Digitally designed Antwerp hotel to open in summer 2021
by Lauren Jade Hill | 31 May 2021 | Hotel Projects, Projects
Norwegian chain Citybox plans to launch a 180-key hotel scheme in Antwerp, which is being developed with help from online tools due to Covid-related travel restrictions, in late summer.
Citybox Antwerp is set to debut soon after its development team managed to successfully navigate the challenges of doing business during a pandemic.
Scandinavian design and simple modern solutions
In collaboration with contracting party IRET Development, Citybox is forging ahead with its European expansion strategy by creating this new property in the centre of Antwerp via the Teams platform. The 180-key hotel, boasting modern hotel rooms with Scandinavian design and self-service check-in, is on track to open in Molenbergstraat 2 at the end of the summer.
Overall, Citybox aims to integrate simple and modern solutions. A reception has been replaced with check-in terminals, and minibars have been replaced with an introduction to what bars the local area has to offer, based on the idea that ‘the city is filled with bars; why would you need one in your room?’
“For a long time, we have wanted to establish a hotel in Benelux, and we are beyond excited to both sign and open this hotel in record time,” said Martin Smith-Sivertsen, head chairman at Citybox. “We strongly believe that Antwerp’s tourism industry will make a quick recovery now that the pandemic moves to an end.”
Carl-Philip de Villegas, CEO of IRET Development, added: “We are very happy with Citybox as a long-term tenant and trusted operator. We are convinced of their added value to the hospitality offer in Antwerp and wish them good luck once travel bounces back and brings tourists and businessmen/women back to Antwerp.”
An innovative design process
The hotel agreement was only signed in February 2021, with its planned opening date of this summer giving Citybox just five months to design the property.
Eivind Hjulstad, CEO of Citybox, said: “When IRET presented the project, we knew that both the location and the size of the building were perfect for Citybox. If the times were normal, we would travel down to see the building and to discuss the possibilities within the projects. We knew that we probably wouldn’t see the hotel physically until close to the opening, but we all agreed that we had to make it work.
“The solution was Teams and video calls. We have weekly Teams meetings with everyone involved plus additional meetings for different disciplines. We’ve also had numerous video viewings of the property where the project managers from Iret have worked as our eyes and ears.”
Remarkably, many of the parties involved in realising the Citybox Antwerp scheme have been unable to meet in person to discuss the project.
“Despite the circumstances, it has been a good and thorough process,” Hjulstad added. “IRET is a professional partner that we have great confidence in. Without a developer with their level of experience, we wouldn’t have entered into this agreement. We’ve joked about the project going down in history books based on both the short period from signing to opening and how unique the process has been.
“It’s been a crazy couple of months. Just imagine decorating a lobby and 180 rooms without the possibility of seeing the property. It’s almost like decorating your own home, just relying on the floor plans before you even get access to the house. In only months, we’ve negotiated a deal, planned and built a hotel – without even physically meeting each other or seeing the property.
“I’m sure that we will look back at this in a couple of years and think that it was completely insane. We often say that we like to do things differently at Citybox; this project proves it.”
Citybox currently operates four hotels in Bergen (two), Oslo and Tallinn. It has also signed deals to open a further five properties in the coming years.
Related Articles
Over 300 luxury keys earmarked for Bahrain
Dec 5, 2023
The groundbreaking of the Bahrain Marina development in the country’s capital, Manama, represents a milestone in an initiative to strengthen the Middle Eastern nation’s real estate sector. Deluxe development Spearheaded by Bahrain Marina Development Company, the...
Onyx gets second Laos site back on track
Dec 5, 2023
Originally announced in 2018, Amari Vientiane was put on hold during the pandemic period, but is now moving forward, with opening scheduled for Q3 2024. Developer swap The newbuild project has switched developers, having begun with Asia Investment, Development &...
Project of the Week: Mayaliah Tulum Hotel & Residences – MGallery
Dec 4, 2023
Mayaliah Tulum Hotel & Residences - MGallery will house 45 bespoke hotel guest rooms and 95 branded private residences among tropical greenery, with the complex celebrating the millennia-old rhythm of local life. Tulum debut The distinctive boutique property is...
InterContinental inks Malaysian eco-resort
Dec 4, 2023
Under the flagship InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand, the 450-room newbuild beachfront resort will be located in Kota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah state. Full facilities Marking a new milestone in the growth of IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio in Malaysia,...
Hilton takes flagship brand to Lille
Dec 1, 2023
Occupying a prime location in the city centre, the 124-guest-room Hilton Lille will continue to welcome guests and trade as a Hilton affiliated hotel before fully rebranding under Hilton Hotels & Resorts in 2024, following a multimillion-euro renovation. Dual...
Just added in November: three significant projects to watch
Dec 1, 2023
Within these, we profile three stand out developments, spanning from a new towering Vietnamese landmark to a one-of-a-kind shipping container hotel in a Californian national park. L'avenir Quy Nhon L'avenir Quy Nhon is a towering ‘condotel’ taking shape on...
Newsletter
Subscribe to receive hotel industry news you can use!