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Accor is a
European leader in hotels and tourism and operates in 100 countries,
with over 70,000 employees. Mercure Hotels are one of Accors leading
brands within the UK.
They operate 27 hotels in idyllic spots throughout the country, which
complement the spirit, quality and individuality that are the hallmarks
of the Mercure Network.
Comfort, quality service and hospitality are the foundations of their
reputation. Built and decorated in harmony with their environment, Mercure
Hotels each possess their own personality, style and character.
Mercure Hotels are fiercely proud of their reputation and will only
accept the highest levels of service delivery from consultants, contractors
and suppliers alike.
This involved a fast track nationwide program of refurbishment and improvement works at various Mercure Hotel sites in South East England.
Our Involvement
This centered on the undertaking of various builders works packages in
South East England as instructed by one of the Accor Groups preferred
project management consultants - Warwick Avenue Ltd.
The scope of works included internal and external re-decoration, window repair and replacement, bedroom refurbishment, bespoke items of joinery and a wide variety of external repairs and refurbishment, including rain water goods.
We worked to extremely tight programs and were required to adopt a flexible and responsive approach to a number of last minute changes, brought about by unexpected conference and event bookings.
Good communication skills between us and other specialist contractors were required to engender a spirit of co-operation which was a pre-requisite of this contract.
An excellent relationship was developed with both the hotel management teams and the instructing Project Managers.
Our attention to detail and our regard for guests at all times, was broadly welcomed
Pleasingly all elements of our own work
were undertaken on time, despite the frequently changing operational requirements
of our client. We therefore feel
confident, that our association with Mercure Hotels, will continue in
the future, on a long term basis
P. Herbert, 'Dolphin Square', 1935
described the Square as 'a city of 1250 flats, each enjoying at the
same time most of the advantages of the separate house and the big communal
dwelling place'; the provision of a restaurant made him fear that 'fortunate
wives will not have enough to do. A little drudgery is good for wives,
pehaps.
The building contains a swimming pool and gym, as well as a restaurant,
bar, brasserie and shopping arcade. A launderette and a large car park
can be found in the basement. A tennis court and croquet lawn overlooks
the Thames. For many years, the estate had a reputation for being a
'Bourgeois Council Estate', with many judges, senior civil servants,
and MPs living at below-market rates. Other residents have included
Radclyffe Hall, Christine Keeler, the Princess Royal and, it is rumored,
both MI5 and Soviet spies. John Vassall, the Soviet spy, was arrested
at his Dolphin Square apartment in 1962. It provided a base for the
Free French during World War II. A hawk resides to contain the pigeons.
The Project
This involved the conversion of Rodney House back
from a hotel into residential apartments which were subsequently to
be let on a short term basis.
Our involvement
RFP Contracting undertook the enabling works for the entire site working in conjunction with ME contractors and specialist stone cleaning companies. Robust Health and Safety working practices were of paramount importance as was the need for strict containment and removal of asbestos which was contained within the building was known to be present within the building.
Effective liaison and communication between ourselves
and the Site Management team, ensured that the operational capability
of the famous shopping arcade, gym and restaurant were never compromised
by the ongoing building works.
