Crowne Plaza Brussels Le Palace

Dating back to 1908, the hotel was designed in one night by two Belgian architects: Lener and Pompe. Their project was so innovative that it won a restricted competition where rivalry was very high. The building was erected on the site of many antiquated houses on Place Rogier. The Palace has always been well-known for its luxury, refined comfort and impeccable service. Totally refurbished from 2004 and 2008 in the Art nouveau style of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), Le Palace continues its originality by offering to our guests a unique experience. The Hotel Palace was and still is the hotel where an important number of celebrities stayed: « stars » like Gina Lologbrigida, Jean Poiret, Rita Hayworth, Brigitte Bardot, Orson Welles, the Highnesses like Prince Philippe of Edinburgh, King Ibn Saud, Princess Grace of Monaco, King Hussein of Jordany, and recently Condolezza Rice; and stars like Fausto Coppi, Ray Sugar Robinson and many others…

History

Hotel Palace in the Belle Epoque In view of the World Exhibition in 1910 in Brussels, Les Grands Hôtels Belges S .A. launched a contest in 1908 for the construction of a deluxe hotel. The winner was the architect Adhémar Lener, assisted by the young Antoine Pompe. The first building of concrete in Belgium with a height of 35 meters, was built on a surface of 35 acres in record time of 11 months. This was an impressive achievement, considering the enormous problems they encounter during the construction. Due to the marshy ground, a new method for Belgium was applied the skeleton of 7 stories high concrete was built on 1800 piles. The Hotel Palace, owned by Georges Marquet, opened its doors on the 1st of September 1910 and counted 400 rooms with individual bathrooms. In 1911, the Hotel Palace promoted with 500 rooms, fully equipped with bathroom, toilet and telephone with an outside line, as of 7,5 FB per room, « lightening and service charges included » In the «Belle Epoque », the Hotel Palace was a renowned deluxe hotel. In 1930, in a special jubilee edition of the magazine « La Belgique Hôtelière », the Hotel Palace was referred to as one of the three « Grands Hotels Belges S.A. » (the Hotel Astoria in Brussels, the Château d’Ardenne in Houyet were the other two hotels) and was described as follows: « It is worldwide renowned for the formula : 500 rooms, 500 baths, 500 telephones and unanimously appreciated for its luxury, its fine comfort and impeccable service ». A promotional brochure of the thirties mentioned : « Same management : the Claridge in Paris, the Palace in Lyon, the Negresco in Nice, the Palace and the Ritz in Madrid, the Alfonso XIII in Sevilla, the Continental in St. Sébastien »; which emphasized the highly prestigious character of the hotel Palace at that time. Le Palace: celebrities, international stars performances The first renovation works took place at the end of the forties after the Second World War: a part of the original rooms were refurbished in the « Art Déco » style. A second renovation followed at the end of the fifties when Brussels expected a large number of visitors for the World Exhibition of 1958. The Hotel Palace was the hotel where an important number of celebrities stayed: « stars » like Gina Lologbrigida, Jean Poiret, Rita Hayworth, Brigitte Bardot, Orson Welles, the Highnesses like Prince Philippe of Edinburgh, King Ibn Saud, Princess Grace of Monaco and King Hussein of Jordany; and stars like Fausto Coppi, Ray Sugar Robinson and many others.. The Taverne of the hotel was also very popular at this time; not only because of the ideal location at the Place Rogier, but especially because of the weekly organized entertainment shows with international stars performances. Till the sixties the Hotel Palace was one of the most successful hotels of Brussels: « In the sixties, the ‘musts’ of the Belgian capital are the Amigo, the Brussels, the Métropole, the Palace, the Plaza, the Westbury.. » (Paris Match, the 13th of November 1987). Difficult times… In the 70’s, the building was for the first time in danger because of the construction of the metro underneath the ‘Petite Ceinture’. To cut a tunnel in the marshy ground seemed to be impossible. First the local authorities considered to simply demolishing the hotel, but finally the building was preserved thanks to the technique often used for the construction of the metro: the freezing of the ground. A brochure of the famous hotel group ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ only listed one hotel in Brussels in December 1976: The Hotel Palace. The hotel Palace emplois about 400 persons, which meant one person per room, a normal situation for a deluxe hotel. But in the middle of the 70’s, a lot of deluxe hotels were built in Brussels. The revenue decreased and the badly controlled costs took ‘Les Grands Hôtels Belges S.A. to bankruptcy. The Hotel Palace closed its doors in June 1981. This time, it looked like the building needed be to make place for modern office buildings. A Dutch company showed interest and the Commune de Saint-Josse-ten-Noode seemed to be ready to change the plans of urbanism (a zone of offices in stead of a zone of habitation). But on the last minute a buyer ready to invest in the building showed up: the 16th of November 1982, City Hotels bought the Hotel Palace at an auction for the sum of 107,5 million FB(2,7 million EUR). The prestigious Hotel Palace showed important marks of aging as result of two years of neglecting and of the stay of ‘squatters’. City Hotels hired about 200 workers. A miracle, the original furniture was saved from public sale. During two months two polishers processed all the furniture. After that the problem arose to return them in their original room. As most of the furniture was tailor made and only fitted to one specific room. Thanks to Jean Kirch, the electrician who worked 30 years of his career at the Hotel Palace, the 360 rooms where refurbished in its original state. Five months later, the 1st of April 1983, the Hotel Palace reopened its doors. The aim was to offer the client a reasonable comfort an affordable price. The intention was not to make a deluxe hotel of the Hotel Palace. On the contrary: in 1983 an advertisement said : « A great dream…….available for everybody». At that moment, the room rate was 2.300 FB (57 EUR) to 2.800 FB (69 EUR) in stead of 5.000 FB (124 EUR) to 7.000 FB (174 EUR) before the reopening. The hotel gets back the position of ‘Le Palace’ in Brussels! In December 2003 the hotel was taken over by the Swedish Pandox¹ ready to invest 18,5 million EUR. Two months later, in February 2004 a first announcement was made: the Crowne Plaza Brussels City Centre wants to take back the position of ‘Le Palace’ in Brussels. The hotel started the renovation works mid June 2004. In the summer of 2005 the first 110 guest rooms were fully refurbished. The architect, Karin Espinosa Morel, turned to the Art Nouveau lines and curls of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) for inspiration, echoing Le Palace’s (1908) original turn-of-the-century style. The first months of 2005 the Restaurant and Bar were taken in hand and re-opened on the 19th of May with an innovative and surprising concept. Spring 2005 - 208 of the 356 rooms are renovated in ‘Nouveau Style’. The last 148 rooms were renovated during the autumn period. Winter 2005-2006 extensive renovation works turned the traditional meeting rooms into a very modern conference & meeting complex with a totally new meeting concept and floor (+1) ‘Balanced Senses’ , a stimulation of the senses that makes you want to meet! In the winter of 2006-2007 the last works took place and transformed the old meeting rooms on each separate floor into very luxurious balanced senses suites offering scented rooms bathed in natural colors and soothing source. Also 10 Century rooms echo Le Palace’s original turn-of-the-century style; refurbished with the original tailor made furniture and accessories from bygone times…

The hotel is ideally situated just a short walk from the Grand Place and the main shopping area. Crowne Plaza Brussels Le Palace is located next to the botanical gardens and close to the Brussels Midi train station, terminal of the Eurostar train and Thalys train. You can easily reach the major business district, exhibition centres, World Trade Center and NATO headquarters and the EU district (European commission, European Union and European Parliament).

Standard Room: Especially designed for today’s travelers, our 278 standard rooms offer space and style. Furnished with high standards equipments and facilities such as: quality beds and with sweet dreams pillows, adjustable lighting, individual air-conditioning, cable TV, a personal safe, a private bar and two phone lines with data ports and WIFI internet connection free of charge, a comfortable bathroom with all the toiletries and linen you’ll need. Executive Room: Our 60 beautiful executive rooms offer a relaxing & unique view on the Botanical Gardens. Also furnished with high standards equipments and facilities like in the standard room, when staying in an executive room you are not only pampered inside your room but we even look after your stay in Brussels. Amenities:

• A welcome drink is served for you in the Deco Verre Bar
• Free wifi internet connection
• bathrobe and slippers for your comfort
• Free daily newspaper to keep you informed about the outside world
• Free 1 day metro pass to get around easily in the capital of Europe
• An early check-in and a late check-out to enjoy your room for the maximum length of stay

Century Room: In 2008 the hotel has celebrated its 100th anniversary and at this occasion had a closer look to the past. The Century Rooms echo Le Palace’s original turn-of- the-century style. In 2004, at the beginning of the hotel’s extensive renovation works, the new management discovered several pieces of the original tailor made furniture dispatched everywhere in the hotel. During a year polishers processed and restored them in an exceptional way. At this moment 10 rooms are refurbished in its original state, combined with a modern touch and the latest comforts. The management is continuously in search of accessories and decorations to make the Century Rooms ‘from bygone times’. Balanced Senses Suite: The Crowne Plaza Brussels – Le Palace has created 8 suites around the Meetings & Conferences concept: ‘Balanced Senses’. A stimulation of the senses that makes you want stay longer! Very spacious with a separated lounge area and bedroom. The Balanced Senses Suite offers to our guest a great comfort and the latest technology. Suite Amenities:

• A welcome drink in the private bar
• bathrobe and slippers for your comfort
• Free daily newspaper to keep you informed about the outside world
• Free 1 day metro pass to get around easily in the capital of Europe
• An early check-in and a late check-out to enjoy your room for the maximum length of stay
• Nespresso coffee making facilities
• Individual air-conditioning,
• Appealing bathroom with plenty of l’Occitane toiletries 
• Free internet

Presidential suite: A stay in the Presidential Suite will convince anyone that living a life of beauty is still entirely possible. A round shaped bath overlooking the botanic garden with plenty space for two people with an exclusive line of l’Occitane toiletries, a private sauna and fitness room, a large dressing room, separate living room with Nespresso coffee machine, Bose entertainment systems, natural colours and soothing scents and sounds and 2 separated entrances. Just a dream that comes true! Suite amenities:

• Quality beds, sweet dreams pillows,
• Art Deco inspired cupboards
• Individual air-conditioning,
• Appealing bathroom with plenty of toiletries
• cable TV
• bathrobe and slippers for your comfort
• Free water and wine bottles in private bar
• two phone lines with data ports
• WIFI internet connection (free of charge)
• 24 hour room service
• Free daily newspaper to keep you informed about the outside world
• Free 1 day metro pass to get around easily in the capital of Europe
• A free massage

Entirely refurbished in August 2009, the Nouveau Taste restaurant offers to our guests a real meal experience, in line with our philosophy enjoy, discover and taste. For breakfast, lunch and/or diner, for business or for Leisure, The Nouveau Taste opens you its doors. Our bar ‘Deco Verre’: Trendy comfortable lounge, where you will find a large choice of more than 35 different Belgian Beers including our own: ‘Deco verre’ beer! Because let’s not forget that we are in the capital of the beer country ‘par excellence’: Belgium.