All rooms boast Mascioni bed linen, Loewe flatscreen TVs, Meridian sound systems, and Bill Amberg leather desk accessories. . Ruskin Bond and Ganesh Saili have chronicled their Savoy escapades in many of their writings. Many of Australia's best started their careers on its very doorstep. Back; . 0207 592 1600 restaurant reservations. INSIDE THE SAVOY takes you beyond the lobby to discover the stories of the U.K.'s first ever luxury hotel. It opened in 1927 and was demolished in 1965. All bathrooms feature the trademark Savoy rain shower head and Miller Harris toiletries. Michael, now 39, started working at the hotel with his brother Robbi after quitting his dreams of becoming a film star. A couture high tea, dinner dances and a menu for dogs: Martin Parr takes a peek inside one of London's most iconic hotels. - The hotel's waste contractor, Brewsters, is recycling most of the Savoy waste and is providing data to help the hotel monitor its carbon footprint. The dances born on its mahogany dancefloor would sweep the . Settings Refuse all Accept all cookies The widow was acquitted of murder after it was revealed that her husband had treated her with extreme cruelty throughout the six-month marriage and had stated that he was going to kill her. [54][57] The new energy-efficient design reduced the hotel's electricity usage by approximately 50% and reuse and recycling increased. The Spring Summer '22 collection was a fairytale extravaganza of cowboys, screen goddesses and sirens - with the Hollywood A-list, from Jared Leto to Gwyneth Paltrow, all there to witness it. His cocktails included "Speedbird," one of three drinks created for the first commercial flight of the. GOT a story? COMMUNITY PROJECTS - The Savoy has joined forces with Thames21, a charity set up with the aim to transform the neglected and littered London waterways. [21] This fiction was perpetuated for many years, with the consent of the Savoy company. Instead, your space is infused with creative personality. You need to push all the time. Every one is miles from cookie-cutter familiar. In the fly-on-the-wall production, butlers attend to every desire, whimsy and fantasy of the rich and famous however extravagant or downright strange and as long as it is on the right side of the law. from their album All You Need Is Now.[87]. [13], At first the Savoy did well, but within six months of opening, the hotel was losing money. Here guests will be able to purchase Savoy tea blends, jams, and pastries as well as the Savoy tea service commissioned by Wedgewood. At the forefront of the luxury hotel scene for over 130 years, The Savoy offers guests an experience that continuously evolves to meet the desires of the modern traveller. GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. The first to leave was Joel, who was shot dead a few weeks later in Johannesburg. Indeed states the average pay at the hotel ranges from around 18,873. Rocco Forte Hotels, another big Rome . Located just off the Thames Foyer, the Beaufort Bar is a sexy new space, refurbished from the room where the BBC broadcast the music of the Savoy Hotel Orpheans during the 1920s and 1930s. View our online Press Pack. King Henry III made Peter Earl of Richmond and, in 1246, gave him the land between the Strand and the River Thames, where Peter built the Savoy Palace in 1263. Nellie Melba, among others, noted that Ritz was less focused on the Savoy. Butlers at The Savoy are expected to go above and beyond for their guests, more so than a typical butler. As well as reducing health and safety risks, it also improves operational efficiency and ensures that used kitchen oil is recycled into biodiesel. SAVOY trainee butler Michael Peluso is featured in the ITV docuseries learning the ropes from his team boss Sean. For more than 130 years, this bastion of British hospitality has been welcoming guests, including some of the most famous faces in history. [31] Even today, elegant dining at the Savoy includes formal afternoon tea with choral and other performances at Christmastime. Savoy Hotel was opened in summer 1902, soon after its opening, savoy became popular among British officers and civil servants. Inside the Savoy takes you beyond the lobby to discover the stories of the U.K.'s first-ever luxury hotel. He now has a 12-year-old son of his own, Sasha, who he treated to a hotel stay at The Savoy for his most recent birthday. In the long journey of so many years, this hotel was owned by many person and hotels.Now, the hotel is owned by subsidiary Fortune Hotels, which . In the series, we see the staff nervously await his arrival to try out two new dishes and put the front-of-house team through their paces. [7][62] The rooms are decorated in period styles harmonised with the adjacent hallways, and they retain built-in wardrobes and bedroom cabinets. The restaurant is open all day, seven days a week. In the documentary, we see Sean putting newbie butler Michael Peluso, 37, through the ringer to get him up to Savoy spec. [48] Sixteen Yeomen Warders from the Tower of London lined the entrance staircase. It also boasts four high-end restaurants assuming one would rather not nip out on to the Strand for a cheeky Maccy-Ds and is home to the oldest cocktail bar in London, the American Bar, where one drink can set you back 25. [85][86] August Laplanche was head chef at the hotel from 1946 to 1965,[45] Silvino Trompetto was matre-chef from 1965 to 1980,[31] and Anton Edelmann was matre chef des cuisines for 21 years, from 1982 to 2003. Reeves-Smith served in this capacity until 1941. But he insists Savoy service is just the same whether you are a big spender or watching your bill a little more closely. Weve got all the details on where Michael is working now, as well as his home background and what hes been up to since filming wrapped for the second season of the ITV show. - Smart thermostats in all bedrooms and suites are designed to control lighting and room temperature and use natural ventilation to regulate the temperature inside the room. So when Michaels working talents were shared on docuseries The Savoy, fans were upset to see him leave the hotel. He adds of his work there: Tony the doorman was one of the first I got to talk to and get to know. His investors in the venture were, in addition to his relatives, Carl Rosa, George Grossmith, Franois Cellier, George Edwardes, Augustus Harris and Fanny Ronalds. [69], The critic for The Daily Telegraph wrote: "The Savoy is still The Savoy, only better. He added that the money is what drives him. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by Carte's family[a] for over a century. ", "The Savoy London Hotel: Meetings & Banquets", "Savoy may close as 220m refit fails to drum up trade", "How Monet Helped The Savoy Get Its Groove Back", "First glimpse of the Savoy's restoration to Art Deco glory", "Luxury Hotels with Artists in Residence", "Little-known artist chosen as artist-in-residence at The Savoy, "London's Savoy continues its Artist in Residence Tradition", "London's Savoy Hotel ready for reopening", "Culinary Events & Master Classes Dinner Dances", "A homage to Kaspar the friendly cat checks in at the Savoy's new eatery", "Kaspars The Savoys new seafood bar opens with a new Jonty Hurwitz sculpture", "Exclusive! Louis Vuittons decadent new restaurant is a must for aesthetes and gourmands alike, writes style editor Chandler Tregaskes, Gucci shut down LA's Hollywood Boulevard with its Love Parade last night, The Savoy to open world's first champagne forest. His 1889er celebrated the hotel's centenary in 1989, and together with Salim Khoury, he created the "Millennium" to celebrate the end of the 20th century. Enjoy the perfect family break in London with a discounted rate. Whether youre planning a glamorous night at the cinema once House of Gucci hits screens, or craving the most fashionable of winter city breaks, theres surely nowhere more stylish to stay than the Royal Suite by Gucci. The Savoy's regular guests will be pleased to see that many of the familiar aspects of the hotel are easily recognisable - the Thames Foyer, for instance, is still at the heart of the 121-year-old, 268-bedroom hotel - and the Edwardian and art deco themes which have long been the property's trademarks are still there. It has been called "London's most famous hotel". [6] Edmund's great-granddaughter, Blanche, inherited the site. This is still the legally required turning circle for all London cabs. {{year}} All rights reserved. Decorated in an Art Deco design of jet-black and gold, it offers a nightly cabaret. During the Second World War, he created a cocktail for each branch of the armed services: "Eight Bells" for the Navy, "New Contemptible" for the Army, and "Wings" for the RAF. Also starring in the documentary are car-firm boss Damien Cuming and his wife Jacqueline, from Cambridgeshire, who have been going to The Savoy for 26 years. The Head Barmen, in chronological order, have been as follows: The American Bar is decorated in a warm Art Deco design, with cream and ochre walls, and electric blue and gold chairs. After its post-pandemic return, this episode also sees Gordon Ramsay tornado in to launch his new restaurant . [42], To mark Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on 2 June 1953, the hotel hosted the Savoy Coronation Ball, attended by 1,400 people, including Hollywood stars, royalty and other notables, who paid 12 guineas (equivalent to 374 as of 2021),[19] each. [30] In 2013, the restaurant became Kaspar's Seafood Bar & Grill. In 1946, Wontner set up "The Savoy Management Scheme", a school to train hoteliers, that was maintained for half a century. In fact, however, after a damning report by the company's auditors and the advice of the prominent lawyer, Sir Edward Carson, that it was the board's "imperative duty to dismiss the manager and the chef", Carte handed Ritz, Escoffier and Echenard letters of dismissal:[22], By a resolution passed this morning you have been dismissed from the service of the Hotel for, among other serious reasons, gross negligence and breaches of duty and mismanagement. +351 291 213 000 geral@savoysignature.com [96], The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel was one of the earliest establishments to introduce American-style cocktails to Europe. Jacobs Media Group Limited is a company registered in England and Wales, company number 08713328. [94] The Thames Foyer serves breakfast, morning coffee, light lunch and supper, as well as afternoon tea, accompanied by the hotel's resident pianist. Relax and unwind at The Savoy in London. While it was sad to say goodbye, the lure of Claridges was too good to pass up and he is honoured to call himself part of their historical team. [78] The same year, another British artist, David Downes, created a large-scale drawing, delighting guests by working in the lobby of the Savoy. Later, for his hotel job, he won an Purple UmbrellaAward for Hospitality Passion! She was in a play at The Savoy Theatre once. [55] The projected reopening date was delayed more than a year to October 2010, as structural and system problems held up construction. But Thierry takes it on the chin. [18] In 1897, Ritz and his partners were dismissed from the Savoy. [31] One famous incident during Rupert's early years was the 1923 shooting, at the hotel, of a wealthy young Egyptian, Prince Fahmy Bey, by his French wife, Marguerite. [51] The Savoy continued to be a popular meeting place. The entire Savoy Signature team, every Hotel and Resort, every experience we offer is filled with the intention to surround you with a new life-enriching memory. Herald the debut of. Finally, in 1926, the designer Basil Ionides sculpted a 3-foot high art-deco black cat called Kaspar, which is used as the 14th guest. in The Savoy's opulent new suite. Peter gave the palace and the manor of the Savoy to the Congregation of Canons of the Great Saint Bernard, and the palace became the "Great Hospital of St Bernard de Monte Jovis in Savoy". Called "The Hotel de Luxe of the World," in the grandiose verbiage of its founder and proprietor, Richard D'Oyly Carte, it opened on London's Strand in 1889 apparently not a moment too soon.. In a video for Duran Durans 2011 song Girl Panic, Naomi Campbell and fellow ex-supermodels Cindy Crawford and Eva Herzigova shot a raunchy video that showed them partying in a Savoy suite. Closed in 2004, the River Restaurant has been given a new lease of life with a slick, contemporary art deco design featuring a leopard print carpet, Macassar leather-upholstered chairs and cherry wood tables. Details given will be used in accordance with our. as long as it's legal | The Sun All TV Soaps Drama Reality Streaming Film Love Island Uncategorized TV ROOM SERVICE Goats' milk baths and. ", "Straight Up: the American Bar at the Savoy", "The American Bar at The Savoy enters a new era: meet head bartender Maxim Schulte", "Maxim Schulte: Life after The Savoys American Bar", "For the first time, an American will run the cocktail bar at the Savoy Hotel in London", "Savoy's American Bar names head bartender", "Why does traffic entering and leaving the Savoy Hotel in London drive on the right? Each of the 174 Edwardian rooms (below) has silk wall coverings, dramatic window dressings and Murano glass chandeliers, while the 94 art deco spaces have maple headboards and simpler furnishings (left). [30] Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Louis Armstrong, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Maria Callas, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Sophia Loren, Julie Andrews, Lena Horne, Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Elton John, U2, Led Zeppelin, The Who, George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg and Stephen Fry are just a few of the celebrities who stayed there in recent decades. Around the fin de sicle, a young Guccio Gucci was a luggage porter at the famed London hotel. Natural light now floods into the room via the new 7.5-metre glass dome, the design of which has been copied from a drawing of the original found in the hotel's archives. [79], In 2013 South African artist Jonty Hurwitz created a chrome and resin anamorphic sculpture of Kaspar, the hotel's cat mascot, titled "The 14th Guest", found at the entrance to the hotel's restaurant, Kaspar's Seafood Bar & Grill. Kiaran MacDonald, general manager of the Savoy, is relieved that the hotel's refurbishment is finally over and that he can get back to doing what he loves best - running one of London's most iconic hotels. Sean says: Goats milk is easy to get, I can go to Waitrose or Fortnum & Mason and buy it. Dress code: dress to impress. But will the Covid-19 pandemic knock the Savoy off its stride? Browse 323 savoy hotel interior photos and images available, or search for savoy hotel london to find more great photos and pictures. The decor is Edwardian on the Thames river side and Art Deco on the Strand side. [36], After the death of Helen Carte in 1913, Rupert D'Oyly Carte became the controlling stockholder of the hotel group. Become a member of THIRTEEN ($5 monthly or $60 annually) and get access to THIRTEEN Passport as our thanks for your support. Its a national institution.. It also manufactured its own mattresses. They sold it in 2004 to Quinlan Private, who sold the Savoy hotel and restaurant Simpson's-In-The-Strand eight months later, for an estimated 250million, to Al-Waleed bin Talal to be managed by Al-Waleed's affiliate, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts of Canada. Its The Savoy, guys, not the fg Golden Egg down the Old Kent Road.. [67][68] The hotel contains a small museum next to the American Bar, open to the public, with a revolving exhibition of items from the hotel's archives. Expect the most refined patisserie, fluffy scones and delicious savouries! [32] In 1924, the hotel bought James Edwards Limited, the manufacturer of the bed. He invented "Wedding Bells" for the, Harry "Vic" Viccars, 1975 to 1981. In 1893, he invented the pche Melba in honour of the Australian singer Nellie Melba, and in 1897, Melba toast. 3rd Floor, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU. In 1702, the hospital was dissolved, and the hospital buildings were used for other purposes. The dramatic jet-black and gold dcor of the Beaufort Bar provides the perfect setting for glamour and luxury., Regarded as the heart of the hotel, the Thames Foyer in London is a stunning glass-domed atrium, radiating natural, The American Bar is the longest surviving cocktail bar in London and one of the most renowned in the world., Discover The River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay, a new restaurant by the multi-Michelin starred chef at The Savoy. His friend, the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, was a shareholder and sat on the board of directors. [30][31] Spectacular parties were held at the hotel. [80] The hotel's dance bands of the inter-war years, the Savoy Orpheans and the Savoy Havana Band, were described as "probably the best-known bands in Europe" and broadcast regularly from the hotel. As a result, the equivalent energy generated provides sufficient power to light 20% of the hotel's bedrooms. For the Savoy, he hired a new chef, Franois Latry, who served from 1919 to 1942. Enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast and a spa treatment for two.. Below you'll find more detailed informations about which cookie we're using and their purpose. He said, Sean, do you know whats in the bag? and I said, No, Sir, I dont know. Peckish folk such as Simon can take their pick from four restaurants at The Savoy The Thames Foyer, 200-year-old dining club Simpsons, seafood specialist Kaspars and the Michelin-starred Savoy Grill. After months of anticipation, Ridley Scott's latest directorial venture, House of Gucci, hits the big screen on 26 November. THE SAVOY'S HERB GARDEN - A herb garden has been created in partnership with the management team of Westminster's Victoria Embankment Gardens, adjacent to the Savoy's river entrance. While the ITV star doesnt share much about his love life, his brother Robbie married his fianc Savannah Brown in New York in 2017 while Michaelwatched on as his best man. [85] The menu features oysters, cured and smoked fish. The cabaret was under the direction of Laurence Olivier, Nol Coward and John Mills. After this, the hotel offered to seat a member of its staff at tables of 13 to ward off bad luck. All artwork here, and throughout the hotel, reflect the history of the surrounding location and have been selected by the Savoy's art consultant, Peter Millard. Italian glamour is the order of the day at this London grande dames newly-redesigned Royal Suite, transformed into a decadent Gucci extravaganza. [100] The book has remained in print since then and was subsequently republished in 1952, 1965, 1985, 1996, and expanded in 1999 and 2014. Inside The Royal Suite by Gucci at Savoy London With The House of Gucci making cinematic waves this week - "Father, son and House of Gucci" - we thought we would take a look at another fashion-meets-design story that is being showcased artfully in the newly designed Royal Suite at London's Savoy Hotel. As part of the 2010 refurbishment, the restaurant was completely redecorated in the Art Deco style, with a leopard print carpet. We have noticed you are using an adblocker and although we support freedom of choice we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. From 1926 to 1958 it's twin bandstands showcased the world's finest jazz musicians. I wear my uniform, which is my costume.. After months of anticipation, Ridley Scotts latest directorial venture, House of Gucci, hits the big screen on 26 November. [23] It was not until 1985 that the facts became public knowledge. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Italian glamour is the order of the day at this London grande dame's newly-redesigned Royal Suite, transformed into a decadent Gucci extravaganza. savoygrill@gordonramsay.com. [38] In the 1920s he ensured that the Savoy continued to attract a fashionable clientele by a continuous programme of modernisation and the introduction of dancing in the large restaurants. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The Savoy Hotel is the place A-listers go for complete luxury (pictured: Naomi Campbell in Duran Duran's Girl Panic video), ITVs four-part documentary The Savoy takes you behind the scenes of the exclusive hotel, Savoy Grill owner Gordon Ramsay makes sure the food is fit for high-paying clientele, Head butler Sean Davorenstarted at The Savoy in 1978, Marilyn Monroe is one of the hotel's most famous guests (pictured at The Savoy in 1956), Pop superstar Britney Spears stayed at the hotel in 2013, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez are pictured outside the Savoy Hotel in 1965, Pop star Pink visited the hotel last year and posed in the foyer, Accountancy firm owner Simon De-Lacy Adams has stayed at The Savoy 70 times over the past five years, In the documentary, we see Sean putting newbie butler Michael Peluso, 37, through the ringer to get him up to Savoy spec, Sean admits he's 'a little bit of a tyrant' when training new staff at the hotel, The Savoy - First look at new four-part ITV documentary where butlers tend to VIP guests every desire, Goats milk baths and caviar inside the Savoy hotel where guests can get anything as long as its legal, Soaps sexiest moments - from steamy threesome to Helen Flanagans raunchy Corrie striptease and topless Jorgie Porter, Ant McPartlin leaves conservationists fuming after applying to hack down 'jungle' spoiling garden view at 6m mansion, Countryfile viewers rip into 'barbaric' animal cruelty scenes - fuming 'how does the BBC justify this? Inside The Savoy Hotel - The Royal Suite. The new Beaufort Bar has an Art Deco interior of jet-black and gold and offers nightly cabaret. [77] Downes based his work on a drawing of the Thames in the Savoy's collection. The partnership will also see the two brands reveal further initiatives later in the year. One hundred years after Guccio Gucci, who worked at The Savoy as a luggage porter when a young man, founded his leather goods company, The Savoy and Gucci are pleased to celebrate their shared history in a host of creative ways, starting with the transformation of The Savoys Royal Suite into a reflection of the Gucci world. Through the charity's community project, Adopt-A-River Scheme, the hotel is looking after the stretch of the River Thames that flows directly outside the Savoy. Simon says: My husband is not as good as a butler the bell doesnt work and Im told to naff off if I ask for anything like that.. Royal couldnt be a more fitting name; the sprawling suite is complete with a drawing room, dining room, kitchenette, a grand marble-clad bathroom, cavernous dressing room, and splendid bedroom, where a magnificent four-poster bed takes pride of place. Fittingly, exactly 100 years later, Guccios legacy is being honoured with a homecoming of a different kind, as The Savoy revels in a centenary celebration of all things Gucci. In the summer, the windows fronting on to the river will open fully, providing an alfresco feel to the space. In the market for a royal Jaguar? we stayed overnight at the savoy and visited the dungeon and winter wonderland and corral island The lobby is bigger and grander, and JUST THE SAME. Ex-actor Michael has had parts in this years Disney sci-fi movie Artemis Fowl and Guy Ritchies 2015 spy film The Man from U.N.C.L.E. In the TV series, viewers see David Hasselhoff and Denise van Outen stay at the hotel and butlers go the extra smile to please and delight, with tasks ranging from masterminding cocktail parties to polishing designer high heels. However, the hotel butler has since upped and left his job there, and moved on to another top UK building in the city. [27], After Richard D'Oyly Carte died in 1901, his son Rupert D'Oyly Carte became chairman of the Savoy hotel group in 1903 and supervised the expansion of the hotel and the modernisation of the other hotels in the group's ownership, such as Claridge's. However, the hotel butler has since upped and left his job there, and moved on to another top UK building in the city. E-mail your comments to Janet Harmer here. FOOD WASTE - All food waste is being recycled into renewable energy, through the UK's largest food waste contractor, the PDM Group. Its bands, Savoy Orpheans and the Savoy Havana Band, became famous, and other entertainers (who were also often guests) included George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne and Nol Coward. Additionally, the hotel entrance's small roundabout meant that vehicles needed a turning circle of 25 feet (7.6m) to navigate it. Look no further the late Queens former vehicle will soon be auctioned, A day out to remember: William and Kate bring Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Wimbledon Gentlemens Singles Final, Inside Ridley Scotts House of Gucci as the official trailer drops, The OWO Churchills Old War Office has just unveiled its crowning private residence, With expansive views taking in the best of prime London, this penthouse in the Old War Office might be the best 100 million one could ever spend, Opulent Chelsea mega-mansion with state-of-the-art spa hits the market for 32.5 million, Set in the luxurious enclave of The Boltons in Chelsea, the seven-storey property features eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and subterranean swimming pool, Why this Cotswolds manor with monastic roots is a modern-day sanctuary (complete with private pool), Escape the city and the heat at this sprawling country pile in one of the most picturesque corners of the Cotswolds, Heading to the south of France this summer? "If you are not at your best, of course you might get a bollocking and rightly so. [66] From 2015 to 2017, Kim Woodward, a former contestant on the TV show MasterChef: The Professionals, became the Grill's first female Head Chef. "[40] In 1938 Hugh Wontner joined the Savoy hotel group as Reeves-Smith's assistant, and he became managing director in 1941. In 1921, the hotel was used in the film Kipps, based on the novel by H. G. Wells. [50] Ramn Pajares was managing director from 1994 to 1999. A hundred years after . [9][64] The hotel kept records of its guests' preferences, so that it could provide for them in advance. [86], The Beaufort Bar is a new bar created in the 2010 renovation, specialising in champagne as well as cocktails. We do the je-ne-sais-quoi but I want the ooh-la-la.. For dinner, try to snag a reservation at the Michelin-star awarded Indian restaurant, Semma. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk, Caterersearch.com jobs Looking for a new job? The seven-storey Savoy, on the Strand, gets through 250,000 a year on flowers alone and has two-and-a-half staff per guest, while all Thames-view suites come with their own butler. Su. The House of Savoy was the ruling family of Savoy, descended from Humbert I, Count of Sabaudia (or "Maurienne"), who became count in 1032. [3][41], During World War II, Wontner and his staff had to cope with bomb damage, food rationing, manpower shortage and a serious decline in the number of foreign visitors. The suite itself, however, is only part of the experience. Each of the 136 guest rooms and suites at our Seaport Boston Hotel has been carefully curated to present an unparalleled guest experience. The Savoy Hotel Hotel Charing Cross, London Save Share Tips 112 Photos 1,051 9.2/ 10 568 ratings Has a stamp of approval from CNN and The Guardian " American bar has the best cocktails in the world" (7 Tips) ". One of the diners was unable to attend, leaving the number of guests an unlucky 13, and another diner predicted that whoever first left the table would soon die. Guests pay our wages. In 1998, an American private equity house, The Blackstone Group, purchased the Savoy hotel group.