The revival of one of the Grand Duchy's great hotels. Opened at the end of May, the Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa takes up the story of a almost one hundred years oldopened in 1932 just opposite Luxembourg's main railway station. Listed as a national monument, this institution at the heart of cultural life and official celebrations had stopped welcoming travellers or regulars to its brasserie since it closed in 2017, following a dispute between its various owners.
Long under the Mercure banner, the Grand Hotel Alfa has undergone a lengthy renovation phase to join the Marriott fold. Redesigned by interior architects Iria Degen Interiors, the décor has retained its timeless Art Deco style, with a design inspired by the original elements, some of which have been preserved, such as the vintage light fittings and rosewood sideboards.
Another legacy of the past is the frescoes created at the time by Luxembourg sculptor Julien Lefèvre - the son of the hotel's architect, Alfred Lefèvre - have been restored, their colours having inspired the hotel's colour palette, from the blue, pink and green of the public areas to the petrol blue of the standard rooms and the olive and pink of the suites. Representing the regions of Luxembourg, these frescoes now interact with contemporary works by local artists, including Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil.
If the Alfa brewery will be the focal point of the hotel with its great revisited classics - leek vinaigrette, puréed sausages, tartar or homemade pâté en croûte -, this first Marriott hotel in the Grand Duchy offers travellers all the elements expected for a top-of-the-range business stay. In addition to 153 rooms, including 31 suites, the Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa has an M Club executive lounge and five bright meeting rooms with views of the station.
" Destined to become one of the most sought-after hotels in Luxembourg, both for business travellers and leisure activities, this establishment combines innovation and heritage with outstanding hospitality, serving guests and locals alike. "said Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President, Premium, Select & Midscale Brands, EMEA, Marriott International.
When it comes to outstanding hospitality, Luxembourg's capital will be boasting in a few days' time a new jewel: the Villa Pétrusse. Here, too, the city's past is being revisited, in this case that of a former mansion dating from the late 19th century, the Villa Baldauff. Designed at the time by a visionary trio - landscape architect Edouard André, architect Pierre Kemp and painter Sosthène Weis - as part of a series of large, beautiful private residences surrounded by gardens, the Villa Baldauff underwent five years of meticulous renovation before being reborn as an ultra-chic boutique hotel under the guidance of interior designer Tristan Auer.
Monumental fireplaces, frescoes and stained glass windows, architectural details: the identical restoration Some of the historic features have been restored by local craftsmen, as have the precious hand-painted wallpapers, reproductions of the works of Sosthène Weis. All of this was combined with custom-designed furniture and contemporary rearrangements.
Business travellers will find at Villa Pétrusse an air of today and yesteryear in its 22 bedroomsincluding three suites and a private penthouse. To add to the prestige of the place, the hotel will also feature a gourmet restaurant run by Luxembourg chef Kim De Dood, who won two Michelin stars when he ran the Saint-Pierre in Singapore. The result is a traditional local cuisine with Asian influences. Surrounded by a park in the heart of the city, the hotel has an exclusive meeting space to match, with two private lounges for 6 to 12 people, for board meetings or intimate cocktail parties.
