Paul Revel NH COLLECTION MADRID EUROBUILDING
THE 40-YEAR-OLD PROPERTY completed a major refurbishment in October 2014, showcasing a host of hi-tech meetings offerings, haute cuisine and spectacular 4,000sqm fitness and spa complex. The brand’s first executive club concept, called VIP Level, was launched here in May this year. In the Chamartin financial district, the hotel is a 15-20 minute drive from Madrid-Barajas airport.
THE ROOMS: Eight categories start at 34sqm, and are equipped with Nespresso machines, free wifi and flatscreen TVs. Of the 412 guestrooms, 64 premium rooms and suites are classified as VIP Level – benefits include early check-in (noon) and late check-out (3pm), and VIP lounge with free drinks and snacks. My premium corner room was spacious, with three terraces and extensive city views. RESTAURANTS AND BARS: Cuisine is a key feature of this hotel, which boasts Madrid’s
only three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Diverxo. Domo is the hotel’s main restaurant, where two-Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero is consultant. The breakfast buffet includes freshly blitzed wheatgrass shots and ostrich-egg tortillas, while VIP Level guests have a private breakfast room with an à la carte menu. Domo’s bar terrace is a great spot for supping cocktails. BUSINESS FACILITIES: NH regards technology as a key selling point for meetings. The
Padre Damián, 23. 28036, Madrid, Spain • Tel: +34 91 3537300 •
nh-collection.com
hotel lobby’s vaulted LED ceiling is an eye-catching way to brand corporate events. A flagship product is the 3D hologram technology (see Interview, p28) for live virtual interractions. The convention centre has 27 meeting spaces, the largest with 1,000-delegate capacity. ‘Smart’ rooms offer telepresence facilities with Microsoft Lync Online technology. LEISURE FACILITIES: The 4,000sqm Metropolitan health club and spa complex includes a studio for classes, and different zones for freeweights,
personal training sessions, Technogym machines and spincycle sessions. Entry to the gym is free to all hotel guests, but only VIP Level guests get free access to the spa complex. VERDICT: An unprepossessing 1970s block on the outside, yet inside the hotel finds an enjoyable, glamorous environment with plenty to please the business traveller or event delegate, from memorable drinking and dining, to innovative technology, to the largest gym I’ve ever seen in a hotel.
Paul Revel FLYING BUTLER SERVICED APARTMENTS
6 The Grove, Ealing London W5 5LH • Tel: +44 370 77 00 778 •
flying-butler-serviced-apartments.com
THE FLYING BUTLER BRAND IS PART OF DEEP BLUE APARTMENTS, and a member of the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP). It operates more than 100 apartments, mainly in central and west London, including Hammersmith and Chelsea, as well as Reading. The Ealing property is a ten-minute walk from Ealing Broadway rail and underground stations, and there are nearby restaurants, shops and a supermarket.
THE APARTMENT: The Ealing property has one-, two- and three-bedroom units, all with a courtyard or balcony. My two-bedroom apartment was large and well-appointed, with polished wood floors and smart contemporary décor, artwork and furnishings, dining table and flatscreen TVs in the lounge and bedrooms. The two bathrooms (one ensuite) had the feel of an upscale hotel, with decent towels and Arran Aromatics products. FACILITIES: Equipment is pretty comprehensive. The American-style open kitchen features dishwasher, oven, hob and microwave, washer/dryer, and decent cooking pots and utensils,
82 BBT JULY/AUGUST 2015
crockery, cutlery and glassware. There is free wifi, and a complimentary meet-and- greet service at the property, although regular guests can choose the secure self-service check-in system with keycode entry. A complimentary welcome pack includes essentials such as tea, coffee, milk, sugar, dishwasher and laundry tablets, washing-up liquid and bin liners. A vacuum cleaner, and iron and board are provided, and the housekeeping service is weekly. Flying Butler staff are available by phone 24/7. EXTRAS: Additional, chargeable services include a choice of food hampers, or guests can opt to email a shopping list for a bespoke order to be put in the
property prior to arrival. Other options include airport transfers and dry-cleaning, laundry and ironing services, and a 24-hour concierge service for arranging bookings at theatres, restaurants and events. VERDICT: I only had a short stay, but I do feel this would make a good residence for a longer working stay in the area, as the size of the apartments, the décor, and the standard and levels of amenities, would make this a pleasant living environment when working away from home. Good transport links are also a plus-point: Heathrow is a 25-minute rail journey using the Heathrow Connect service.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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