Reykjavik Edition to debut in 2018
Marriott International, Inc., together with Ian Schrager and Carpenter & Company, has announced that it will open its first hotel in Iceland in 2018, the 250-key Reykjavik Edition. A luxury-lifestyle brand, Edition combines the intimate and individualised hotel experience that Ian Schrager is known for, with the global reach of Marriott International, which will manage the hotel under a long-term agreement.
The new development will be located on the harbour waterfront in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, immediately adjacent to Harpa, the city’s award winning concert and conference hall. Richard Friedman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carpenter & Company, the Boston-based owner and developer of the property, says: “The location of this hotel couldn’t be more spectacular – with the hotel working in conjunction with the city’s well known Harpa centre and its location steps away from the vibrant downtown of Reykjavik.”
Furthermore, Ian Schrager, chairman and chief executive officer of Ian Schrager Company, comments: “I am thrilled to continue the global expansion of the new Edition lifestyle brand with incredibly exciting project in Reykjavik. The city is emerging as a fascinating cultural hub making it the perfect location for an Edition.”
The project will be financed by Carpenter and a major Icelandic bank, plus local equity investors, and is the result of several years of intensive urban planning led by the city of Reykjavik. Sandeep Walia, Area Vice President for Marriott International, made clear the hotel group’s desire to capitalise on this growing market, saying: “Iceland is emerging as one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world for global travellers and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce our Edition brand to this vibrant country.”
Already established in London, New York, Istanbul and Miami (pictured), there are many more set to open in Abu Dhabi (2016), Bangkok (2016), West Hollywood, (2018), and Bali (2019) – to name but a few –meaning the new development is one of many projects forthcoming for Edition. Each hotel will be unique in appearance, the unifying element of the brand being its attitude to the modern lifestyle.
