The Great Northern Hotel at London’s King’s Cross has been rebranded as the Kaya Great Northern Hotel after its sale to the Turkish hospitality group last year.
Kaya Tourism Group, which runs 13 hotels across Turkey and Northern Cyprus, acquired the 88-room property in July 2024 as its first venture into the UK market.
Kaya Tourism Group has indicated that it intends to use the hotel as a launchpad for its expansion into the UK, with plans to strengthen its footprint in London.
Having overseen operations at the property since December 2024, Kaya Tourism Group finalised the transition on 5 September, with guests now eligible to join its loyalty programme.
The Great Northern Hotel, a Grade II-listed building dating back to 1854, is thought to be London’s oldest railway hotel.
The building was designed by architect Lewis Cubitt, who also created King’s Cross and London Bridge stations.
A spokesperson for Kaya Hotels & Resorts said: “With this hotel, we aim to showcase the finest examples of Turkish hospitality and increase the number of foreign tourists visiting our hotels in Türkiye.
“Additionally, we are proud to be the first Turkish tourism company to make such a significant hotel investment in the UK. We believe this investment will strengthen mutual tourism relations between Türkiye and the UK. We’re excited to build on its strengths to create even more memorable experiences for our guests.”
The Great Northern Hotel underwent a £40m renovation in 2013, the same year Mark Sargeant was appointed chef-director, a role he held until August 2019.
In 2015, it became the first property to join Starwood’s Tribute portfolio, which was later integrated into Marriott following the 2016 merger.
In 2021, the Great Northern Hotel became the first UK property managed under a contract with Marugal Distinctive Hotel Management, which at the time oversaw eight hotels in Spain and France.