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The presence of a number of suites and their treatment is especially interesting in this context. The ‘presidential suite’ already used by pop stars coming to perform in Bucharest. It has been well designed in the same sharp stylish format of the reception area. The smaller suites are however less well planned. Fitting into the space of two bedrooms the standard suite seems almost under-designed, with plenty of space but with furniture all lined up around the edge of it.
Generally the rooms are well thought out and comfortable, and will suprise those who think of Novotel as a superior three star, as the space and design raise this new model well up the pecking order in the four star branding chain.
This hotel also has a small well planned spa and fitness centre, including two treatment rooms and an exercise pool.
Whilst large elments of this hotel are interchangable with others such as Greenwich, almost as an 'identikit' image of it, that in now way lessens the quality of the underlying design work. Accor are adapting the US patterns where the same designs are rolled out all over the continent - often without a designer being in the loop. Here the evidence is that a designer has been involved as the end results are visually strong - I hope it wasn't the mythical chairman's wife, although that has worked sometimes elsewhere!
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"well designed in the same sharp stylish format of the reception area"
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Having said that, Accor, along with Rezidor SAS, currently building around the corner, have been in the vanguard of developing hotels in the new capitals in Europe (see our Review of the Rezidor investment Carlton in Bratislava as an example)and here in Bucharest they are again showing the way to others (although the Intercontinental is here, it came years before the collapse of the 'ancien régime').
This boldness and the current design strength of the brand are serving them well, but the whole effect rested a little uneasily to me, a little like an alien spaceship arriving, and whilst the local staff are proud the hotel still stands apart. Despite this this is a four star that whilst having a slightly spartan quality to its hard edge contemporary design, sets standards in its planning and in areas such as the bathrooms, that the other chains would do well to take note of.
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Looking through reception to the street from the lift doors, one can almost see the hotel building across the road (click on the image to see it)
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Novotel Bucharest
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