The journey of transforming a shell into a world-class luxury destination is no small feat. In a recent discussion, Remus Obertelli, The Imperial General Manager, and Perit Kerai, Vascroft Project Manager, shared their insights into the collaboration, craftsmanship, and technology driving The Imperial hotel project.
A Partnership of Precision
The success of The Imperial relies on the synergy between the operational vision and construction expertise. Perit noted that Vascroft joined the project during the early tender phase, bringing years of experience to the table. This deep-rooted knowledge allowed the team to suggest practical solutions that aligned with premium expectations. As Perit explained,
“Within the company there’s years and years of experience of building hotels and understanding what clients want, expect and possibly even giving them ideas that they haven’t thought of”.
Remus emphasised that while luxury locations are common in London, The Imperial stands out through its curated spaces designed specifically for the lifestyle of modern guests. He noted,
“We’ve curated every space to make sure that the energy is definitely felt so that the guests feel that lifestyle element”.
Innovation in the Guest Experience
One of the most significant technological upgrades in the building is the Guest Room Management System (GRMS). This system does more than just look sleek; it balances guest comfort with environmental responsibility:
- Scene Setting: Guests enjoy automated lighting moods; for example, Remus noted,
“If the guest arrives at 5:00pm into the room… you can pick how you would like the scene setting to show up on the guest so not all the lights are on”.
- Sustainability: The system uses sensors to detect occupancy, as Perit described:
“If the occupant leaves the rooms, the sensors within the rooms kind of trace if there’s anyone in there and if it’s not then it will shut the lights off”.
- Energy Management: To prevent waste, the system is interlinked with window sensors; Perit explained that if a guest
“opens the window that will shut the AC off… because it doesn’t make sense to have AC on with the window open”.
Craftsmanship Above and Below the Surface
While guests will marvel at the visible joinery and stonework, Perit explained that craftsmanship is equally vital in the areas people don’t see. He noted,
“You can see craftsmanship everywhere you go… we see it in plant rooms, we see it behind the plasterboard, inside the walls”.
The Rooftop Bar was highlighted as a crowning achievement, featuring a unique butterfly roof profile and expansive glasswork. Perit described the attention to detail required for the space:
“Every little detail in the Rooftop Bar is kind of treated as important as the structural steel calculation”.
Overcoming the London Challenge
Building in London presents unique hurdles regarding logistics and regulations. Perit admitted that
“Logistics in London is not great at the best of times,” but noted that the project benefited from “working alongside with the client and giving us the opportunity to do what we can to get the project moving along”.
This constant communication and “one team” mentality turned potential roadblocks into manageable milestones. Remus added,
“We definitely would have struggled if we didn’t communicate enough… it was very much a collaborative effort which I think worked really well”.
Looking Ahead
As the project nears completion, the focus shifts to the “rhythm of operating“. Remus expressed his excitement for the opening:
“I’ll be thinking about what it will be like when we are full and when there is that vibrancy, that buzz, the energy throughout the building”.
Perit goes onto add:
“The good thing about construction is… once you finish a project… you’ve got something tangible to look at. I can come back in two years and the building will still be up, the hotel will be running”.
