As eco-friendly meets eco-cation, Qype discovers the new kid on the luxury accommodation block, with an exclusive interview with manager Tibor Kiss.

Qype: What is an eco-friendly hotel, why will this concept prove popular in London?

TB: As Copenhagen’s Climate Change Conference stalls, the world’s most advanced five-star green hotel launches in London. Perhaps the world’s leaders should have met at Hotel Rafayel? Ike Latif, a committed believer in green technology and environmental well-being, strongly believes that the procedures implemented by his hotel could help change the standard of five-star hotels around the world.

The state-of-the-art Rafayel on the Left Bank was launched in the heart of Battersea to prove to the world that carbon emissions can be dramatically reduced without sacrificing luxury or comfort. The designer hotel is one of the most technologically advanced anywhere and its energy-saving initiatives have already received considerable press coverage. With the assistance of electronics giant Philips, Rafayel on the Left Bank has become the world’s first LED-only hotel, emitting environmentally-friendly clean light. This energy-saving technology, when combined with rain harvesting techniques, landscaping, air-conditioning and ventilation efficiencies, enables the hotel to save nearly 400,000 kg of carbon emissions per year, which equates to nearly 17 kg of emissions per day per room. As the average London hotel room clocks up a daily carbon consumption of approximately 70kg, the comparison is remarkable.

The hotel has also embraced a “no plastic” policy, banning plastic water bottles, while the Hypnos beds in each room are fully recycled with a zero landfill and a zero carbon footprint process.

Qype: What makes Hotel Rafayel such a unique venue in comparison to its luxury counterparts?

TB: The hotel interiors are focused on the guest experience and have been designed to create luxury through the creation of large spaces, and use of rich heavy materials. The rooms are large, up to 700 sqft with the average room being 350 sqft. The room ‘plug and play’ technology allows compatibility with a wide range of media devices from laptops to Ipods and even gaming consoles. Once plugged in, these devices play through the room TV and inbuilt audio system, making the rooms ideal for business and play. Seven river suites feature jet lag recovery, a Philips technology integrated into the design by LATIS; this is a hotel industry first and offers a unique experience for the guest.

The bathrooms are very spacious and are equipped with walk-in showers with body massage jets. The larger rooms have hydrotherapy baths and Videotree touch screen TVs. The rooms are based on a neutral palette of grays complemented by bespoke dark sepele doors and paneling to introduce warmth. Hotel Rafayel, is a working prototype for a new generation of Hotels that will focus on delivering a bespoke ‘eco-five star’ service tailored to the individual needs of a wide range of guest types.

Qype: Tell us more about the facilities and services you offer guests?

TB: It is truly about the guest experience, additional resources include drop-off service, bar, restaurant, spa, gym and of course our delicious on-site restaurant!

For a chance to win 50% off food prices at the Hotel’s in-house Banyan on the Thames restaurant (minimum two persons, starter and main dish per person) email us at QDL@qype.com with a subject line that reads “I want a Banyan meal at Hotel Rafayel”
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