It's as if the Ritz or the Crillon were waking up after a long sleep. The return to business of a flagship hotel in Brussels, built at the request of King Leopold II to welcome the crowned heads during the 1910 Universal Exhibition, but has been closed since the end of the 2000s. Located on Rue Royale, the Hotel Astoria was home to all the celebrities who passed through the Belgian capital before gradually losing its reputation.
Once under the Sofitel banner, the hotel was bought in 2008 by the Global Hotels & Resorts group, owned by Saudi Arabian Mohammed Yousef El Khereiji, whose ambition at the time was to renovate it. An unfinished project taken over by the Corinthia groupThe owner of the listed building in 2016, Francis Metzger has once again been commissioned to redesign the building in the purest Belle Époque style.
Eight years after a lengthy transformation phase, the Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels is aiming to establish itself as one of the world's leading hotels. the leading luxury hotel in Europe's capital. A showcase of sophistication comprising 126 rooms and 36 suites, including five Signature Suites decorated in collaboration with local art galleries. These include the Royal Suite, located on the site of the former Royal Suite of the Astoria Hotel, penthouses inspired by the Flemish masters and the Brontë sisters, and the Grand Gallery Penthouse, billed as "the jewel in the crown". Located on the top floor of the hotel and offering 326 square metres of luxury, the suite features a private treatment room, a fitness centre and a private terrace with breathtaking views over the city.
Catering will be on a par with the venue, with gourmet diningThere is also a brasserie, Le Petit Bon Bon, with a menu combining Belgian classics and the inventive creations of another Michelin-starred chef, Christophe Hardiquest. All of this is accompanied by an exclusive cocktail bar and a 1,200 m² XXL spa, in association with the Sisley brand.
" This property, with its rich history, is a milestone in the Corinthia Hotels portfolio and marks the start of a new chapter in the history of Corinthia Hotels. exciting new chapter for our brand, as we continue to expand and innovate internationally" said Simon Casson, CEO of Corinthia Hotels Limited. The Maltese group has other prestigious addresses in the pipeline, including the imminent return to grace of another sleeping beauty, the Surrey Hotel in New York, revamped by star designer Martin Brudnizki. Another metamorphosis is that of the former headquarters of Italy's central bank, on the Piazza del Parlamento, into a luxurious 60-room boutique hotel.
