Andrassy hotel | MaMaison Andrássy Hotel History and Facts

MaMaison Andrássy Hotel
History and Facts

The building
The hotel is located in the higher area of Andrássy Avenue, which is part the UNESCO World Heritage under the number 111, in a diplomatic area close to many historical buildings and places of interests, such as the Heroes Square, City Park, Széchenyi Bath or the National Opera. Besides it is close to the main shopping areas, and we shouldn’t forget about the oldest underground of the continent, the Millenium, the Animation Park, or the foreign Embassies either. With all the old trees on both sides.


The history of the hotel
The building has already a rather famous hospitality history. The famous Hungarian architect Alfréd Hajós built the builidng of the hotel in 1937. At that time it was a boarding house for the Jewish community, in the residential area on the Andrássy Avenue, comprised many one room and some two-room apartments with publice services (restaurant, lobby etc.).
During the communism, it was a very important „Foreign Affairs Hotel” as the hotel for all foreign statemen and particularly those of the formerer communist block. Among the guests were Yeltsine or Gorbatschev but also Gagarine, Brezhnev, Honecker, etc. It was the meeting place of the communist leaders, even János Kádár had his own room here.
In 1969 it was renovated to cater for specific events including huge reception, buffets and meeting areas for the party. Later on in 1989 it became a 3 stars hotel called Hotel Central, that did not changed the lay out of the hotel. At that time it had 42 rooms.
ORCO had bought the building in 1999, and decided to create a relatively small, „human size” hotel, so called „boutique hotel” that has a warm, cozy and charm atmosphere, emphasizing uniqueness and comfort rather than sheer luxury. Besides the trendy outfit the concept is to present tailor made services and a ahomey feeeling rather than vast facilities.

Boutique Hotels
In one of its latest report dedicated on boutique hotels, Jones Lang LaSalle goes to define the following characteristics : “small, urban location, non-branded and showcasing stylish architecture and interior design”.
Boutique hotels are notorious for having their own “personality” or “identity”, notably through interior design and by incorporating local elements into a property’s concept. The individualistic character of boutique hotels appeal to seasoned and sophisticated travellers who do not want to stay at “just another hotel”. In boutique hotels the visitor is invited to live an “experience” , whereas major hotel chains emphasize on continuity and standardization. Lastly, boutique hotels do provide high levels of personalized service and guest amenities (ex. “pillow menus”). MaMaison Andrassy Hotel” concept of boutique hotels, developed by ORCO, is adapted to the local regional demand. Hotels emphasize on charm, warmth, comfort and cheerfulness rather than luxurious but cold materials, or vast and impressive but un-intimate common area spaces. MaMaison Andrassy Hotels thrive to provide the best experience and value for money in the demanding leisure and business travellers.

Andrássy, the man who the hotel was named after
The hotel was named after the famous diplomat count Gyula Andrássy from the era of the 1840’s, as the politician of the reform age, in 1857 he became the Prime Minister of the country.