Marriott International's Autograph Collection Hotels has opened its third property in Madrid with the opening of Hotel Círculo Gran Vía. The building is the former home of the Merchants and Industrialist’s Circle and has been transformed into a boutique, adults-only hotel and casino following a multi-million euro renovation.
The 71-room hotel was built on the Gran Vía in the 1920s as a meeting place for intellectuals of the famous Bilis Club, a literary society. A photographic art exhibit entitled “Memories of Gran Via” composed of 175 historic pictures from 1920s Madrid is displayed throughout the guestrooms and public areas. The Casino Gran Vía and the Royal Hall have been incorporated into the hotel. Hotel Círculo's food and beverage facilities include the Círculo Mercantil, the Champagne Bubble Bar and the Círculo Cocktail Bar. It also has three meeting spaces managed by the hotel’s events team.
Hotel Círculo Gran Vía, Autograph Collection is the brand’s third hotel in Madrid, following Hotel Palacio Del Retiro and Hotel Santo Mauro. Rates are from around $280 per night. The 50-room Hotel Palacio Retiro in Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art was originally built in the early 20th century for a noble family near Retiro Park. Also near Retiro Park, the 51-room Hotel Santo Mauro incorporates three buildings within the property in the area of Chamberí.
Hotel Círculo Gran Vía has increased the Autograph Collection Hotels' global portfolio to more than 110 properties in nearly 30 countries and territories. It’s the second Autograph Collection hotel that has opened this month. The first was Chicago’s 335-room Blackstone Hotel on the Cultural Mile, which has hosted U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, scandalous political and mob exchanges, numerous actors and over a dozen movie productions.