Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is a part of the Toronto-based Four Seasons chain of luxury hotels and resorts. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest ranks 15th on Travel + Leisure’s 2007 “Top 100 Hotels in World” list [1] and 2nd among European hotels. According to Condé Nast Traveler, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace was one of the best hotels in the world during 2005 and 2006 [2]. It is located along the historic River Danube, within the hills of Buda in the city of Budapest, Hungary.
History
Gresham Palace was built in 1906 by the Gresham Life Insurance Company, as a way to invest in a solid source of rental income during a time in which it was prohibited to invest in stocks. The palace was named after the 16th-century English financier Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of the Royal Exchange in London. In 1998, Gresco Investments Limited acquired the Palace and received approval from the Budapest Heritage Board to reconstruct it into a luxury hotel while retaining its original appearance of Art Nouveau architecture [3]. Gresco raised $85 million for renovations and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts agreed to oversee the reconstruction and manage the new property. The hotel reopened in June of 2004 and has restored its history and nostalgia[4]. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest currently houses 179 guest rooms, including 17 suites.
Amenities
As with most Four Seasons properties, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is known for its services and amenities. The hotel offers golf, tennis and Páva Restaurant, one of Hungary’s best restaurant [5] . Other amenities include spa services, pool and fitness facilities.