Early in 2002, the concept of floating Hotels arrived in the United Kingdom  with the opening of the world’s first customer built Yacht Hotel. The Finnish owners and builders of the Hotel invited ISS during its construction stages, to provide costings and advice for providing a total Housekeeping Service in advance of its arrival at its moorings in London’s Royal Victoria Dock, adjacent to the ExCeL Exhibition Centre, and close to London City Airport.

ISS Hotel’s Division Operations Manager flew to Finland to advise on the presentation of the Hotel suitable to the UK market, which its proprietors were, at that stage, unfamiliar with. Our experience, ideas and concepts for Hotel Housekeeping were welcomed and adopted and our contract to provide Hotel Housekeeping Services at the unique venue was signed.

The Sunborn Yacht Hotel was towed across the North Sea from Finland with the fit-out still being completed with a deadline for its arrival in London. 

The vessel had 102 Stylish High Quality Suites, most with private balconies and 2 Luxury Royal Suites with private Sauna and Terrace in addition to a splendid Amphitheatre Style Auditorium and the Captains Club VIP meeting room (which includes a dedicated bar and sauna).

A high quality restaurant, lounge and bar along with ample meeting and event space provided a unique high quality Hotel and Conference Centre to London’s dynamic Docklands area.

In 2003, ISS were rewarded the Golden Service Award for the Best Kept Hotel in the United Kingdom. ISS formed a true partnership with the proprietors, developing the service to such an extent that in April 2004, ISS were invited to take over the management and operation of the whole facility on behalf of its owners. ISS not only operates the Hotel, but is totally responsible for its marketing and all aspects of its management. Services provided include:

During the following five years ISS established The Sunborn Yacht Hotel as a high quality Hotel and Restaurant and quality choice for Weddings, Corporate Events, Fashion Shows, Conferences, Banquets and high profile Media Parties and Celebrations etc.

In April 2008 it was decided that the current Hotel was too small to meet the demands of the area and the upcoming Olympic Games in 2012, so plans have been put in place to replace her with a brand new facility, offering 150 rooms and even more stylish public areas.

The existing Yacht has now moved off to a sunnier climate but it is planned that her replacement, along with ISS, will be returning to Docklands, London sometime in 2010.