New Five-Star Hotel and Convention Centre to open in Barcelona

Hesperia Tower, a new five-star hotel and convention centre in Barcelona is on target to open on 16 January 2006. With its 105m high tower and unique rooftop glass dome restaurant, it will be one of the tallest and most iconic buildings in the city. Ideally located within Barcelona’s new financial district, it is strategically positioned only six minutes from the airport and within similarly easy reach of the city centre. Perfect for the MICE market, the hotel will offer introductory rates for meetings and incentive organisers and agents.

Hesperia Tower will offer 280 luxurious rooms and suites, with categories increasing through the tower’s 27 floors. Categories include deluxe and superior rooms, business suites with spacious salons and separate bedrooms, duplex suites, which each incorporate a Jacuzzi positioned to overlook the spectacular 26th and 27th floor views, and the Presidential suite at the height of the Tower. The Tower Club rooms on floors 20 to 23 offer additional amenities and services, as well as access to the Tower Club Lounge. All rooms offer floor to ceiling glass windows to maximise the views from every level and also include all conventional plasma screens and Wi-Fi technology.

The property is the result of approximately £35 million worth of investment and has been designed in part by British architects, The Richard Rogers Partnership, whose list of previous credits includes the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Millennium Dome in London.

The rooms have been tastefully decorated with rich fabrics and deep colours, such as aubergine and burgundy, with cream carpets throughout. Well-balanced lighting allows for the room to be arranged either for work or to relax. The curtains can be opened and closed with a switch beside the bed. An ergonomic and paper-free desk gives freedom for the guest to arrange his or her workspace as wished. A spacious bathroom with a wall-to-wall steam-free mirror, offers Bvlgari amenities and heavy bathrobes in two different sizes. Three different Internet access options are available: The regular modem socket on the phone, an infrared-wireless keyboard that connects to the TV-set, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Hesperia Tower Hotel and Convention Centre will offer 5000m2 of meeting space in multiple halls. There are 12 salons for small meetings, conventions, congresses up to 1600 people or banquets for up to 1300 diners in a large ballroom of 1.614 m2. In addition the Convention Centre is one of the few Auditoriums in Barcelona equipped with the most advanced technology and a capacity for 500 people. The Convention & Conference Centre offers versatile space; the 5000m2 can be adapted to any activity, be it leisure, cultural, business or informal. Due to its proximity to the airport, the hotel will offer special rates for small one-day meetings and other products and services created with airport accessibility in mind.

The Hesperia Tower will offer smart casual dining in its second floor Bouquet restaurant, complete with a suspended bar above it. The restaurant will offer an innovative variety of Mediterranean dishes prepared with wine, thereby focussing on one of the oldest of ingredients ever used in southern Europe. The wine selection includes approximately 100 different bottles from Spain, Europe, North and South America, Australia and South Africa. The Bouquet sommelier will present a weekly changing selection of wines served by glass, also available as a set of three small glasses as a wine tasting. The new hotel’s most dominant feature will be the glass dome restaurant at the top of the Tower. Due to open in April, it will house the panoramic ‘Evo’ restaurant, which will be headed by Michelin starred chef Santi Santamaria. Completing the repertoire of dining options, Axis Bar & café in the foyer level is suitable for informal meetings, coffee and snacks.

Guests staying at the hotel will also have access to the Metropolitan health club and spa. Located right next door to the Hesperia Tower, this is one of the latest generation health clubs, combining design and the latest technology to be completely dedicated to all-round health and beauty. A huge centre covering 4000m2, the facilities include different sports areas providing everything from cycling to fitness, spa, pools or pilates.

Rates start from 175€ (approx. £120) per room per night at the weekend and increase to 1.800€ (approx. £1,235) per night for the Presidential Suite.

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