The Grand Hotel Bucharest, formerly and historically known as Intercontinental Hotel Bucharest is a five-star hotel built in the communist era and became a landmark of the city’s modern architecture and history. Let’s find out the story of Grand Hotel Bucharest!
It was the first hotel of Intercontinental company in Romania and the second one in a communist country, after the Esplanade in Zagreb. It was also the scene of many spy stories, political events, cultural moments, and a popular filming location. The hotel offers panoramic city views of the center of Bucharest.
History and Construction of the Grand Hotel Bucharest
The idea of building a luxury hotel in Bucharest came from Cyrus Eaton Jr., a representative of the Cyrus Eaton Corporation, who visited the city in the 1960s and could not find decent accommodation.
He proposed to the Romanian government a partnership with the Intercontinental Hotel Corporation, a Pan American World Airways subsidiary, to construct a hotel in the city’s heart. The project was approved, and the construction began in 1968 on a former inn and a circus site.
The hotel was designed by four Romanian architects: Dinu Hariton, Gheorghe Nădrag, Ion Moscu, and Romeo Belea. They gave the hotel a curved façade and a high-rise feature, making it stand out among the other buildings.
The hotel was completed in three years and opened on 23 May 1971 as the Inter-Continental Bucharest. It was the first hotel in Bucharest to use reinforced concrete construction and to have a health club, a swimming pool, and an imperial suite. It cost over six million dollars to build, and at present, it has 257 rooms and suites.
Importance and Legacy of the Intercontinental Hotel in Bucharest
The Intercontinental Hotel Bucharest was a symbol of luxury and modernity but also a witness to the city’s turbulent history and culture. It was the preferred choice of foreign journalists, diplomats, businessmen, and celebrities who visited Bucharest, as well as the local elite and communist officials.
The hotel was also the scene of several political and social events, such as the protests and the revolution of 1989, the mineriads of 1990 and 1991, and the NATO summit 2008. The hotel also hosted many cultural and artistic events and was also the filming location of several movies, such as Nea Marin Miliardar, a famous Romanian comedy.
Facts and Trivia about Grand Hotel Bucharest (formerly Intercontinental Hotel)
The hotel was originally supposed to be built in another location, such as Kiseleff Park or Unirii Square. Still, the final decision was to place it near the University Square, facing the National Theatre and the main boulevard.
The hotel was the second tallest building in Bucharest for a long time, after the House of the Free Press, until the Palace of Parliament was built in 1989. It is still the tallest hotel in the city, with a height of 88 meters and 22 floors.
The hotel does not have a 13th floor, as it is considered unlucky. The numbering of the floors skips from 12 to 14.
The hotel’s Imperial Suite, located on the 19th floor, is the only one in Bucharest with a sauna and a piano. It was also the setting of the movie Nea Marin Miliardar, starring Amza Pellea. From the balcony of the Imperial Suite, you can see the University of Bucharest, the Șuțu Palace, and a complete view of the city center. The bathroom is equipped with a Jacuzzi bathtub, a hydro-massage shower, and its own sauna.
The hotel’s interior design and art reflect Romanian traditions and international styles, blending luxury with cultural heritage.
The semicircular wall in the Round Room, dedicated to conferences, is painted with a frieze called Dansul or Frieze in Romanian style, which brings with a traditional horă. It is often mistakenly said to have been decorated by the painter Sabin Bălașa and is part of the National Art Heritage. The hotel has a restaurant-Modigliani, a brasserie-Corso, a lounge bar, and a swimming pool on the 22nd floor, the highest swimming pool in Bucharest. This pool also acts as a counterbalance in case of an earthquake.
In over 50 years, international music stars, explorers, athletes and princesses have slept in the rooms of the Inter. The InterContinental’s guest book includes Bill Gates, Giovanni Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, Gheorghe Zamfir, Sabrina, Shimon Perez, Jacques Cousteau, Boy George, Jennifer Rush, LaToya Jackson, the Kesler sisters, Lenny Kravitz, Anatoli Karpov and Bill Gates.
A historic moment for this hotel, which was its silent witness, was the 1989 Revolution. At Inter, as the revolutionaries used to say, was one of the hot spots of the events of that time. The reason is quite simple and intuitive: many foreign journalists who came to Romania to see what would happen to the Ceaușescu regime were staying here. Many street events were filmed and transmitted to the West from the windows.
The hotel has undergone several renovations to maintain its high standards. The rebranding from Intercontinental to Grand Hotel Bucharest in 2022 marked a new era in its history, reflecting both changes in ownership and a commitment to modernizing its services and facilities.
