The Rosewood London hotel, in central London, bought by Gencom in its first European luxury deal

The Rosewood London hotel is changing hands: on 3 November 2026 the American investment firm Gencom announced its purchase, presented as its first luxury hotel acquisition in Europe. The price has not been disclosed and the seller has not been named, but the bank loan is known: £225 million (around 269.6 million euros). Set in a 1912 building in London, the hotel and its 264 rooms and 44 suites remain under the Rosewood brand.

☰Contents

1. An undisclosed price and £225m of bank debt
2. Who is Gencom, the new owner?
3. The hotel stays under the Rosewood brand
4. A 1912 façade steps from the British Museum
5. 264 rooms, 44 suites and seven Houses
6. Jazz at Scarfes Bar, 300 gins at the Gin Bar
7. What does a night cost? £968 in early December

An undisclosed price and £225m of bank debt

Neither Gencom, nor White Bridge Capital, nor Rosewood has revealed the price of the transaction. The seller has not been named either: Gencom’s press release says only that HVS Hodges Ward Elliott represented it.

The only official figure is the financing: £225 million of senior debt, meaning a bank loan with priority for repayment, provided by HSBC and Santander for the acquisition and development of the hotel. The press release notes that Gencom is a Santander client and the Rosewood London an HSBC client. The loan is also meant to support a targeted programme of works, whose budget and timetable have not been published.

Who is Gencom, the new owner?

Gencom is an American investment firm founded by Karim Alibhai. The headline of its press release refers to its first luxury hotel acquisition in Europe, the text to its first luxury hotel asset in London. It already owned the Rosewood Bermuda, acquired in 2017, which makes the Rosewood London its second hotel under the brand. Gencom has also bought The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, and the London deal follows the purchase of the InterContinental Miami, announced on 30 October 2026.

According to Karim Alibhai, the deal reflects his belief in the strength, resilience and long-term global appeal of the London hotel market, and marks a milestone in his relationship with Rosewood. Alessandro Colantonio, Gencom’s chief investment officer, speaks of “an iconic, irreplaceable asset”.

Alongside it, White Bridge Capital, a Miami firm, co-invested with its network of private investors and family offices, the structures that manage the wealth of large families. It also supported Gencom on the financing. Its stake has not been disclosed.

The hotel stays under the Rosewood brand

For guests, the change of owner comes with no announced closure: the hotel could still be booked on the official website on 4 November 2026. No press release announces a change of operator, though none sets out a management contract either. Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotel Group, says he is pleased to continue the relationship with Gencom and wants to support the team in the next stage of its work.

The brand counts 42 addresses worldwide, including a second hotel in London: The Chancery Rosewood, opened in September 2025 in the former American embassy.

A 1912 façade steps from the British Museum

At 252 High Holborn, the hotel occupies a Grade II listed building from 1912, a level of British heritage protection, and was sold freehold. It lies close to Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House, the British Museum and Somerset House. The conversion was carried out between 2011 and 2014 by Tony Chi Studios, and the Rosewood London name dates from October 2013.

264 rooms, 44 suites and seven Houses

The hotel brings together 264 rooms and 44 suites, or 308 keys. Seven suites known as Houses reach up to 185 sq m. The Manor House Suite has its own street entrance, and one suite even has its own postcode.

Jazz at Scarfes Bar, 300 gins at the Gin Bar

The Holborn Dining Room, a British brasserie designed by Martin Brudnizki, has its own entrance. The same designer created Scarfes Bar, where guests listen to live jazz. The Gin Bar lines up more than 300 gins and the Mirror Room serves afternoon tea. The hotel is also home to the Sense spa and 11 event spaces.

What does a night cost? £968 in early December

On 4 November 2026 we found online £968 including taxes, around €1,160, for the night of 1 to 2 December 2026: 2 adults, a 31 sq m Executive Twin room, free cancellation, breakfast extra at £32. Another benchmark found online the same day: £576 (around €690) on a non-refundable rate for the night of 19 to 20 January 2027.