Bristol Airport’s first on-site hotel, the 201-room Hampton by Hilton, has opened for business – the latest milestone in the airport’s rapid development.
The hotel, just two minutes’ walk from the terminal, was built using an innovative construction technique, with steel modular segments made in a factory in China such as whole room sets, shipped over and assembled on site.
The method is becoming more common in the UK construction industry to raise build standards and combat a looming skills shortage. Hilton said it planned to use the technique on future hotel construction projects in the UK.
The hotel is to be promoted as ideal accommodation for business travellers, with free wi-fi, two meeting rooms, a 24-hour fitness centre with contemporary cardio, resistance and weights equipment, and a business centre.
Hilton pioneered the concept of the airport hotel – with its first opening at San Francisco in 1959. It now has more 400 airports hotels across the world.
The opening of the Hampton by Hilton Bristol Airport comes as the airport expects passenger numbers to continue to soar – reaching 8m for the first time this year as it continues to build on 2016’s record of just over 7.5m – its seventh consecutive year of growth and an 11.3% year-on-year increase.
The number of direct routes from the airport also continues to grow and now numbers just under 120 across 30 countries – including 16 capital cities.
Hilton Europe, Middle East and Africa executive vice president and president, Simon Vincent, said: “More than seven and a half million passengers pass through the doors of Bristol Airport every year, and we’re now offering travellers a convenient and great value accommodation option on its doorstep.
“This opening also marks an important landmark for us as one of the first hotels in our portfolio globally to be completed using an innovative modular construction technique – paving the way for further expansion in the UK and internationally.”
Bristol Airport chief executive officer Robert Sinclair added: “We are delighted to welcome the world-renowned Hampton by Hilton brand to Bristol Airport. The opening of a first on-site hotel is another statement of our ambition to be a world class regional airport serving the South West of the UK.”
