HIDDEN GUEST: Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana

LOCATION
The hotel is located on the main city entrance road into Ljubljana and is thereby easily accessible by major urban transport connections. A high-rise building next to the Ljubljana World Trade Centre, once considered to be the business centre of Ljubljana, it is close to the new city stadium and next to the main city roads. It is therefore not surprising that businessmen prevail amongst the guests, appreciating the underground garage and easy access by car (please note, parking is chargeable). The hotel was initially managed by the Italian hotel chain Domina Hotel Group, taken over in 2007 by the Austrian hotel chain Austria Trend Hotels & Resorts, which has 34 hotels in the region.

ACCESSIBILITY
The location is not central, but the hotel is very well connected by public transport and although not in the centre of town, in a small city like Ljubljana this means that you only need a five minute drive to the centre. Also close by are major ‘Bicikelj’ cycle rental points for the greener-minded conference guests. The airport is less than 15 km away.

COLD APPETIZER – Architecture and Aesthetics
The hotel is situated between the WTC and a new office building on the Vienna road. The architecture of the hotel will not amaze you, as it is primarily a functional hotel building connected by an underground garage to the WTC complex. It is the same with the interior, which is minimalist and tailored for the business guest, but after a few years of use is in some places already calling for renovation and a little more “hotel candy”. At the time of opening, the hotel offered many bold technical innovations that have become completely normal today, meaning they can no longer be regarded as ‘features’. If you were looking for a classic case of the rule of content being more important than appearance, then the Austria Trend Hotel would be among  your potential hits.

WARM APPETIZER – Personnel and cuisine
After taking over the management of the hotel the Austria Trend Hotel undertook a series of smaller facelifts, but mostly worked with the staff and improving their qualifications and kindness. Do not expect culinary surprises at the hotel; a solid hotel board restaurant operates as well as a solid hotel bar, which can be negotiated to cater for closed groups. More choosy groups can take advantage of one of the many excellent restaurants in Ljubljana.

MAIN DISH – The hotel’s congress service
The hotel is a classic city business hotel, which is quite inconspicuous and with trump cards of comfort, functionality and spaciousness. Comfort is associated with easy access, rooms with soundly organised space and usability. The interior of the rooms has already started showing signs of fatigue; however, the standard is kept up by the good maintenance of otherwise modern furniture.

The congress centre is of modern design and can accommodate up to 400 participants. From the high-tech plan period of Domina Vacanze it has remained the top technically-equipped centre in Ljubljana. Unfortunately, the centre is underground and without daylight. An alternative are the smaller halls next to the restaurant on the first floor.

DESSERT – Extras
The now legendary Sense Wellness Club in the oriental style remains among the top spa centres in the city and pampers both hotel and external guests.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
We have to criticise the catering, which lacks an author restaurant and generally more brave culinary delights. In addition, the negative surprise is also the chargeable garage.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The offer is tailored to businesspeople with the focus on meeting their needs, starting with a very good breakfast.

FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Its great advantage is the ratio between what it offers and the price. The hotel is a rational choice of businesspeople and those who do not want to stand out and are not looking for locations in the centre of town. The fact that the hotel is tailor-made to the needs of businesspeople is its main advantage and, consequently, the hotel holds a good spot amongst the old and new competitors in Ljubljana.