The Sunborn Yacht Hotel, a firm ISS favourite, has closed and is making her way to her new location in Lagos , Nigeria .

Since early 2002 ISS Facility Services’ Hotel and Leisure Division has had a proud connection with the owners of the Sunborn Yacht Hotel in London ’s Docklands. We were first invited to provide the housekeeping services for the hotel but slowly the working partnership developed, due to the persistence of Divisional Director, Chrissy Hodges and Operations Director, Karen Thompson.

In 2003 the service was recognised with the Golden Service award for the ‘Best Kept Hotel in the United Kingdom ’.  

By the following year, the owners has such confidence in ISS that they invited ISS Facility Services  take on the total management of the 102 bedded, four star hotel that was unique in that it was the only quality floating hotel in the capital.

As the success of the hotel grew, so did the list of awards it gathered. They were presented with the Food and Drink Award for the ‘Best Hotel in London ’ which was decided by asking the readers of the Archant London Newspaper Group to vote for their particular favourites in the catering service industries. But already there were concerns being raised that the yacht was not large enough to cope with the growing demand, so plans were made for a larger yacht to take its place.

The new yacht hotel is now being prepared. This will provide 150 rooms with improved public areas; however the new facility will not be ready until 2010. Sadly this means that there is a gap between closing the old hotel down and the new one opening.

The original Sunborn Yacht Hotel pulled up the gangplank at the beginning of August, since then we have been trying to relocate as many members of staff as possible.

Chrissy Hodges paid tribute, saying “I have been amazed at just how many of our staff remained loyal to the hotel right up until the end. They are a marvelous group of people and we are trying to provide alternative employment for as many as we can.

Seeing the old hotel closing has been very disappointing for us all, but the plans for its replacement will take us to the next level.”