Luxury Collection reopens Hotel Alfonso XIII

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., unveils the iconic Hotel Alfonso XIII following an extensive $25 million restoration, returning the hotel its original splendour and luxurious grandeur. The reopening of Hotel Alfonso XIII marks the first of four Luxury Collection hotels that will undergo a multi-million dollar restoration and will re-open within the next 12 months, including Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection hotel, San Sebastian scheduled to debut in July 2012; Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection hotel, Paris and The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection hotel, Venice; both scheduled to open in early 2013. “As The Luxury Collection portfolio continues to grow globally, it is equally—if not more—important that we invest in and celebrate the heritage of the brand and it’s most iconic hotels in Europe,” says Paul James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. “Hotel Alfonso XIII has been a landmark in Seville since 1928, and we are delighted to reintroduce global explorers and the local community to the beauty of this spectacular destination with the exceptional service and style they have come to expect from The Luxury Collection.” Located on the historic Calle San Fernando in the heart of Seville, Hotel Alfonso XIII is considered to be one of the grandest hotels in Europe, originally designed by Sevillian architect Jose Espiau y Muñoz and eventually named after King Alfonso XIII. The extensive ten-month restoration project was led by Demopolis, a renowned local Sevillian architect, and features Arabic-inspired arches, soaring towers and renaissance-style windows. Designed by HBA Design, the interiors fuse history and opulence with original hand-painted Triana and Mensaque ceramic tiles, authentic wood carved furnishings and marble floors. The hotel will also introduce The Luxury Collection Concierge service to all guests and promises the most discerning global travellers an extraordinary experience. Starwood currently operates 17 hotels and resorts throughout Spain under seven of its nine distinct and iconic brands. In addition to Hotel Alfonso XIII, these hotels include the ground-breaking W Barcelona, the venerable Westin Palace in Madrid, the luxurious St. Regis Mardavall Resort in Majorca, the world-famous Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Elciego, Le Meridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa and the impressive Sheraton Golf Resorts in the Canaries and Majorca. Hotel Alfonso XIII features 151 luxuriously-appointed guest rooms and suites including three individually-designed signature suites. Reflecting Seville’s rich artistic heritage, all guest rooms feature one of three design concepts - Moorish, Castillian or Andalusian - offering a distinctive color palette, custom-designed furniture and lavish interiors to create a sophisticated sense of relaxed opulence. The hotel’s three signature hotel suites, the Reales Alcázares Suite, the Torreón Suite and the Royal Suite are at once inspired by Seville’s rich history and designed to cater to a new generation of affluent travellers. The Reales Alcázares Suite features warm, dark interiors and offers spectacular views over the Real Alcázar’s picturesque gardens and fountains. The sprawling Torreón Suite features a private terrace which extends out into the corner tower of the hotel offering one of the most magnificent views of Seville. Finally, the lavish 200 square-metre Royal Suite is exquisitely decorated with hand-selected antique pieces including the spectacular ‘Bargueño’, a Spanish Renaissance cabinet inlayed with mother-of-pearl which was gifted to the hotel by The Aga Khan. Dining at Hotel Alfonso XIII offers indigenous and distinctive culinary options that indulge the senses. Bodega Alfonso is a modern, opulent Spanish restaurant with a spacious terrace, serving traditional tapas dishes and wines from the region. Taifas is the hotel’s poolside restaurant and bar with Moorish-inspired interiors, offering exquisite Mediterranean-style cuisine and cocktails, while San Fernando offers the perfect setting any time of day and the finest in Andalusian cuisine. The redesigned, Art Deco-inspired American Bar is a local favourite and the perfect venue for intimate gatherings. Hotel Alfonso XIII features extensive state-of-the-art meeting and event space including the newly renovated Salón Real Ballroom, which hosts up to 500 people and opens out to a spacious terrace offering spectacular views over the hotel’s extensive gardens. The renovation of the Salón Real Ballroom included the handcrafted restoration of the ceiling, the installation of Bohemian inspired crystal and bronze chandeliers, and a new wrought iron door inspired by Andalusian Cathedrals.