When the hotel opened in 1881 the first guest of honour was HRH Prince Frederik, the second son of King Willem I who officially inaugurated the hotel. The interest in the hotel was immense and in the first week 2,000 people had crossed the threshold to experience the splendour of the Des Indes. The majestic building at the Lange Voorhout in the centre of the city is now about to commence the next chapter in its long history.

Le Méridien Hotel Des Indes, will offer guests a choice of 92 rooms, including 13 suites. The bedroom design is an eclectic mix of modern and antique using red glass wall hangings and patterned glass. To add interest to the corridors there are bold murals of coloured tulips.

All of the bedrooms have luxurious bathrooms, many with two white marble basins, sunk into red Portuguese custom-made tiles. Beautiful black marble floors provide a dramatic contrast to the white baths and the best rain showers.

The grand atrium, restored to its former glory, is a marvellous "sitting and watching" area with an enormous modern glass chandelier as the centrepiece. Refurbished meeting rooms are available for business meetings or parties from six to 100 guests.

A new addition to the hotel is a Health Club, with its excellent gym facilities, a luxurious indoor, heated marble swimming pool, steam bath, solarium and a variety of spa treatments.

The internationally renowned interior designer, Jacques Garcia, responsible for the design of the Hotel Costes in Paris, was commissioned to mastermind the renovation and the interior design concepts for the hotel. Known for his talent for drawing inspiration from Zen minimalism, neo-Gothic excess, Egyptian revival and Napoleon III extravagance, he has used these influences throughout the hotel to create an atmosphere of grandeur combined with a fetching modern twist.