Kempinski is opening the first five-star hotel in Bruges on 5 February in a refurbished palace built in 1429 to celebrate the marriage of Duke Philip III to Isabelle of Portugal.
The 93-room Dukes” Palace hotel is in the historic old town, designated a World Heritage City by UNESCO. Smaller than the original palace, which hosted royalty from across Europe, the property nevertheless still contains many of its features and fittings, including one of the ballrooms ” which can be used for business-related functions - and a chapel with stained glass windows and frescoes.
Old paintings and ornaments decorate the rooms ” which include 22 palatial, junior and historic suites ” but all offer handy concessions to modernity in the form of flat screen TVs and high-speed internet.
There are two meeting rooms of 38sq m (410sq ft), a boardroom, business centre, and a dedicated meetings concierge to help ensure conference days run smoothly.
”We are very much looking forward to welcoming guests in the New Year and are extremely proud of what promises to be an exciting addition to the charming city of Bruges,” said Kempinski general manager, Philippe DeMeyer.