An incentive centre at the junction of three countries
LOCATION
The town of Körmend is in the far west of Hungary, right next to the border with Austria. The town developed along the river Raba, and its history is closely tied to the Batthyany family and the castle that they modified and expanded in the mid-18th century, creating a luxurious Baroque complex with a park which has since become a symbol of the city.
The hotel itself is just over a kilometre away from the town centre and is located in a tidy suburb where residential buildings alternate with industrial ones. The same location used to be the site of a shoe factory owned by the Italian manufacturer Mjus; in 2016 it was successfully transformed into a tourist resort.
ACCESSIBILITY
The hotel is located in the region of the Raba river, at the junction of three countries, only a few tens of kilometres from Austria and Slovenia. For the most part, the roads have been renovated and they are well maintained. Most guests arrive at the resort with cars; they have a large, free car park at their disposal. The car park is also equipped with a quick charger for electric vehicles. The closest airport is in Graz, less than 100 kilometres away. We recommend going cycling with the hotel bikes—a pleasant and healthy recreation on the level roads. Public transport in Hungary is solid, and there has been a lot of advancement especially in terms of rail transport.
COLD APPETIZER - Architecture and Aesthetics
The hotel is not one of those with ambitious, unusual and flamboyant architecture. In terms of appearance, it is more an example of function over form, and we can’t fault it for that. The architects have thoroughly utilised the plentiful space; the building is airy and seems to breathe. Little design elements, especially the modern furniture, bring warmth to the space. It was only in the corridors that the interior designers seemed to have let their imagination run a bit too free—we simply could not get used to the jarring colour combinations. Other than that, the architecture is restrained and, above all, very functional. As a whole, it convinces, especially because of the concept.
WARM APPETIZER - Staff and catering
The hotel is owned by a large footwear company from Italy. They have always focused on the customers and their needs, and this philosophy has been carried over to their tourist project. The staff are well-trained and friendly, abiding by the wishes and ideas of the owners. This will particularly delight the guests, who are sure to leave the resort enthused. The cuisine is solid and, considering the owners are Italians, we especially recommend the really good pizza (pizza this good is hard to find elsewhere in Hungary). Breakfast is also very sound, with a good selection of dishes. The one thing we missed is a corner featuring local cuisine, which, in this region of Hungary, is very diverse. We especially recommend the exceptional dessert offered in the hotel’s confectionery, Pasticerria Italia.
MAIN DISH - Conference hotel service
Hotel rooms
The hotel features seven different categories of rooms, but even the smallest ones, named Smart, are more spacious than the average. Our choice was a Grand-type room, offering a luxurious 31 m2. The design of the rooms is unusual; instead of conventional wardrobes, you get a series of ingenious hangers that work very well in practice. The floor is wooden and matches the brown hues of the sofa and the designer bench well. Thanks to the special mounting system, the pieces of furniture seem to float in the air. The bed deserves a special compliment; we haven’t slept in a bed this good for a long time. The bathroom is likewise very spacious and features an above-average selection of quality toiletries. The airy feel of the room and the unusual design quickly get under your skin.
Meetings centre
The small-scale meetings centre features four halls that can receive a maximum of 150 people. The halls have daylight illumination. What is most exciting, however, are the many alternative spaces, both indoors and outdoors.
DESSERT – The extras
Bowling, which can be a wonderful addition to the incentive programme. They have six lanes and all the necessary appointments, including a bowling bar.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
The lighting in certain rooms could be executed better, especially in the large dining hall.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
A comprehensive range of services that, in addition to offering relaxation in the thermal baths and wellness, also includes a truly fascinating programme, Underground Mjus: an opportunity to peek behind the scenes of the hotel and see the operation of all the exceedingly complex technical systems.
OVERALL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
For incentive organisers, Mjus hotel is an excellent choice. The hotel as a whole is convincing, which probably shouldn’t be surprising, considering the Italian owners who operate the hotel with passion and a great eye for detail. The hotel has a unique character and it is, in particular, exceptionally spacious and comfortable. There is enough room for unusual requests, such as a private party by the hotel pool. In general, the hotel stands out by offering numerous interesting spaces for events, one of which is the newly opened wine shop.
Some details could be improved, but they are outweighed by the pleasant staff and the exceptionally rich and comprehensive offering. This also compensates for the somewhat more complicated logistics, which are due to the hotel being away from the centre of Hungary. Incentive organisers, however, are not bothered; they are rewarded by an amazing story that is a perfect fit for incentive groups, giving them the excellent value for money they seek.
FINAL GRADE: 4.70 SILVER SPA MEETING HOTEL
GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60
