ibis Styles – described as an “economy designer brand” – has opened two hotels in Budapest. ibis Styles Budapest Center and ibis Styles Budapest City, both former Mercure establishments, convey the “Happy Mood” feel of the ibis family.
Gilles Clavie, president and CEO of Orbis SA/AccorHotels Eastern Europe, said: “The opening of the first ibis Styles hotels in Hungary is a major step for our group in the region, as well as for the brand.
“We are bringing innovation and a new hotel experience for guests, offering unique design and atmosphere, a friendly service and welcome, where guests can feel the conviviality and unique storytelling created around the hotels.”
The interior decor for both establishments features “fun and distinctive” living areas, including bright and refreshing colours, modern materials, geometric patterns and brightly-lit interiors, which contribute to a “well-established and hard-hitting storytelling concept”.
The goal of the ibis Styles Budapest Center is “to take its guests back to their happy childhood days with a play theme” with brightly coloured carpets and video game illustrations featured on the walls of the bedrooms, game boards in the public areas and humorous signage.
The ibis Styles Budapest City offers guests a “bicycle ride experience” including chair backs in the shape of handlebars, wheels for chandeliers, hanging bicycles and cycle lanes marked out on the ground.
“It was quite a gamble, but it paid off,” says Armand Bikart, design director Eastern Europe at AccorHotels. “The challenge lay in totally redesigning the interior of two former Mercure hotels which were looking a little tired and even obsolete, with the aim of creating something completely different. And achieving all of this on a very tight budget.
“These two hotels are a showcase for modernity, with a very clear and unashamed designer feel to them.”