One hundred years ago, the Austro-Hungarian Empire ended its illustrious history, and Budapest became the capital of the new Hungarian state.
During the ensuing four decades, the city on the Danube witnessed the turbulent history of the nation and has suffered much destruction. Yet, the city has rebuilt itself and preserved its magnificence, which is a testament to the determination and perseverance of the Hungarian nation. And it is probably not a coincidence that Budapest is home to some of the most remarkable hotels, many of which were converted from historic palaces: Klotild Palace houses a Buddha Bar Hotel and its twin, the Matild Palace, is undergoing conversion to a Luxury Collection property. The Corinthia-branded Grand Hotel Royal was one of the largest hotels in the Dual Monarchy when it opened in the late 19th century, and there is the New York Palace with its much-celebrated coffee house (“New York, te kávéház, ahol oly sokat ültem, hadd nyissam ki az ajtód….”). Further on, the famous Drechsler Palace, otherwise known as the Ballet Institute Building, opposite the Opera House, is to become W Budapest, and there is the graceful Four Seasons at the Gresham Palace, probably one of the most photogenic buildings in town.
Those historic properties have one thing in common: They have their unique stories to tell, and it is exactly those stories which appeal to many travelers who seek authenticity in this brand-saturated world. We at Hyatt are extremely fortunate to be going back to Budapest with two story-worthy hotels – Párisi Udvár Hotel on Ferenciek Square and Hyatt Regency at the Postapalota on Városház street. They represent very impressive pieces of architecture and craftsmanship, but more importantly, they have been local landmarks where people lived, worked, had fights, cried, fell in love, shared moments of happiness and sadness – they are the holders of so many memories and stories. And we cannot wait to have guests stay at those hotels, let them discover the stories of the location and, possibly, find their own, new ones.
