REKINDLING THE CITY'S FORMER GLORY
LOCATION
The phenomenon of grand hotels is undoubtedly worth exploring in depth. Some have already lived through their heyday, while others are at their zenith. The latter is true for Lublin’s iconic IBB Grand Hotel. As befits any grand hotel, the property resides in one of the city’s most prestigious quarters, a stone’s throw away from the city centre, adjoining the central city square Plac Litewski. The building, erected between 1899 and 1900, acquired its recognisable image in 1910. The tumultuous past of Lublin impacted its use. After WWII, it gained a new lease of life as a hotel known to locals as Lublinianka. At the turn of the millennium, Netherlands-based Von der Hayden Group remodelled it into a four-star luxury hotel. Today, it is managed by IBB Hotel Collection, a hotel chain that oversees hotels with a similar spirit across several European countries.
ACCESSIBILITY
Lublin is an immensely manageable city for event attendees to get around. The best way to reach the Lublin Conference Centre from the hotel or other landmarks is to walk or pedal through the city streets. The city caters to both pedestrians and cyclists. This mode of transport benefits the environment and the user. Despite the perpetual development of air accessibility, we advocate arriving in Lublin by train or bus. The novel bus station is a best-case example of multimodal transport and entices guests to opt for environment-friendly transport. Swift, punctual and clean, modern trains head towards the Polish capital every other hour. In less than two hours, you will be whisked away to Warsaw whilst enjoying the views on the way or resolving any urgent business matters. Of course, Lublin is accessible by car thanks to a modern motorway. Upon reaching the city, you can park in one of the parking garages near the hotel. We must commend the affordable taxi service. Rush hour seems to be an alien concept for Lublin at present.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
The monolithic hotel building enjoys a prime position on the edge of the crossroads at Litowski Square. Reminiscent of similar grand hotels scattered across Europe, you may experience déjà vu here. The eclectic style includes antique elements that pair with baroque and Secession details. The meticulous interior can be dubbed modern historical design. The style remains fashionable, even after 22 years. That is in part owed to the well-maintained public surfaces in top form. After a long wait, the rooms were ripe for renovation. Fortunately, the revamp successfully kept the spirit of classic design alive. Thus, the rooms match the soul of the hotel. The royal blue colours pair seamlessly with earthy-hued details that ooze elegance. In modern rooms, though, the design may have drifted into an exaggerated eclectic style. The neat staff uniforms form part of the hotel’s design story.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
At the minute, the hotel is a trailblazer among the hotel heavyweights in Lublin. The staff seem proud to work in this institution. Even the young and effervescent interns are highly professional. The level of cleanliness in the hotel is tremendously high on all levels. We could hardly find any remarks. Breakfast was a classic four-star Polish menu, with an array of peculiar spreads, pâtés, and salads, all based on mayonnaise. We suggest savouring the pickle salad that tastes unlike any other. The selection of bread, pastry and fruit is satisfactory, although it could be improved. To our surprise, the breakfast was well-stocked with juices and desserts. However, the instant coffee was not our favourite. We recommend the management improves the labelling of dishes. We must commend the Nieznana Restaurant, which translates to “Unknown Restaurant”. Hailed as one of the city’s leading, it offers international fusion food with a Polish twist. The ox tartare and tiramisu with pistachios are a must-try. The impressive wine list includes a slew of exceptional local white wines. We recommend tasting the Dobry Rok wines from Winnica Pasjonata wine cellar to awaken your palate. You will be amazed. The tasteful cuisine of the restaurant deserves a try, either for a casual lunch or late-night dinner.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
The hotel offers several room categories. Among them, the refined and revamped superior rooms take the crown. We also evaluated the recently renovated modern single room. Located on the third floor, it beckons guests with a chic attic apartment feel. Our morning alarm was the ritual dance of pigeons converging on the roof. You can darken, open and close the ceiling window with a user-friendly remote control. A geometrical pattern of the black-coloured tapestry, embellished by orange-and-white inlay, turns heads in the room. The same motif is found on the walls, albeit in a negative version, with white being the dominant hue. This optical illusion enlarges the relatively tiny room. Generally, the room boasts everything you might need for a business trip, including a well-equipped work desk. The bed is super quality, too, ensuring you get a good night’s rest. Our only remark concerns the Lilliputian shower cabin, where rubenesque figures may struggle to squeeze in. On the whole, the room is a convincing choice for solo travellers. Should you travel as a pair, choose the superior room.
Meetings centre
The hotel has three conference halls. The largest one, Lublinianka, can accommodate up to 150 guests, while the smaller meeting rooms, Ambasadorska and Biblioteka, can capacitate up to 20 guests each. The hotel is a beloved choice among local wedding planners thanks to its prominence. It is also suitable for smaller conferences or as a partner hotel for events hosted in the nearby Lublin Conference Centre.
DESSERT – The extras
The superb Nieznana Restaurant is among the best in Lublin. We recommend it for a business lunch or dinner. Even more demanding guests will be enthralled. Numerous accolades and guest reviews testify to the restaurant’s quality.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
The rooms come in various sizes due to the hotel’s history. First, learn which room they assigned you to avoid complications with the shower cabin size. Also, the hotel could prepare more detailed and digitalised information for the 21st-century traveller.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The hotel restaurant provides in-house catering. Given the quality of Nieznana Restaurant, our gut feeling tells us it is superb. If you organise an event in the city, there is a good chance you will come across their catering team.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
Apart from the traditional reminder to reuse towels and the implementation of soap dispensers, we failed to see any substantial green endeavour. We advise the hotel to address this segment systematically.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
They say classic never goes out of fashion. Lublin’s heavyweight is living proof, particularly after its latest renovation of rooms that has put it back into tip-top shape. In no way is the hotel spectacular, nor does it want to be, but it is a reliable hotel, still. That is ensured by the quality service (excellent staff), which helps the hotel edge out its rivals. Furthermore, the hotel is a rational choice because of its affordable price, which would only get you a mediocre three-star hotel in Warsaw. After our stay, it dawned on us why the hotel is occupied year-round. Not pretending to be extravagant, it satisfies guests with every part of its offering.
FINAL GRADE: 4.84 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ City Meeting Hotel
3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60
