MUMBAI: The Hinduja Group, a multinational conglomerate, has inaugurated The Old War Office (OWO) in London as a premier luxury hotel. The historic building, which was once the office of Britain’s World War II era Prime Minister Winston Churchill, has been transformed into a symbol of peace and solace. The OWO is a collaborative venture between the Hinduja Group and Raffles Hotels & Resorts, and it has been developed in partnership with French multinational hospitality group Accor.
The grand inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including HRH Princess Beatrice, Sadiq Khan-The Mayor of London, Adil Ray British Actor and Comedian, Natalie Pinkman British Television Presenter, Richard Caring British Businessman, and Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar, and wife Twinkle Khanna. Other notable figures from the Royal Family, world leaders, and celebrities also came together to witness the rebirth of this iconic building.
“We have always been working to see what best we can do between India and the UK because we believe our responsibility is to act as a bridge between the host country and the motherland.
It took us eight years and in these eight years we had a lot to do, but finally, this iconic building has been converted into a symbol of peace and solace and not World Wars. The OWO will represent the legacy of the Hinduja Group and emerge as London’s iconic destination. Everyone who lands in London will first come here to see what it is.” said GP Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group.
Princess Anne Princess Royal, the sister of King Charles III, officially unveiled the plaque for The OWO after a tour of the hotel with Hinduja Group chairman GP Hinduja. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also made a quick stopover, along with parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, hoteliers, and stars of film and television.
The OWO’s grand inauguration ceremony welcomed distinguished guests, including HRH Princess Beatrice, Sadiq Khan-The Mayor of London, Adil Ray-British Actor and Comedian, Natalie Pinkman-British Television Presenter, Richard Caring-British Businessman, and Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle Khanna. Other notable figures from the Royal Family, world leaders, and celebrities also came together to witness the rebirth of this iconic building.
The transformed OWO also houses 85 Residences by Raffles as part of the building’s reimagining as a new culinary district for London, complete with nine new restaurants and three bars, including a rooftop with panoramic views of Buckingham Palace. The hotel will welcome its first guests starting this Friday, September 29.
Sanjay Hinduja, who has overseen the project, said, “When we came to Whitehall, the team was blown away by the size and beauty of this majestic building. No expense has been spared in bringing it back to its former glory and paying homage to its heritage, whilst breathing new life into it. Along with Raffles London at The OWO, we hope to create a legacy that is both timeless and unsurpassed.“
Raffles Hotels & Resorts, which is part of Accor, boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta, or Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travelers arrive as guests, leave as friends, and return as family.
The Hinduja Group is one of India’s premier diversified and transnational conglomerates, employing about 200,000 employees across 38 countries and owning businesses in automotive, information technology, media, entertainment, and communications, banking and financial services, infrastructure project development, cybersecurity, oil and specialty chemicals, power, real estate, trading, and healthcare. Founded over a hundred years ago by Shri PD Hinduja, it supports charitable and philanthropic activities across the world through the Hinduja Foundation.
