There’s history and then there’s history:
The Cadogan Estate has been in the same family ownership for more than 300 years. The origins of the Cadogan Estate were established in 1717 when Charles, 2nd Baron Cadogan (1685-1776) married Elizabeth Sloane, daughter of Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) who had purchased the Manor of Chelsea in 1712.
And there is location, location, and then location:
The real estate holdings span 93 acres of Chelsea and Knightsbridge. The estate includes some of the world’s finest retail and leisure destinations, Sloane Street, the King’s Road and Duke of York Square.
Today, the Cadogan Group Limited is the holding company for the property investment business of the family of Earl Cadogan. The company is owned by a number of charitable and family trusts.
Then there are old friends who go by new names:
Belmond is a global collection of exceptional hotel and luxury travel adventures established almost 40 years ago, but until this Spring was known by Orient-Express, a name licensed from the French national railways, SNCF.
With its new calling card, new management (ex-Rosewood boss John M. Scott is at the helm) and aspirations of growth, the company yesterday announced it had filled a major gap in its global portfolio signing a management agreement with Cadogan Estates Limited to operate The Cadogan, a 64-key hotel on Sloane Street in the heart of Chelsea, as part of the Belmond’s collection of luxury hotels and travel experiences.
According to a press release, “The agreement comes at an exciting time in the 127-year history of The Cadogan, as the hotel will close at the end of July to undergo a US$48 million investment project. The fully renovated and re-conceptualised Belmond Cadogan will open in summer 2016.
“Working in tandem with Belmond and Blair Associates Architects, Cadogan Estates will fund the redevelopment, which will include the complete refurbishment of all public areas and the reconfiguration of 64 keys to 54 in order to accommodate demand from luxury travellers for larger junior suites and suites. The interior design project will be carried out by the London office of GA Design International, experts in international luxury hospitality design.”
Commenting on raising its flag in a key global capital, Scott said, “With its incredible heritage, unrivaled location and contemporary classic design, Belmond Cadogan will be renowned for its understated glamour and unique character, as well as for its standards of excellence in service and hospitality.”
Scott noted the newest addition to Belmond’s own collection of historically significant travel experiences (In addition to the trains known by its former name, it owns The 21 Club in New York City and the Cipriani in Venice) the company owns and operates four other businesses within Great Britain: the Belmond British Pullman, Belmond Northern Belle and Belmond Royal Scotsman luxury rail experiences, as well as Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, a 32-key hotel and two-Michelin star restaurant in Oxfordshire.
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