Spanish-based hotel chain NH Hotel Group last week inaugurated its first NH Collection hotel in Brussels. The former NH Atlanta Brussels hotel has been completely refurbished and transformed into NH Collection Hotel Brussels Centre. The hotel is located in an iconic building at Boulevard Adolphe Max, next to the new pedestrian area in Brussels.
NH Hotel Group was founded in Spain in 1978 and has since then grown to a major international hotel chain with about 400 hotels in Europe, Africa and North and South America and 20 000 employees worldwide. While Spain still is the basis with 180 hotels, the NH Hotel Group is rapidly expanding to other countries. In Belgium there are already 11 hotels, thereof 7 in Brussels with 1 200 rooms.
The Brussels Times was invited to the inauguration and took the opportunity to ask a few questions to the hotel management.
As with other international hospitality organizations, the brand is important for the NH Hotel Group. The brand is more than a name. It conveys an assurance of quality and reduces search costs for customers. The company vision of the NH Hotel Group is that anyone contemplating a trip to a city, whether for business or pleasure, should always look for a NH hotel.
The NH Collection hotels are the newest and upper premium brand of the NH Hotel Group, with 4- and 5 star hotels at prime locations in capitals and major cities. The objective is to make the guests “feel the extraordinary”.
“When expanding to other countries, we adapt to the local culture but with a focus on modern, contemporary style,“ says Maarten Markus, Managing Director for Benelux, France, UK, USA & Africa.
Asked about hotel classification, he answers that rating systems are changing and might be a thing of the past. “The rating systems are mainly quantitative and measure whether a hotel is equipped in a certain way. They don’t measure customer satisfaction and the quality of services.” He prefers on-line rating such as Tripadvisor.
That said, the new NH Collection hotel in Brussels is no doubt a 4 star hotel which gives the quest the feeling of a 5 star hotel. All 241 rooms in the hotel have the same high standard, with bright colors and furnished in a practical, contemporary and comfortable style. The hotel also offers state-of the art facilities for meetings and events, a must in a conference city like Brussels.
What makes the hotel special and contributes to a “feeling of the extraordinary” is its excellent location in Brussels, in walking distance to places worth seeing and shopping, the beautiful building dating from 1929 with its inviting lobby, the well-equipped gym and, last but not the least, the amazing roof-top terrace where a tasty breakfast full of choices is served.
View from roof top
Alain Bouchat, the Hotel Director, has graduated in hotel management and has vast international experience from working in hotels where he has tried all tasks incl. managing. He was himself involved in the refurbishment of the hotel and is proud of the result.
He takes a personal interest in ensuring that every guest at the hotel is satisfied. “I reply personally to all comments on the internet and talk to the guests during breakfast,” Alain Bouchat says. “The guests appreciate the special features of our hotel, such as its location, character and innovation. The most common comment I hear from them is satisfaction with its excellent service.”
After this the reader might wonder how much it costs to stay at the hotel. There is no average price since it depends on season and occupancy but a spacious superior double room, if booked in time, can be received for about 140 euro per night. Breakfast, not to be missed, is charged 25 euro (if not included in the price).
M. Apelblat
The Brussels Times
NH Hotel Group inaugurates its first NH Collection hotel in Brussels
