The only property that Raffles Hotels & Resorts currently manages in Europe is the ultra-luxury Le Royal Monceau in Paris: the Philippe Starck-designed palace hotel on avenue Hoche. But that will soon change when Raffles takes over operation of the Europejski, a historic hotel in Warsaw, Poland, after a €65 million renovation. The Financial Times beyondbrics blog reports that this is “a sign that the Polish capital is slowly scrambling higher up the luxury market food chain.”
Located on the Royal Route, the Europejski is the oldest hotel in Warsaw—dating from 1857. Just this year, the heirs of the pre-war owners sold two-thirds of their shares to Swiss businesswoman Vera Michalski-Hoffman. After the renovation, the property will have 100 hotel rooms, offices, and upscale shops. The target market, says The Financial Times, will be a “mix of travelers and wealthy Poles.” Expect to see the arrival of more and more international luxury brands in Poland as the country gets wealthier.