“Whatever happened at Wimbledon these last two weeks really had little effect on occupancy. Tennis lovers come for the overall entertainment rather than to follow particular players, so when Novak Djokovic was amazingly knocked out, no-one checked out early,” says Kiaran MacDonald, managing director of The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed hotel.
“This hotel is the epitome of Englishness,” he continued. “We are busy not only with sporting events but with such social calendar highlights as Royal Ascot, The Queen’s garden parties at Buckingham Palace, and the Lord Mayor’s Procession. Sometimes we have daily fashion shows of ladies’ hats and though we do not have our own supply we can call on milliners at short notice to rush them in,” he said.
Events that affect The Savoy seem almost non-stop. As official hotel partner for the annual BAFTA Film Awards, it hosts style suites. Such very-English suppliers as Hackett menswear suppliers and Charles Worthington hair concierges dress the suites to beautify stars on a complimentary basis. “This is not a profit center for us, but it positions the hotel and re-establishes its iconic status,” said MacDonald.
The Savoy also now hosts the annual Ultras, which many regard as the top global assessment of readers’ choices at the luxury level. “This gives us a partnership with The Daily Telegraph, the London-based newspaper that is exactly the right medium for many of our domestic staycation guests (you cannot pay for advertising like this). Hoteliers fly in from around the world to pick up their awards, and we always know that industry colleagues check every hotel very carefully,” the MD shared.
In the past there were always events here. Named for Count Peter of Savoy, who built a palace here in 1246, the current building dates back to 1889. A ballroom was added in 1910 and a Wall Street financier once had its courtyard flooded to four feet, to float his guests in by gondola. Some past happenings were certainly somewhat dramatic (it is said that in 1923 Marguerite Alibert, one-time lover of the prince of Wales, shot dead her second husband, a multimillionaire Egyptian, but there is no commemorative plaque).
The 267-room hotel can manage all occasions with its own roster of approximately 600 employees. Since its 2010 re-opening after a massive four-year restoration, by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, it has re-established its role as location of leading corporate and leisure events. “If we ever have 13 at a private dinner, we always set a 14th place, with the sculpture of a black cat sitting there for good luck,” MacDonald laughed.
Traditions continue, but new features come in continuously. Last month a new, expanded 2,260-square-foot, two-bedroom Savoy Suite opened, with three picture windows affording the most spectacular view up and down the River Thames, 50 yards away. “Almost immediately the Savoy Suite was sold to a long stay guest,” he said with pride.
Being part of Fairmont and the FRHI family – and, soon, what may well be Accor’s luxury division – is an excellent driver of incoming business. Once arrived, however, there are no signs of Fairmont. It is discreet Savoy branding, with simple Pentagram-designed letters adorning room collateral and other signage.
“Little did I realize I would one day have the honor, and responsibility, of running this hotel,” MacDonald said. He admits he was not an academic achiever at secondary school in Surrey, England, but since he was always fond of people, food and traveling, hotels seemed a good career. Coincidentally he was turned down for an apprenticeship at The Savoy so he went to another London property, The Royal Garden Hotel, after which he worked his way up the F&B ladder before joining Fairmont in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1995. After other Fairmont appointments he was back in Arizona as GM when the London opportunity came up.