FINE Wine & Champagne India - Winter 2018

Corinthia Hotel Budapest were re-opened
yet again, this time to the new generation
traveller.
The hotel captures the spirit of the
historic city that straddles the River Danube
and where World Heritage sites and classical
architecture, dating back to the Habsburg
Empire, are the backdrop to a very modern
city with beautiful parks, designer shops, a
vibrant art scene, fine restaurants, pulsating
nightlife and thermal spas. And even though
it is not on the famed Danube waterfront, the
Corinthia is one of the grandest hotels in the
heart of the Hungarian capital.
We were appointed to meet Tibor Meskál
for a “Behind the Scenes” tour of the property.
Tibor, who joined the hotel as a young
apprentice in June 1961, remains the oldest
serving employee and is a treasure chest of
stories and insights – he knows the hotel like
nobody else. “This hotel has had lives of a cat!
I have spent a total of 21 years in these walls.
It has been fascinating, interesting, exciting
and stimulating. I am the only one who has
seen the two re-openings – I am not aiming
for the third!”
Tibor explained how a historic building
has been painstakingly restored to roll out a
modern hotel with 21st century luxury. The
building was redesigned and built to fit into
the original frame that had survived the wars.
The French Renaissance style façade with its
statues of the four seasons (guardian spirits)
from the 19th century, that binds together
the three parts of the building, was left intact
as was the six-storey glass panelled atrium.
Chairman Pisani directed that the central
staircase be blended into the lobby.
A commemorative plaque of the Grand
Hotel Royal is hung on an original wall in
the arrival area to remind everyone of the
property’s glorious heritage. The flowing “R”
logo from the time has been retained and is
found scattered all over the hotel, including
on the coffee!
The property has 414 keys with an
additional block of 26 permanent tenancy
apartments with independent access but also
FINE Lifestyle
FINE WINE & CHAMPAGNE INDIA
71