Corinthia Hotels committed to restoring Grand Hotel Astoria, Brussels

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Situated in a prime location on Rue Royale in the heart of the city, the Grand Hotel Astoria, Brussels was built in 1909 at the request of King Leopold II.

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Situated in a prime location on Rue Royale in the heart of the city, the Grand Hotel Astoria, Brussels was built in 1909 at the request of King Leopold II. It was for many years considered to be among the world’s finest luxury hotels and has welcomed a number of illustrious guests during the course of its history including former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and former US President Dwight Eisenhower.

Corinthia announced the acquisition of the Hotel Astoria in Brussels. This part-listed, trophy property has stood vacant for 10 years, but will now be fully refurbished as the city’s leading luxury hotel, branded the Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria.


The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria will comprise 121 bedrooms and suites, as well as extensive banqueting, dining and spa facilities.

Corinthia Hotels is committed to restoring the property, which has been vacant for the past decade, to its former glory.

Corinthia chairman Alfred Pisani said: “We have earned an unparalleled reputation for restoring buildings of historical value and turning them into luxury hotels. The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria will be no exception.

“We aim to make this hotel the best in Brussels – committing the same passion and attention to detail as we have done with our hotel redevelopments in London, Budapest, St Petersburg and other major cities. We have full confidence in the city and are proud to have acquired such a gem in the heart of Europe.”

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria’s façade and ground floor enjoy listed protection status, though the upper bedroom floors are currently stripped down to brick work awaiting full reconstruction. The property also includes adjoining land upon which the current structure will be extended. Works shall commence once all designs are completed.

Further luxury hotel projects are expected to be announced in the coming weeks to complement Corinthia’s growing portfolio of luxury hotels in prime locations.

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria will be a five-star luxury hotel, befitting its central Brussels location and situation in a historic, part-listed building. Originally built in 1909 as The Hotel Astoria, the hotel has served as a meeting place for kings, dignitaries and world personalities. Designed by famous Belgian architect Henri Van Dievoet, the hotel’s exterior reflects the popular Neoclassical architectural style made famous in Paris by King Louis XVI, while the majestic interior furnishings lent the building a distinctly dignified style. Since 2000, the hotel has been listed as a protected monument and while most of the original interior has been lost, distinct touches of past grandeur remain. The proposed hotel will house 121 rooms, a grand ballroom, meeting rooms, a restaurant, a coffee house, a lounge bar and a spa. Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria will be a 21st-century grand hotel and a member of Corinthia Hotels’ collection of five-star hotels.

Corinthia is a global collection of luxury five-star hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta in 1962. Since 2000, Corinthia has evolved into a multifaceted public company, trading as International Hotel Investments (IHI) plc, which is the owner, developer and operator of Corinthia Hotels and commercial real estate worldwide. Guided by family values and inspired by the core principles underpinning the Spirit of Corinthia – authenticity, passion, precision and understanding – our focus is on ensuring craftsmanship in the hospitality world and delivering honest, discreet service. Each of Corinthia’s hotels and resorts, in some of the most exciting cities in the world, are a tribute to architectural grandeur and cultural traditions. The Corinthia portfolio features the flagship Corinthia Hotel & Residences in London, as well as award-winning Corinthia Hotels in Budapest, Malta, St. Petersburg, Prague, Lisbon, Khartoum and Tripoli. Corinthia recently announced the acquisition and redevelopment of the landmark Grand Hotel Astoria in Brussels, to be relaunched as a Corinthia Hotel in 2019.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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