A Saudi group, then a Maltese group
But at the turn of this century, the hotel lost its luster. It was first sold to a Saudi group, which was planning major renovation work, the design of which was entrusted to the Belgian architect Francis Metzger. Project which will not succeed, initially, the building being left abandoned for around ten years. Until the acquisition, in 2016, by the Corinthia group, founded by a Maltese family (the Pisanis) and specialized in the luxury hotel sector. The work, still under the supervision of architect Francis Metzger, began in 2019. And it is about to be finished.
20,000 euros for a night in a royal suite: the most luxurious hotel in Brussels will open its doors in November (PHOTOS)
The future palace will offer 126 rooms including 36 suites, two stepped swimming pools and a 1,200 m² spa. The rooms will be distinguished by their size: the smallest will be more than 30 m², the two largest suites will exceed… 330 m².
“Le Petit bon bon” and “Palais Royal”
The palace will also house two restaurants – a brasserie and a more gourmet restaurant. Two restaurants at the helm of which are two stars of Belgian gastronomy: the brasserie (“Le Petit bon bon”) will be managed by Christophe Hardiquest, the former chef of Bon Bon (two stars) who reopened his restaurant under the brand Menssa (one star). And the gourmet restaurant (“Palais Royal”) will be designed by David Martin, chef of the La Paix restaurant in Anderlecht (two stars).
Two 300 m² suites, stepped swimming pools, a spa… the Astoria hotel in Brussels will soon reopen its doors and reconnect with its rich past
A concept store in the window, welcoming “designer brands”, will give the place a “boutique hotel” appearance desired by its operators. A lounge lounge housing a private club and modular meeting rooms will also find place in the Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria. Two buildings purchased (one to the left of the hotel, another to the rear) will increase the surface area of the place to almost 20,000 m².
