With over two decades in luxury hospitality, Michael Bonsor has built a career around one conviction: look after your people, and they will look after your guests. As the Managing Director behind The Chancery Rosewood, he’s putting that philosophy to its greatest test yet. A man who focuses on the details (he recently commissioned a Made-To-Measure suit with Trunk), he sees tailoring and hospitality as kindred crafts: both about creating something considered, personal, and timeless. We sat down to talk about the vision, the dining, and why great luxury always starts with belonging.
Trunk Talks: Michael Bonsor
For those who don't know you, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background in hospitality?
I’ve spent more than two decades in luxury hospitality, working across some exceptional hotels and destinations, both in the UK and internationally. What has always drawn me to this industry is the opportunity to create meaningful experiences for people, whether that’s a memorable stay, a special celebration, or simply making someone feel genuinely cared for. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with some outstanding teams and brands, and each role has reinforced the importance of culture, service, and attention to detail. Hospitality is ultimately a people business, and I have always believed that if you look after your associates exceptionally well, they will in turn create extraordinary experiences for guests. Joining The Chancery Rosewood has been a particularly exciting chapter because it brings together everything I love about hospitality: a remarkable building, a world-class brand, an ambitious vision, and the chance to create something truly distinctive for London.
The Chancery Rosewood is one of the most anticipated hotel openings London has seen in years. What does it mean to you personally to be leading this project?
It’s an enormous privilege and responsibility. Openings of this scale and significance are rare, and even fewer could shape a new landmark within one of the world’s greatest cities. What makes The Chancery Rosewood so special is that we’re not simply opening a hotel; we’re giving new life to one of London’s most iconic buildings. The former US Embassy has been part of the city’s story for decades, and now we’re writing its next chapter. Personally, I have found the journey incredibly rewarding. Bringing together hundreds of talented people, watching the vision evolve from plans on paper into a living, breathing hotel, and seeing the passion of the team come to life has been immensely fulfilling. My role is ultimately about creating the conditions for our associates to thrive, and I am excited for guests to experience the result of that collective effort.
The building itself, the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square, is extraordinary. How do you take a space with that much history and make it feel like something entirely new?
The key is to respect the history without becoming constrained by it. The building carries tremendous architectural and cultural significance, and we’ve been very conscious of preserving the elements that make it unique. At the same time, our goal has never been to create a museum. Instead, we’ve sought to reinterpret the building for a new generation of travellers. Rosewood has a philosophy we call “A Sense of Place,” and that’s particularly relevant here. The Chancery Rosewood reflects both the heritage of Grosvenor Square and the contemporary energy of London today. The design, the art collection, the dining experiences and the service culture all contribute to creating something that feels fresh, relevant and distinctly modern. What guests will experience is a fascinating balance between past and present - a building with an extraordinary story, reimagined as one of London’s most contemporary luxury destinations.
The Chancery has a remarkable dining proposition, Carbone's first European outpost, Tobi Masa, eight restaurants and bars in total. How important is food and drink to the identity of a modern luxury hotel?
Food and drink have become absolutely central to the modern luxury hotel experience. Today’s guests are looking for destinations rather than simply places to stay, and exceptional restaurants and bars play a huge role in creating that sense of destination. At The Chancery Rosewood, we’ve been very intentional in curating a collection of concepts that each have their own identity and appeal. The arrival of Carbone’s first European restaurant is hugely exciting, as is Tobi Masa, which brings together an exceptional culinary vision in a truly spectacular setting. Equally important, however, are the moments throughout the day that help define a hotel’s personality. Jaqueline is a wonderful example of that. It offers a refined yet approachable atmosphere and will be home to our afternoon tea experience, which is something that remains an essential part of London’s cultural and hospitality heritage. Afternoon tea is one of those rituals that allows guests and locals alike to slow down, connect and enjoy a sense of occasion. Ultimately, our ambition is for people to visit The Chancery Rosewood because they want to dine, socialise and spend time here, regardless of whether they’re staying overnight. That’s when a hotel truly becomes part of the fabric of a city.
You recently commissioned a made-to-measure suit from Trunk. Can you tell us about that experience, and how important dressing well is to you in your professional life?
It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. What impressed me most was the level of craftsmanship and personal attention involved. There’s a clear parallel between tailoring and hospitality, as both are built around understanding the individual and creating something that feels considered, personal and timeless. I’ve always believed that how you present yourself reflects the respect you have for the people around you. In hospitality, first impressions matter, and dressing well demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. That said, true elegance is never about formality for its own sake. Much like great hospitality, it should feel effortless and authentic. What I appreciate about Trunk is that they understand modern luxury in that way - understated, confident, and focused on quality rather than excess.
For a guest arriving at The Chancery Rosewood for the first time, what's the one thing you hope they feel when they walk through the door?
A sense of belonging. Luxury today is not simply about beautiful surroundings or exceptional amenities, although those are certainly important. The most memorable hotels create an emotional connection. They make guests feel recognised, comfortable, and genuinely welcome from the moment they arrive. The Chancery Rosewood is a spectacular building, and I hope guests are impressed by its sheer scale, architecture, and design. But more importantly, I hope they feel an immediate sense of warmth and ease. We want people to feel that they have discovered somewhere special, somewhere that understands them and somewhere they will want to return to time and again. If guests leave feeling that The Chancery Rosewood is not just a hotel but a place they have a personal relationship with, then we will have achieved our goal.
Thank you, Michael!
30 Grosvenor Square,
Mayfair
London W1K 9AN
