Gatwick Airport today announced it has signed a contract enabling Shiva Hotels Limited to operate a new 192-bedroom ‘Hampton by Hilton’ hotel, providing more choice for its passengers. The new hotel, located in the North Terminal, will offer three star accommodation for business and leisure travellers as well as provide exceptional facilities for conferences and events. 

Subject to planning permission, the redevelopment work is expected to start in early 2011 and open its doors to passengers in time for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The new owners of Gatwick inherited a portfolio of properties on the airport premises, some of which have the potential to better serve the needs of passengers. Longbridge House has been under-utilised as office space and, given passengers’ demand for greater hotel choice, Gatwick is now planning to transform it into a mid-market hotel. It will offer a range of facilities including a bar and restaurant, meetings rooms and a fitness suite.

Emma Rees, Head of Property at GatwickAirport said: “This new hotel development will be fantastic news for passengers who will have the choice to stay in one of the existing four star hotels in the North and South Terminals or stay in this more affordable but luxury three star hotel when it opens in 2012.

“It is also a great example of the innovative, more passenger-focused approach the new leadership team is taking to managing the airport assets, as is the speed at which this deal was agreed.”

GatwickAirport is investing a near £1 billion to modernise the airport facilities and improve the passenger experience. Investment in the South Terminal is geared towards upgrading the 1950s building facilities to create a more modern, contemporary space, fit for the 21st century.

Investment in Gatwick’s North Terminal is designed to support an increase in capacity to accommodate a further 10 million passengers each year over the next decade. This new hotel offering will support the anticipated growth in passenger numbers.