Fairmont's long-awaited renovation of The Savoy hotel in London is expected to begin this December. A Fairmont Hotels & Resorts spokesperson said that the hotel will stop taking reservations that month and The Savoy would subsequently close for approximately 16 months. 
The spokesperson added that The Savoy would resume taking reservations about two to three months before its currently unscheduled debut date in 2009.
The $200 million-plus renovation includes upgrading suites,
guest rooms, hallways, public areas and the River Restaurant. The
"It was a difficult decision to close down the hotel," MacDonald says, "but we could not envision disrupting our guests on a daily basis. A project of this scope could take much longer if the hotel remained open for business and we wish to stick to a rigorous schedule in order to reopen as quickly as possible."
For more information, phone the hotel at 011 44 20 7836 4343 or visit www.fairmont.com/savoy.