Starwood's Luxury Collection Expands to Russia
September 9, 2009 By: Jena Tesse Fox
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces the debut of The Luxury Collection brand in Russia, with the joining of Hotel National, A Luxury Collection Hotel. Following the first phase of a renovation to the hotel’s guest rooms and public spaces, the iconic Moscow hotel has joined The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. Built in 1903 by Russian architect Alexander Ivanov, Hotel National has been a historic landmark for more than a century, overlooking the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square in the heart of Moscow’s historical, cultural and business center.
The hotels that make up The Luxury Collection include Hotel Danieli, Venice; Grande Bretagne, Athens; Marques de Riscal, Elciego, Spain; The Laguna Resort, Nusa Dua, Bali; Patios de Cafayate, Argentina; SLS at Beverly Hills; and The Phoenician, Scottsdale. Moscow has become a hotbed for hotels lately, and despite the recession, the hospitality industry in the city seems poised to bloom: A Radisson Blu is in the works, Shangri-La will be opening a property there in 2012, and Mandarin Oriental is planning to open an "upside-down" hotel a year earlier.
Hotel National has undergone an extensive renovation of all guest rooms, suites and public areas. Each of the 206 guest rooms have furniture inspired by the hotel’s nineteenth century décor as well as plasma TVs and DVD players. In addition, the hotel’s 56 historical suites have authentic and rare Russian antiquities, including vases, lamps, mirrors, statues and paintings. Many of the hotel’s guest rooms have great city views including panoramas of the Kremlin.
The second renovation phase is scheduled to start in 2010, and will involve adding underground parking, a new spa and fitness facilities as well as two Presidential suites. Future renovation plans will also include the addition of an exclusive courtyard restaurant as well as a redesign of hotel’s Alexandrovsky bar and Moskovski restaurant with a new haute cuisine culinary concept. The restoration of Hotel National will be completed by the end of 2012.
