The Hotel, the former Brussels Hilton (see post stylehotelsweb blog 8 september 2010), is getting new interiors by GCA, Spain’s star hotel architect and interior designers.

The Hotel on Boulevard de Waterloo, near Brussels‘ high-end shopping street Avenue Louise, was taken over by Swedish hotel real estate group Pandox last year. Pandox plans to renovate the hotel targeting the premium segment emphasizing on a contemporary style. The renovation will start with all 433 rooms, who will boast a new revolutionary lay-out. The tradional (writing) desk is to be replaced by a super-size couch by the window to which a movable smaller desk can be pulled. In today’s fashion, the bathroom dividing wall will be replaced by vertical shutters allowing either privacy when shut or a view over Brussels when open. With 32 floors The Hotel is one of Brussel’s tallest buildings and boasts magnificent views.

GCA, the architectural firm handling the renovation, is very well known for its hotel projects. These include – amongst others – the ABaC, Arts, Cram and Denit hotels in Barcelona, the Eurostars Tower and Vincci Soho hotels in Madrid, the AC Baqueira resort in the Spanish Pyrenees and Barcelo Oviedo Cervantes Hotel.

Aloft Brussels Schuman has opened in the Belgium capital, marketing the debut of the select-service Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide brand in Europe.

Owned by London-based Thornsett Group, the 147-key Aloft Brussels Schuman is located in the heart of the buzzing European Union district.

“The launch of Aloft in Europe underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the power of the Aloft brand,” says Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood. “Aloft’s emphasis on high design and affordability translates globally and is attracting a growing group of loyal travelers. In fact, Aloft represents one of the strongest brand launches in industry history, and its international expansion so early in the brand’s life cycle is unprecedented.”

Aloft Brussels Schuman is the fifth Starwood Hotel in Belgium, joining Le Méridien Brussels, Sheraton Brussels Hotel, Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Brussels.

With more than 40 hotels open since its June 2008 debut, Aloft Hotels currently operates hotels in five countries: the United States, Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates and India, with Belgium marking its sixth country market. Aloft’s pipeline includes additional properties in India and the United States, as well as brand introductions in Thailand and the UK.

“We are thrilled to introduce Aloft to Brussels, a fitting choice for the brand’s debut in Europe,” says Roeland Vos, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “The hotel’s strategic location in the heart of the European Quarter makes a bold statement about how the brand is taking its innovative, fresh perspective on hotels to the most important locations around the world.”

Aloft Brussels Schuman will boast atmospheric public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the Re:mix lounge and the W XYZ bar.

For work meetings, training courses and presentations, the hotel’s Tactic meeting rooms, which are equipped with the latest generation of audiovisual hardware, provide a creative space for groups of up to 50 people.

A Work of Art in Itself, the PANTONE HOTEL Brussels Inspires Guests with Colorful Design and Décor

Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT) and the global authority on color, today announced the opening of the PANTONE HOTEL (TM) in Brussels. Centrally located just steps from Avenue Louise, a glamorous shopping and business district named for a king’s daughter and now a muse to modern-day designers, the boutique PANTONE HOTEL combines a chic, colorful design aesthetic with comfortable, well-appointed guest rooms. The lobby and rooftop terraces are destinations unto themselves within a bustling city center famous for its artistic, culinary and political history.

The PANTONE HOTEL is perfect for cosmopolitan adventurers as well as small corporate meetings and business conferences, cocktail receptions and special events. The PANTONE HOTEL will awaken guests’ senses to an array of colorful delights and playful surprises. Designed by Belgian interior designer Michel Penneman and Belgian architect Olivier Hannaert, each of the hotel’s seven floors are enlightened by different color palettes to complement guests’ emotions with distinctive hues – whether vivid or subdued.

Through a licensing partnership with British developers, the PANTONE HOTEL is part of PANTONE UNIVERSE®, an expanding line of colorful, design-inspired products for consumers. From PANTONE Chip inspired mugs created by W2 to Sonia Spencer cufflinks and Alpa stationary and bags, the hotel offers the largest selection of PANTONE UNIVERSE products worldwide, all available for purchase at the hotel.

“Paris has the Champs Elysées, Barcelona has the Ramblas and New York City has Fifth Avenue,” said Lisa Herbert, executive vice president at Pantone. “On Avenue Louise, international labels commingle with Belgian goods of all kinds against a backdrop of elegant mansions and modern business towers, all bordered by chestnut trees. Pantone is right at home in the heart of this vibrant city center, having long been synonymous with color and design in all walks of life, from high fashion and interior design to corporate branding.”

The guest rooms are works of art – white walls and bedding provide a clean, crisp canvas for saturated pops of vibrant color. Adding to the artistry, rooms feature photographic installations created by renowned Belgian photographer Victor Levy that include a spectrum of vibrant PANTONE Colors to create a unique ambiance in each room. The 59 affordably priced rooms and suites empower guests to transform their travels by selecting a room that complements their mood through color. The rooms and suites are patterned after one of seven distinct PANTONE Color palettes and include inviting bedding, LCD TVs and central air conditioning; many also offer unparalleled views of Brussels.

Two custom, top-floor meeting rooms are available for private events and other functions. Meeting rooms can accommodate up to 20 people and are equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual and technical equipment. Ideal for summer cocktail parties or events, the rooftop terrace, complete with its own bar, can be rented for private functions of up to 100 guests. PANTONE Color consultants are also available by appointment for informal color consultations or to present educational seminars on color psychology and trends.