BACKGROUND
Marriott International's flagship hotel in Berlin opened in 2004. The property had a €17 million renovation in 2013, followed by a €9 million renovation of its 378 guest rooms, suites (apart from the Capitol Suite) and hallways in 2020. This included various tech-savvy additions such as USB combination sockets, fast charging stations, and new smart TVs with 55-inch displays. Guests can also use their phones to open the room door, order room service and chat with the team.
WHERE IS IT?
Centrally located in downtown Berlin, on a quiet square off the busier Potsdamer Platz. The ten-floor hotel is just down the road from Tiergarten Park and a 15-minute walk to Brandenburg Gate.
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
The hotel feels fresh thanks to timeless decor and its recent renovation. Geometric-style interiors nod to the German Bauhaus movement, with clean, angular lines softened by vases of blooming flowers.
The expansive rectangular lobby at the heart of the building occupies most of the ground floor, with soaring ceilings revealing the hotel's nine floors above. The buzzy space was populated day to night with businesspeople, but it never felt noisy or chaotic despite it being full.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The rail thing - Why airlines and train companies are partnering to increase options for travellers on short journeys
An intercity flight connection operated by train would have been almost unthinkable in the early 1990s, but in 2024 it will increasingly be the default experience at many European hub airports. European nations have been among the world's leaders in adopting high-speed rail for short-distance trips, along with Asian countries such as Japan and China.
Adventures in Albania - From paranoid dictatorship to dream travel destination, why the Balkan nation is ready for its moment in the sun
Over the past few years, tourism has shot up stratospherically; recent figures from the European Travel Commission show it's grown 86 per cent since 2019. Its GDP per capita has also been increasing, and last year stood at US$8,800, while the average monthly salary is now around 84,000 lek (£704). Foreign direct investment is also on the rise, with countries including Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands targeting sectors such as energy, mining, information and real estate to a value of around US$1.5 billion in 2022, according to UNCTAD's World Investment Report. Not bad for a country which used to depend on foreign food aid.
Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane, London
Watching Kanesaka work his magic is performance in itself
Scandic Spectrum, Copenhagen
An impressive corporate hotel just minutes from Copenhagen's centre
Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester
The perfect mix of gorgeous heritage design with cool, cosmopolitan attitude
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
A stunning success another calming experience in the capital
Eurostar Business Premier LONDON-PARIS
It remains the superior service for those travelling from London to Paris
Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER first class DOHA-HONG KONG
There is a lot to like, but my experience was far from perfect
4 HOURS IN...Vienna
You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to the Austrian capital's museums, galleries and historic cafes
SWITCHING OFF IN...THE LOIRE VALLEY
Escape to the secluded forests of the Loire Valley for a digital detox