Madrid, Spain

THE RESORT

The illustrious past of the Hotel dates back to the middle of the 19th century when one of the most charismatic bankers of the age bought a house located on what is now the Paseo de la Castellana to build his own elegant mansion.  A century later the property changed hands and the insurance company, La Unión y el Fénix, decided the plot would be an ideal location for building a luxury hotel, neo-classical in style on the outside and with exquisite palatial decor on the inside.  Madrid witnessed the birth of a hotel crowned by a mythical and immortal phoenix, a hotel which would soon become a reference point for meetings of the highest level in the Spanish capital.

In 1953, whilst "Roman Holiday" was on release at the movies, the leading man Gregory Peck attended the opening of the hotel, and it was visited that same year by the film stars Gloria Swanson and Rita Hayworth.  As other celebrities such as Cary Gant and Charles Bronson started to visit, the hotel  soon became known as the "hotel of nobility".  And, on July 2, 1965, during a visit for their only concert in the capital, the Beatles stayed here and gave their crowded press conference at the hotel.

Its incredible location and grand category led the hotel chain to invest in a thorough renovation of the entire interior structure and design, conserving its most characteristic elements, such as the central table of the "Cuatro Estaciones" Piano Bar made from onyx and the chandelier in the central dome.  Today, the hotel hosts events as important and diverse as the NATO summit of world leaders, and visits by international stars like Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz ad David Beckham.

Superior service is the distinguishing feature of this hotel and is reflected in every aspect of customer care. Perfect proof of this exclusive and distinctive service is the butler service, secretarial services, public relations services and Luxury Service.  The Hotel has also given a great deal of thought to the leisure time of its guests and has reached an agreement with the Sensay specialist beauty and wellness centre.  Sensay's expert staff will visit the hotel to give massages, anti-stress treatments and personal training sessions including pilates. The hotel also has special agreements with golf courses in Madrid, and added sport facilities such as tennis and paddle courts, swimming pools and other open air sports. 

THE SURROUNDINGS

To complement the hotel activities, guests can also find a wide range of cultural activities just a short walk from the hotel: the three museums of the capital's "Paseo del Arte" (the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen), the National Library and the Archaeological museum are some of the most important attractions near to the hotel. The hotel is also set amongst some of the most important shopping streets in the capital such as Serrano, Goya, Alcalá and Velázquez, allowing visitors to combine a day's work with free time to enjoy the leisure options or a spot of shopping.

MUST SEE:  Royal Palace of Madrid; Padro Museum; Cibeles Fountain; Almudena Cathedral; Castle of Manzanares el Real.

~Madrid Photo Gallery~