“ Being part of the community is how you determine success ,”
says Grant Campbell , general manager , Nobu Hotel London Portman Square . The December 2020 debut of the city ’ s second Nobu hotel was short-lived due to the COVID-19 lockdown . However , when London reopened May 17 , 2021 , the property did , too , with multiple paths for locals to become Nobu loyalists .
This strategy is key to the hotel ’ s rebirth – both upon reopening and the renovation of a 1960s building formerly housing a Radisson Blu – and is a lesson learned years ago when Nobu restaurants inspired the hotel group that counts Portman Square as its 13th property .
Fans of namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa , who founded Nobu Hospitality with Robert De Niro and Meir Teper , flocked to the 48-seat heated and waterproof Roku Japanese Gin Garden and the temporary marquee installed when indoor restaurants were prohibited , Campbell says . Now that overnight stays are possible , 90 % of guests also dine at Nobu , and while occupancy
July / August 2021 hotelsmag . com 97