Three of Accor’s Sofitel luxury hotels in Europe are in line for refurbishment works, as the brand prepares to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary. Properties in Rome and Lisbon will be upgraded, while the hotel in Budapest will be rebranded to join another lifestyle brand within the group’s portfolio.
Two landmark properties, Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese and Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade, have changed hands with French investment group Extendam acquiring the hotels from seller AccorInvest. The new owners have revealed plans to enhance both assets, which will remain under the Sofitel brand into the future.
Polishing a gem in Rome
In Rome, the 78 room Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese already delivers the wow factor for guests. Created in a former 19th century palazzo, it boasts a central location between Villa Medici, Via Veneto and Villa Borghese gardens, making the location close to many of the city’s landmarks.
Its amenities include a 60 cover restaurant, and a roof terrace providing panoramic views across the city of Rome. The hotel was extensively renovated in 2018, to designs by Jean-Philippe Nuel, combining the best of Italian and French themes. So the planned improvement works on the building will be less visible to visitors, but equally important as they will improve the property’s environmental performance, reducing energy use and running costs.
Ring a Bell Hospitality has been appointed asset manager of the hotel, with finance for the upgrade works supported by a green loan arranged by Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Banking. Currently close to half of the 120 Sofitel hotels around the globe are eco-certified, and the aim is to have all of them qualified by the end of 2025.
In Portugal, Extendam has a more extensive update planned for the 163 room Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade. Another centrally located property, on one of Lisbon’s smartest avenues, it will be the subject of a major renovation to bring the property up to the latest Sofitel brand standards. All of the bedrooms will be renovated, with conversions to increase the number of suites on offer to guests, while a spa and wellness centre will be created within the hotel. Asset manager DG Invest will lead on the project, which is being funded by a green loan arranged by CAIXA Bank and BancoBPI.
New brand for Budapest
And a third Sofitel, in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, will be the subject of remodelling works, as it migrates from the Sofitel brand to relaunch under the lifestyle brand SO/, now part of the Ennismore luxury and lifestyle division at Accor.
In the heart of the old city, offering great views of the Danube and Budapest’s famous Chain Bridge, the hotel already has great fundamentals. A full interior and exterior remodelling is planned, to create a 350 room hotel with 56 suites and two presidential suites, fitted out to embrace the lifestyle touches characteristic of the SO/ brand. The hotel will have four food and drink outlets, including a rooftop resetaurant and club. Rounding off the amenities will be a spa with pool, fitness and wellness centre, and meeting and events spaces. The hotel will be relaunched under its new brand in 2026.
