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HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
•
MAY 2012
27
STAY
WHEN A GREAT HOTEL CLOSES
—whether due to
natural disaster, neglect or just changing tastes—a
destination loses part of its identity. Luckily, the best
hotels do not always go gentle into that good night.
Many reopen their doors to reveal vast improvement,
be it innovation in design or newfound dedication
to service. That they’re back and be er than ever is
something that has everyone resting easier.
Take London’s
St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel
.
Back in the 1960s, the sprawling Gothic master-
piece then known as the Midland Grand Hotel
was slated for demolition. It survived, only to
endure decades of disrepair—until 2002, that
is, when a $240 million renovation began. Last
year the hotel was reborn as the St. Pancras Renaissance, and it’s a master class
in sensitive restoration: The lobby features original ironwork, and the grand
staircase is as stunning as it was when the hotel opened in 1873. While guests
can immerse themselves in the romance and history of the building, Londoners
will be celebrating the hotel’s sheer dramatic beauty for a long time to come.
Return to Form
The long-awaited reopenings of these premier hotels
are cause for celebration
BY CHRISWRIGHT
GOOD SAVE
London’s St. Pancras
Renaissance Hotel, right,
has been restored to its
former glory, above