunning Andaz Lounge to enjoy complimentary refreshments.  You are checked in with a few touch screen movements, after which you are accompanied to your room by, again, your personal female host.

Now let’s talk design. The room was spacious and inviting with great design elements like the Eames chair, an oversized, ergonomic work desk, and Jacob Jacobsen lamp. The work desk has a hidden compartment with international outlets to charge your electronics without the fuss of changing adapters. In another hidden compartment you’ll find  a mirror and hair dryer. There’s a safe large enough to store your laptop. I was pleasantly surprised by the many complimentary amenities such as healthy juices and snacks,  and an iPod dock. And most importantly, the bed was perfect!

I also got a peek at other areas of the hotel like a luxurious suite, with walk-in-closet and a Tom Dixon Jack Light as a focal point.

Although the five star boutique hotel plays to niche preferences, and business travelers,  it is also a perfect city hotel for a leisurely stay with your husband and kids, or girlfriends. The hotel is ideally located adjacent to the Liverpool street train and tube station, a convenient hub for sightseeing and shopping. Hip and trendy Shoreditch with its edgy boutiques, many eateries and the bustling Sunday markets, is in walking distance.

The hotel has a long history. It is one of the original London railway hotels, formerly known as the Great Eastern Hotel. The historic details are seamlessly blended with the now modern interior. The hotel is housed in a beautiful redbrick Victorian building dating back to 1884. Victorian elements and ornamented ceilings adorn the stairway leading to two of the five restaurants,  or in the restaurants Catch (fish) and 1901 (fine dining) which was once the Great Eastern Hotel’s original ballroom. On a side note: I had dinner at the Eastway restaurant and can vouch for great food and excellent service!

At night, the decor is beautifully lit, casting a romantic atmosphere over the hotel. My stay at Andaz Liverpool Street was perfect, as was the food. Another great London city hotel to add to my short list! For more photos head over to my friend Dani’s blog who was my travel companion and gives her take on the Andaz Liverpool street.

photo credits:

• Lounge with hostess: photographer Joakim Blockstrom for Andaz
• bathroom suite: photographer Andrew Wood for Andaz
• Suite: photograpy by VRX for Andaz

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