Up Close With Marriott Managing Director Mike Dearing

Travel Agent caught up with Mike Dearing, managing director, Marriott Hotels, for the grand reopening of the iconic London Marriott Hotel County Hall, which just underwent a multi-million pound transformation. Dearing oversees the Marriott brand for Marriott International, which just merged with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. We met over lunch at the Marriott Park Lane in London, which similarly underwent a full renovation last year, it’s clear that Marriott is upping its game worldwide.

Mike Dearing, managing director, Marriott Hotels

“Marriott is in the midst of a bold rejuvenation, elevating the guest experience at all levels from the physical room product to every guest touch point and interaction, from food and beverage to meetings and even our M Club guest loyalty services,” says Dearing. There are eight Marriotts in London proper (and a few more just outside London by the airports and  in some of the busier suburbs), and Dearing says the work being done to the London properties is indicative of what is happening across the brand globally. The London Marriott Hotel Regent’s Park is also in the midst of a top to bottom redo. “These new openings and reinvented hotels showcase attributes of the future of Marriott— contemporary guest room design, local influences, stylish public areas and intuitive technology.

The suites we saw in the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane were impressive and virtually on a quality level— marble baths, plush seating, luxury linens—with Ritz-Carlton, but have a more contemporary feel. The communal spaces, lobby, bar and the restaurant, Lanes of London, were all buzzing in the middle of your average London workday, and the renovated underground pool and health club sparkled. 

Dearing explains that this all part of the master plan for Marriott, which has a total of 350 hotels in its system. “Marriott has completely renovated 40 hotels, there are another 100 in various stages of renewal, and I’m traveling around the world demonstrating to our owners how these new brand standards are a great business decision, with the goal to get all of our properties onboard,” he says. 

Marriott hopes to have the remaining 210 hotels begin the renovation process within the next five years, completing the brand transformation. Some of the biggest changes: tubs are out—75 percent of all bathrooms will have oversized walk-in showers; each hotel will have a “Great Room” for socialising; and the M Club facilities for Marriott Rewards guests are open 24/7.

Another aspect of Marriott Dearing is excited about is a new partnership with TED to bring creatively curated TED Talks to guests worldwide, enriching their travel experiences and motivating their own original, inventive thinking. “We want our guests to think of Marriotts as a place they come to create and be inspired,” says Dearing. As part of the opening celebrations, London Marriott Hotel County Hall hosted one of the five global TED Fellows salons series.

London Marriott Hotel County Hall 

If the culmination of these efforts is the stunning 206-room London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Marriott is off to an epic start. Set at the foot of Westminster Bridge, on London’s South Bank, the historic hotel boasts breathtaking views of Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the River Thames and the London Eye. The interiors are equally impressive, cleverly done by RPW Design, the reimagined spaces combine contemporary hotel design and functionality with inspiration from the heritage and elegance of the building. All suites include upgraded bathroom facilities, entrances with tiled mosaic flooring and bespoke wallpaper featuring a historic map of London. Subtle plays on iconic London landmarks are featured throughout, including tasteful tributes to the building’s history – the orange chairs pay homage to the seating used in the chamber of the former London County Council and cute bowler hat prints on the curtains are a nod to London’s business culture. 

A destination in itself, the hotel has a health club with a 25-meter pool (the biggest hotel pool in London), fine British dining at Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar, the Noes Lobby Champagne bar, the Leader’s Bar & outside terrace and afternoon tea in the Library Lounge, plus an exclusive lounge for Marriott Rewards members. For more information on The London Marriott Hotel County Hall, visit LondonMarriottCountyHall.co.uk. Rooms start at £325 including breakfast.