Floating hotel opens on River Thames
by Tom Walker | 05 Dec 2016
A luxury floating hotel with 148 bedrooms has opened at the King George V lock on the River Thames in London.
Built on a large floating platform, the Good Hotel first opened in Amsterdam in June 2015 as a pop-up social enterprise project and has now been transported across the North Sea with the help of tug boats and a submerged barge.
The structure and interiors were designed by Dutch designers Remko Verhaagen and Sikko Valk. Rooms range from a rather small 13sq m standard to a spacious 30sq m deluxe room, and amenities include an en-suite bathroom, in-room safe, coffee/tea facilities, small writing desk and free WiFi. Communal spaces include function rooms, a spacious lobby area and rooftop terrace.
The hotel is operated by Good Hotel Group – which was founded by Dutch entrepreneur Marten Dresen. As well as being a fully-operational hotel, it will also aim to help long-term unemployed people get back into work.
“The purpose is to extensively train long-term unemployed locals in various jobs in the hospitality industry,” a spokesperson said. “After concluding the Good Training, participants will be offered a three-month contract at Good Hotel, followed by professional mediation in the city's hotel business.
“The entire process gives participants a real chance to get of welfare, reintegrate into the economy and get a new future.”
The concept has been awarded with a REBEL business award for greatest innovation/disruption and introduces a new business-model into the hospitality industry.
All profits will be reinvested in the business, into education and stimulation of entrepreneurship.
The group is looking to open another eight hotels across the world by 2020.
The Good Hotel will aim to help long-term unemployed people get back into work Credit: Good Hotel
Communal spaces include function rooms, spacious lobby area and rooftop terrace Credit: Good Hotel
A luxury floating hotel with 148 bedrooms has opened at the King George V lock on the River Thames in London. Built on a large floating platform, the Good Hotel first opened in Amsterdam in June 2015 as a pop-up social enterprise project and has now been transported across the North Sea with the help of tug boats and a submerged barge. The structure and interiors were designed by Dutch
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