COMO Metropolitan London is a luxury contemporary hotel on Mayfair’s Park Lane, with panoramic views over Hyde Park and close proximity to London’s finest restaurants, shops and galleries. There are also multi-room, long-stay residences for those who seek the ambience of a private home with the same comfort of a fully serviced hotel. Guests can relax with a range of Asian-inspired therapies at COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, and, for improved mindfulness and fitness, all bedrooms include yoga mats along with yoga and meditation channels.
Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand...
Javier Beneyto: The COMO Group was founded by Singaporean entrepreneur Mrs Christina Ong. In 1972, Mrs Ong started a fashion retail company called Club 21 in Singapore, which expanded into multi-label stores in Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia. The first COMO hotel, COMO The Halkin, opened in London's Belgravia in 1991, and from there the brand has grown to 15 hotels across the world which form COMO Hotels and Resorts. This was then followed by the founding of the wellness company, COMO Shambhala, and our food and restaurant business, COMO Cuisine. All these interests form a larger whole – a group of lifestyle companies which have put us at the forefront of ‘the experience economy.’
What is COMO best known for?
COMO is best known for offering luxury travel experiences with personalised, heartfelt service in elegant properties, each individually curated to reflect its location. Though each property is unique and individually designed, each offers thought-through brand experiences that highlight the hotel’s compelling destination and provide unparalleled access to local culture – whether that’s hiking in Bhutan or meditating in Bali. COMO is also known for its world-class cuisine, iconic hair and body products, the unobtrusive nature of our service philosophy and our COMO Shambhala Spas.
What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?
In 2019, we re-launched our Brick Street Residences, ten luxury accommodations adjacent to COMO Metropolitan London, after complete renovation. This was pivotal for the brand, as it meant we could offer the same five-star facilities and services as the hotel to guests looking for a more discreet, private long or short-term stay. This year, we launched our Hertford Street Residences, also adjacent to COMO Metropolitan London. With ample space, natural light, high ceilings and COMO’s signature pared-back interiors, the Hertford Street Residences are designed to accommodate every type of traveller, and also benefit from the hotel facilities.
Every COMO hotel opening is a significant achievement, but a particular highlight was the opening of COMO Castello Del Nero in Tuscany in 2019. Hidden in the rolling hills of Tuscany, in the world-famous Chianti wine region, COMO Castello Del Nero marked a new era for the COMO brand, as our first property in continental Europe.
Why do you love the brand?
The individual yet timeless design of our hotels and resorts is what first drew me to the brand. There are no two hotels that look alike, each property is uniquely crafted and positioned in culturally fascinating locations. I might be biased, but COMO Metropolitan London is a prime example of this, positioned in the heart of Mayfair, offering access to the city’s landmarks, finest restaurants, and high-end shopping.
Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?
Luxury can mean different things to different people, but for COMO, the idea of luxury is understated, sophisticated, authentic, and deeply intertwined with personal wellbeing. We pay a lot of attention to the architecture of our hotels, because we want to give our guests space to dream and a pure ambience where they can recharge, rest, and reconnect with themselves. This, combined with our ethos of passion, creativity, style and heartfelt service represents the best in British luxury.
What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?
Our ethos is in line with that of Walpole: celebrating culture and craftsmanship. We do this in each of our destinations, creating an individually designed COMO hotel or resort that reflects its location. Networking with like-minded brands and the people at the heart of the businesses is an incredible privilege for us, and we’re excited to see what doors it opens!
If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose?
One of our passions at COMO is creating authentic journeys of discovery through unique and curated experiences. We would love to collaborate with other Walpole members with this in mind, supporting likeminded brands both large and small with innovative and creative collaborations and partnerships.
Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?
August will see the launch of ‘A Taste of the Ocean’ pop-up at COMO Metropolitan London, a fine-dining experience conceptualised by Executive Chef Ruben Briones as part of our Taste of COMO series. Guests can expect fresh seafood prepared in a variety of different ways, each dish perfectly paired with a glass of Taittinger Champagne, from the signature cuvée Brut Réserve Non-Vintage to the prestigious Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs. This will be followed by "A Taste of Le Bistro" later in the year, centred on classic French bistro dishes.
We are also set to launch soon CS Anywhere, a new COMO Shambhala app that will bring added value to the COMO guest experience and will allow our guests to continue their personalised journey after they’ve checked out.
In September, we’re also excited to announce the re-opening of COMO The Halkin. Located in the heart of Belgravia, COMO The Halkin will re-open with a design refresh across its rooms and suites. Looking into 2023, COMO Le Montrachet will open its doors in the coveted Burgundy region. It’s an exciting opening for the brand as it’s our first property in France and will take full advantage of its location with access to the Grand Cru vineyards. Four heritage buildings are set up around a traditional village-style square, housing 31 bedrooms, COMO Shambhala Retreat and restaurant, designed by Paola Navone.
