Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are proud to present to you the updated Stafford London by Kempinski! A transformation that began in December 2010 is almost complete. On May 3rd, The Stafford will open its doors to reveal a refreshed look after spending £6 million on renovation works without loosing its trademark – the unique Stafford character.

During the last few months we have been busy with the restoration of the Main House of The Stafford including the lobby, lounge and restaurant. With the end in sight we look forward to unveiling our elegant new look in early May.

By Kathy Newbern and J.S. Fletcher

Reporting from England -- We’ll be honest with you: Our London travel reports following our Celebrity Equinox press preview cruise won’t be quite as extensive as previously planned. Blame it on the Hotel Stafford.

Once we checked into Room 231 in The Stafford Mews, we ran into a problem: This two-room master suite is simply too lush and elegant to ever leave. No kidding. We love London and exploring all it has to offer, but we’ve had to drag ourselves out of the cushy king bed with its lovely, enveloping linens each morning, and out of the tub with its yellow rubber ducky in the oversized marble bathroom with his-and-her sinks, his-and-hers towel warmers, and in the bedroom, his-and-hers closets. Oh, and there’s a glass-encased shower big enough for two. But when you’re ready for privacy, there are yes, his-and-hers toilets thanks to the half-bath off the entry hall. If you’d like to enter (the hall, not the bath), just ring our doorbell. That’s how home-like The Stafford is.

Rich and Anita Fricklas celebrate their 50th Anniversary on December 22, 2007 with a High Tea for their friends and family. Anita and Rich are "dyed-in-the-wool" Anglophiles and have traveled to England more than 20 times during their marriage. They always celebrate their trip with High Tea at the Stafford Hotel, a small treasure near Green Park in London. High Tea is the most appropriate way for the Fricklases to celebrate their 50 years of togetherness.

The most perfect Christmas holiday in London: a stay at the Stafford hotel for a traditional Christmas. There's a Christmas tree in every room and Santa visits each room with presents!

While the Stafford's executive chef Mark Budd prepares dinner, you can relax and enjoy the warmth of the open fires in the lounge, or cozy up in the American Bar with a cup of the Stafford's secret recipe mulled wine.