Iconic Hotels & Resorts Unveils Consolidated Brand and New COO Appointment
The former Iconic Luxury Hotels platform relaunches under a new name with a 14-property portfolio and new operational leadership.
Photo: Courtesy of Iconic Hotels & Resort
Iconic Hotels & Resorts has formally launched, reintroducing the former Iconic Luxury Hotels platform under a new name and structure and pairing the debut with a senior leadership appointment. The group confirmed this week that Shan Kanagasingham has joined as chief operating officer, taking oversight of operations across the portfolio as the brand consolidates its UK, U.S., and European holdings.
The launch is the next phase for the business previously known as Iconic Luxury Hotels, which will now operate as a broader owner-operator platform backed by L+R, the privately held real estate and hospitality investment firm formerly known as London and Regional. The initial Iconic Hotels & Resorts portfolio spans five countries and includes 14 hotels, with a heavy concentration in the UK, along with properties in Italy, Belgium, Spain, and the United States.
The collection ranges from large-scale urban hotels to historic country estates. Properties in the UK include Cliveden House, Chewton Glen, the Lygon Arms, The Mole, Strand Palace, Mayfair Townhouse, 11 Cadogan Gardens, and Nobu Hotel London Portman Square. Internationally, the portfolio includes Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido, Palm House in Palm Beach, Marriott Brussels Grand Place, and Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club. L+R has committed more than $270 million to renovations across the portfolio, with work focused on preserving architectural character across the board while updating guest-facing spaces.
Kanagasingham joins the group following nearly three decades in international luxury hospitality. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of operations, openings, and transitions at Auberge Resorts Collection, where she oversaw a period of rapid expansion. Her earlier career includes senior roles at Ritz-Carlton, Raffles, Mandarin Oriental, Viceroy, and Starwood.
“I’m thrilled to join Iconic Hotels & Resorts at such a pivotal moment in the group’s history. This extraordinary portfolio combines historic landmarks and urban addresses under a single, elevated standard and platform, without compromising what makes each hotel iconic,” Kanagasingham said. “Our unique ownership-backing and new, unified operating platform provide us with an incredible opportunity to further globally position the group as an industry-leading B2B, B2C, and employer brand while delivering memorable guest experiences across an eclectic mix of properties in world-class destinations.”
As COO, Kanagasingham will oversee day-to-day operations across the platform and work closely with L+R leadership on performance, guest experience standards, and portfolio-wide integration.
The launch also coincides with the opening of a new central London headquarters on Baker Street, totaling more than 7,000 square feet and bringing together close to 100 staff across operations, commercial, food and beverage, IT, and human resources. The group has also established an in-house interior design studio and project management team to support ongoing renovations.
“The launch of Iconic Hotels & Resorts alongside the appointment of renowned industry leader Shan Kanagasingham as COO brings clarity to our strategic vision and unlocks immediate opportunities to leverage our existing scale and support our growth as a leading international owner operator within the hospitality sector,” said Cody Bradshaw, the group’s CEO of hotels.
Further portfolio updates are expected later this year as the newly unified platform settles into its next phase.
