Marriott grows soft brands in Europe

This week, two of Marriott International's soft brands opened new properties in Europe. 

In Paris, the Hôtel de Berri opened as part of the Luxury Collection. Owned by the Dokhan family and designed by Philippe Renaud, the property has 75 guestrooms, including 35 suites, as well as a 3,000-square-meter landscaped garden. 

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the property was a private mansion for luminaries, including Princess Mathilde and fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Architect and city planner Maurice Novarina later turned the space into an office building with a unique façade that Renaud insisted be preserved during the property's transition. “Hôtel de Berri is the only Parisian hotel to feature a Novarina façade,” he explained in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Marriott's Autograph Collection reopened the Hotel Elephant Weimar in Germany following a nine-month full renovation. Located in the city center’s historical market square, the 99-room hotel dates back more than three centuries, and has classic Art Deco and Bauhaus features.

Overseeing the renovation, Bost Interior Design and DK Architekten drew upon 1920s style and a mix of German structural design and modern elements. The hotel also exhibits works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Elvira Bach.

The hotel will open a sauna and fitness area in February.