Le Meridien Brussels, Belgium, CLOSED Jun '14, to reopen as Hilton [Master Thread]
Jun 19, 2014, 11:01 am
#136
Join Date: May 2001
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 1,602
This has been an outstanding property, and we have enjoyed our stays with this LM staff. The best location by far of any hotel. We hope that they reopen soon still under the LM banner.
Jun 28, 2014, 12:36 pm
#137
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NJ
Posts: 22
I had booked for 10 nights in late Nov at LM Brussels. Got the call yesterday and then a follow-up email about the closure. I've asked them to cancel completely and not re-book at any of the lesser SPG properties in Brussels. I'm not excited at all by the Sheraton or Aloft. We had wanted to use the LM as our base while we explored Belgium. Now, we're wondering if we should wait it out a few months to see if the bankruptcy case would get resolved somehow and LM Brussels will re-open. Anyone with an educated opinion? Otherwise, we're now thinking of moving to the SPG property up in Amsterdam and spending most of our holiday in Holland instead.
Jun 28, 2014, 7:25 pm
#138
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: SPG Gold, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 173
I had booked for 10 nights in late Nov at LM Brussels. Got the call yesterday and then a follow-up email about the closure. I've asked them to cancel completely and not re-book at any of the lesser SPG properties in Brussels. I'm not excited at all by the Sheraton or Aloft. We had wanted to use the LM as our base while we explored Belgium. Now, we're wondering if we should wait it out a few months to see if the bankruptcy case would get resolved somehow and LM Brussels will re-open. Anyone with an educated opinion? Otherwise, we're now thinking of moving to the SPG property up in Amsterdam and spending most of our holiday in Holland instead.
I'm starting to think the problem is more complicated than they first thought. If you will absolutely not be happy at another hotel, I recommend you book somewhere you will be happy. If you want to hold out, you can keep the reservation and have a backup as well.
Jun 29, 2014, 1:38 pm
#139
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,248
I had booked for 10 nights in late Nov at LM Brussels. Got the call yesterday and then a follow-up email about the closure. I've asked them to cancel completely and not re-book at any of the lesser SPG properties in Brussels. I'm not excited at all by the Sheraton or Aloft. We had wanted to use the LM as our base while we explored Belgium. Now, we're wondering if we should wait it out a few months to see if the bankruptcy case would get resolved somehow and LM Brussels will re-open. Anyone with an educated opinion? Otherwise, we're now thinking of moving to the SPG property up in Amsterdam and spending most of our holiday in Holland instead.
Jul 1, 2014, 7:26 am
#140
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NJ
Posts: 22
Thanks for the replies @sweetz and @slocouple.
For now we're going to move over to the Marriott Brussels just so we have a proven place to stay at in Brussels.
I was a bit tempted to look into Des Indies previously - I knew of its existence - but we're probably going to just stay in Amsterdam and take day trips, if any, from there. If we had more time at our disposal, it might be fun to split 3 nights at Des Indies and another 3 nights up at Hotel Pulitzer.
For now we're going to move over to the Marriott Brussels just so we have a proven place to stay at in Brussels.
I was a bit tempted to look into Des Indies previously - I knew of its existence - but we're probably going to just stay in Amsterdam and take day trips, if any, from there. If we had more time at our disposal, it might be fun to split 3 nights at Des Indies and another 3 nights up at Hotel Pulitzer.
Jul 14, 2014, 8:54 am
#141
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
Hotel ownership changed hands, re-opening mid-august?
News - in Dutch
News - in Dutch
Jul 14, 2014, 12:49 pm
#142
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
It sounds as if they are talking to groups other than Starwood. I wonder if Marriott and Hilton are just mentioned as an example, or if those 2 are the real candidates. Could this soon be the new Brussels Hilton? 
(Marriott already has a hotel nearby, so I can't see why they would be interested...)
(Marriott already has a hotel nearby, so I can't see why they would be interested...)
Jul 15, 2014, 1:21 pm
#143
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: HHonor Diamond, SPG Plat100, HGP Plat, AF Plat, *A G (A3)
Posts: 155
Oct 31, 2014, 2:00 am
#144
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
Links (only in Dutch and French):
http://www.demorgen.be/reizen/le-mer...otel-a2107131/
http://www.lecho.be/detail.art?a=956...m_recent&ckc=1
I guess that's the end of this thread...
Oct 31, 2014, 3:44 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Nov 1, 2014, 10:15 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
Nov 18, 2014, 2:04 pm
#147
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: SPG Plat 100, A3*G
Posts: 678
I already miss this hotel 
Staying at the Sheraton now and it's a faaar from LM... and the hotel looks like its seen better days - especially the stale smell is pretty bad
Staying at the Sheraton now and it's a faaar from LM... and the hotel looks like its seen better days - especially the stale smell is pretty bad
Apr 12, 2015, 2:55 am
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I'm at the "new" Hilton now and boy have they dumbed down the quality here! The F&B is awful and the new staff they have added (to the existing staffers who stayed) appear to be all interns. All this makes me wonder if the problem was that Le Meridien didn't want to reduce their quality but the financial issues with the hotel owner meant that they had to cut costs. If I'm being charitable to Le Meridien and Starwood I'd compliment them for sacrificing the hotel rather than sacrificing the quality. Hilton appears to be ok with selling a poor product here.