Hotel Metropol Palace

From its opening in 1957, the Hotel Metropol spent almost half a century as the perfect representative of the capital. Prestigious, luxurious, elegant and stylish, the Metropol was the center of Belgrade social life, provided the setting for key events and played host to the most famous names from around the world and from the local political, economic and cultural elite. The announced opening of the renovated Hotel Metropol Palace, which utilizes a modern style to restore the luxury, grandeur and splendor of the atmosphere of the old Metropol, is undoubtedly a major happening for Belgrade.

The Hotel Metropol is among the city’s most important architectural monuments. Designed by famous Serbian architect Dragiša Brašovan, it was conceived and built as one of the most exclusive and elegant hotels of its era. Even Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito enjoyed New Year’s celebrations at the Metropol. In 1961 he and his wife hosted a Metropol reception for some 2,000 guests and leaders of the First Summit of the Non-aligned Movement. Neil Armstrong – the first man to set foot on the moon – was also a guest of the Metropol. The list of world immortals whose names have been entered into the hotel’s golden guest book is long: Kirk Douglas, Louis Armstrong, Igor Stravinsky, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Jack Nicholson, Gina Lollobrigida, Bobby Fischer and many more.

Refined combination of style & tradition

Led by the idea of restoring the Metropol’s splendour, architects were tasked with integrating and matching modern solutions to its historical heritage, with the result being a refined and simul- taneously relaxed atmosphere that was always the trademark of the Metropol. Responsibility for the interior of the Metropol Palace was entrusted to company MKV Design – one of the world’s most respected companies specialising in hotel interiors. Their projects to date have included, among others, the Regent Emirates Pearl Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the Atlas Tower in Dubai, the Royal Savoy Hotel in Lausanne and the Westin Navarino Dunes project in Greece. The rooms and suites of the new Metropol Palace are lavishly furnished and complemented with the latest in communication technologies. The gorgeous apartments, including the unique presi- dential and royal suites, offer wonderful views over Tašmajdan Park – one of the city’s most beautiful parks, providing guests with tranquility, luxury and unparalleled comfort.

The Metropol Palace is also designed as the city’s largest centre for conferences, meetings and events and can accommodate, depending on event needs, up to 1000 guests. In the restaurant offer guests will find, among other things, a rooftop bar and an a la carte restaurant serving a specific combination of Greek and Oriental food. The main Metropol Palace chef is Jovica Nešković, while the chef in charge of creating this unique culinary fusion is Christoforos Peskias. In addition to the restaurant and conference centre, the hotel will also include a modern spa and fitness centre with a swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and many other facilities dedicated to health, beauty and relaxation.

The realization of a spectacular project

The idea of this new hotel is to restore the old splendour and glory of the former Metropol and cap it off with all the modern conveniences needed by today’s business travellers, tourists and those seeking to experience belonging and living in a different reality for a “snippet of time”. The Metropol Palace Belgrade project is definitely one of the most advanced and most spectacular hotel projects in Southeast Europe. “We expect the preliminary opening in the summer of 2012, with the grand opening of the entire hotel in autumn. We hope to receive our first guests in July. Over the coming months we will organize a large number of different events, including an exhibition in Tašmajdan that will show the wonderful history of the Metropol from its first opening to this day. We want the renewed Metropol Palace to regain its rightful place on the map of Belgrade as soon as possible and become one of the most important locations in the city and a meeting place for all major events,” says Jelena Đaković, pr and marketing manager of the hotel, concluding the presentation of this great enterprise.

BelGuest