100 YEARS OF BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES
Discover the traditions, values and unique moments at Athénée Palace Bucharest.
Timeline
- 100 YEARS OF BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES -
One hundred years of tradition. One hundred years of excellence. Each year of the past century bears the memory of countless unique and impactful events that have left their mark on Athénée Palace – a hotel brought to life by its very guests. Take a look at some of the most important moments for Athénée Palace.
BUILDING BEGINS
On the land that in the 19th century belonged to the Gherasi Inn, 1912 sees the construction of a hotel inspired by French architect Téophile Bradeau. This was the first major landmark in Bucharest made with armored concrete. 1914 marks the hotel's inauguration, a year that changed everything that was to come for Athénée Palace.
ROMANIA JOINS WORLD WAR ONE
1914 is a year to remember – World War One erupts. The war had a devastating impact upon most of the European countries, whether directly or indirectly involved. Romania was part to the events, which was felt extensively by the people of Bucharest, as well as the tourists visiting Athénée Palace at the time.
A CHANGE IN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
In 1937, the hotel undergoes a major yet necessary change, as its style at the time was considered unfitting with the general architectural trend. Duiliu Marcu, the architect leading the refurbishment works, opted for a simplified art deco style, but without overlooking the remarkable charm of the establishment.
ATHÉNÉE PALACE – THE BOMBINGS
In April 1944, Bucharest was bombed by the American troops. The main target: Bucharest North Railway Station. Following the bombings, part of Athénée Palace caught fire, while all windows were shattered in the explosion. Despite all this, the building underwent considerable refurbishment after the war, thus regaining its pre-war glory.
NEW WING IN VICTORIA AVENUE BREAKS GROUND
Throughout the years, Athénée Palace has become Bucharest's prime location for a great number of guests. That is why the new wing of the hotel was erected in 1965. The new annex could now cater for the rapidly increasing footfall.
ATHÉNÉE PALACE WITHSTANDS EARTHQUAKE
1,570 people were victims of the earthquake on 4th March 1977, which registered 7.2 on the Richter scale. 1,391 of the victims were reported in Bucharest. Athénée Palace withstands the earthquake, despite the fact that many of the surrounding buildings are severely damaged. Several years later, in 1983, the hotel’s interior undergoes another refurbishment.
ATHÉNÉE PALACE SUFFERS DAMAGE DURING THE REVOLUTION
The national revolution in 1989 is yet another event with great significance for Romania. Athénée Palace was caught in the midst of the social movement leading to a shift in the political regime and to considerable damage to the building. Following the 1989 events, the building showed visible destruction from the shootings, which led to it being refurbished in 1993.
5 STARS WORLDWIDE BRAND OPERATES THE ATHÉNÉE PALACE
Year 1996 – Athénée Palace enters a new era of outstanding achievements under a five star Worldwide hotel Brand. Gheorghe Copos, President and Managing Director at Ana Holding, says: 'We are proud to partner up with one of the world's leading hotel brands and to build the ideal place for tourists, developers, partners, colleagues, as well as locals.’
ANA HOTELS ACQUIRES ATHÉNÉE PALACE
2005 is the year when Ana Hotels buys Athénée Palace, a building that has been at the heart of the city for 91 years, offering guests plenty of joyful memories. A new stage thus begins for Athénée Palace – one marked by hospitality excellence in a trademark ambiance packed with history and tradition.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
This year, Athénée Palace reaches an important milestone: 100 years of activity and the beginning of another century of outstanding service quality. 100 years of happy memories. This is the perfect opportunity for us to show our utmost passion for excellence alongside those who made it all possible.
New wing's hotel renovation
The first phase of renovation process of 132 rooms in the "New Wing", was completed.
The new look of the renovated rooms of Athénée Palace Bucharest is based on a modern design concept, elegant, but complementary to the hotel’s over 107-year-old history. The facilities are updated with the latest technologies and innovations, so that guests can enjoy a unique stay in a prestigious location.
The interior design is layed out using a neutral color palette, with green accents using natural materials, while for the artwork on display we collaborated with a local artist. The flooring is made of brushed and beveled oak, the walls are decorated with three types of ornamental profiles made of beech wood, and the bathroom is completely covered with natural marble by Botticino and Grigio Imperiale in warm colors, beige tones, and grays contrasting with black for an accent wall. In order to highlight the design of the room, special attention was also paid to the lighting fixtures, specially designed and made in Austria. The rooms will benefit from intelligent access and control systems, and their microclimate is achieved through an integrated BMS system.
The development of all modernization works is based on the initial investment of the owner group Ana Hotels and were carried out under the motto of owner Mr. G. Copos, "I am Romanian and I invest in Romania", involving all its attention and guidance in the planning and execution phase.
