Credit: Chronicle.lu

After eight years since it last opened / closed its doors as the iconic Hotel Alfa in Luxembourg-Gare, the building has now reopened under the Marriott Hotel brand.

While it starting taking in guests last week on 20 May 2025 (ahead of the scheduled 12 June opening date) - the Marriott Hotel group's 98th anniversary - the official opening is not expected for a few weeks yet. In the meantime, a press tour was arranged on Tuesday 27 May 2025, with a sneak preview of this historic building led by Rex Nijhof, the hotel's General Manager, and Pierre Dorrell, Director of Sales and Marketing.

The former Hotel Alfa was built in 1930 by Alfred Lefèvre and opened in 1932; it was designated a national monument in May 1991; it then closed its doors in March 2017 before being declared bankrupt. Along with the Hotel Cravat, which opened its doors in 1895, the two hotels in the city have held historic and iconic status for decades. The Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa, a historic landmark, is opening its doors at a time when the Luxembourg-Gare district is undergoing gentrification.

The Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa

Alfa Gestion owns the building and oversaw the extensive renovations; they lease the building to Luxembourg Hotel Management SA which has a management agreement with Marriott.

Rex Nijhof explained to Chronicle.lu that the hotel currently employs 80 staff, with this number expected to rise to 100 as the restaurant takes off; in addition to direct employment, the hotel also provides indirect employment through service companies that have contracts with the hotel.

Another hotel, the Moxy Luxembourg Airport hotel in Findel, is operated under a franchise and is also within the Marriott group.

Interior Design

The renovations have seen changes within, but also some important features have been retained and pieces of artwork have been restored. While the restorations have been extensive, the designers have addressed sustainability too. Designed by internationally acclaimed interior architect Iria Degen Interiors, it is elegant with an art deco feel, while including a lot of Luxembourgish steel, including in the curtains, with four original Julien Lefèvre (son of the original hotelier) paintings restored depicting Luxembourg's regions, add cultural depth, with stained glass windows on the stairwell being preserved.

There are total of 153 bedrooms (including 31 suites) on the seven floors of the hotel, an increase from the 140 rooms beforehand, all with parquet floors and rugs, as well as individual artwork.

The ground-floor Brasserie Alfa, a place to be and to be seen (the Hotel Alfa was a cultural hub, known for its bold design, jazz concerts and elite gatherings, including royal celebrations and fashion shows), has been retained and offer Luxembourgish and French cuisine; yet it feels very different from before, definitely an upgrade from the former French café style / charm. It also offers two private dining rooms, with the original bar preserved. Original elements, like Palisander wood sideboards, marble counters and vintage lighting, have also been preserved. The repositioned historic paintings are now complemented by contemporary local art with custom pieces by local artists Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil.

The 1st floor has a total of five meeting rooms overlooking Place de la Gare (named Charlotte, Churchill, Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley - after American generals Patton, Bradley and Eisenhower whom it hosted for a Christmas dinner in 1944 during the Battle of the Ardennes; Winston Churchill was at the hotel after the war, and the last one was named after Grand Duchesse Charlotte) and the M Club offers a private space for Marriott loyalty programme members.

Additional facilities include a fully equipped gym.

Marriott Bonvoy Group

The Marriott Bonvoy Group has around 9,500 hotels worldwide (including circa 600 Marriott hotels and resorts in over 70 countries and territories) in a portfolio of over 30 hotel brands.

"We are thrilled to introduce the first Marriott Hotel in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a destination that features a captivating blend of historical charm and modern sophistication," said Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President, Premium, Select & Midscale Brand Management, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. "Set to become one of the most desirable hotels in Luxembourg, for both leisure and business travellers, the opening of this hotel brings innovation alongside our legacy of wonderful hospitality to guests and locals alike."

ED