๐๐ช๐ฆ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ด ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ช๐ฐ๐ต๐ต ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ด๐ค๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฑ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด, ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ถ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐ญ๐บ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ข.
Naina Nath
Right in the centre of Brussels, just steps from the cityโs most recognisable landmarks, the Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place has long been a favourite with both business and leisure travellers. Now, after a major renovation and a renewed focus on the Indian market, the hotel is looking sharper than ever. We caught up with Pierre Charron, Director of Sales & Marketing, to talk about its evolution, whatโs new, and why itโs becoming a go-to for Indian guests visiting the Belgian capital.
Where Old Brussels Meets a Fresh Perspective
The building has historyโplenty of it. โIt opened in 1895 as a theatre for Belgian aristocracy, then became a cinema, and was finally converted into a hotel in 2002,โ says Pierre. That layered legacy now shines through in the newly renovated spaces.
An โฌ18 million refurbishment, completed in 2023, has given the hotelโs 222 rooms and suites a complete facelift. โWeโve struck a balance between the comfort of modern American hospitality and a strong Belgian identity,โ he explains. Local icons like Renรฉ Magritte, Django Reinhardt, and Victor Horta are subtly referenced throughout the interiors, giving the property character without feeling overly themed.
Design That Feels Thoughtful, Not Overdone
Walk into the lobby, and the first thing youโll notice is a large wooden installation, custom-built as a tribute to Django Reinhardt. โIt sets the tone right away. Itโs a design element, but also a cultural nod,โ Pierre says.
Upstairs, the rooms are kitted out with all the essentials, plus a few extras. Each one has a yoga mat, a Nespresso machine, plush robes and slippers, and complimentary bottled water. โGuests appreciate those small details,โ he adds. โItโs about making them feel at ease from the moment they arrive.โ
Breakfast is another high point. โWeโre told by many that itโs one of the best in Brussels,โ Pierre says. It includes fresh juices, a cocktail-making corner, live egg cooking, and plenty of locally sourced Belgian products.
Indian Travellers Are Discovering Brusselsโand This Hotel
Thanks to targeted outreach, Indian arrivals are growing. โSo far this year, weโve welcomed about 400 room nights from Indian travellers,โ says Pierre. โMany of them are families or solo guests who are starting to see Brussels as more than just a stop between bigger cities.โ
Thereโs also been an uptick in incentive travel. โWe recently hosted our first Indian incentive group of the year,โ he shares. โThey appreciated not just the location and service, but the meeting facilities too.โ One key feature is a main event space with a soaring 5.8-metre ceiling, rare for a hotel in the city centre.
โAll our meeting and event rooms are on a dedicated, accessible floor,โ adds Pierre. โIt makes logistics simple, which is what planners are really looking for.โ
Rewarding Loyaltyโand Relationships
Being part of the Marriott Bonvoy program doesnโt hurt either. โWith more than 238 million members globally, Indian guests are already familiar with the brand,โ Pierre explains. Points can be earned and redeemed not only for stays, but also for dining and event spend.
He also points out Marriottโs fast-growing footprint in India, nearly 200 hotels and more coming soon. โThat visibility back home really helps,โ he says. โIt builds trust when travellers are booking overseas.โ
The hotel goes a step further for planners, too. โWe actively share our low occupancy dates with agencies and organisers. It helps them plan smarter, especially for MICE,โ says Pierre. For Indian groups, thereโs even the option of hot Indian dishes at breakfast, something the team is happy to arrange.
Sustainability Thatโs Practical, Not Performative
Sustainability isnโt treated as a box to tick; itโs part of how the hotel operates. โEvery guest gets a complimentary glass water bottle, and each floor has a fountain to refill it,โ Pierre says. Linen changes happen every three days unless otherwise requested, and towels are replaced only if left on the floorโsimple steps, but effective in cutting down water use.
They also work with local producers, with 80% of ingredients sourced in Belgium. โWe even recycle leftover bread into a beer we sell at the barโโAmai Le Painโ,โ he shares.
Guests can also rent bikes or use the hotelโs underground bicycle park. โAnd twice a year, our team does a street clean-up in the neighbourhood,โ Pierre says. Even the in-room yoga mats tie into the sustainability story. โTaking care of yourself is also part of caring for the planet,โ he adds.
Why Brussels Makes Sense for Indian Travellers
Compared to bigger-name cities like Paris or Amsterdam, Brussels still flies a little under the radar, but thatโs changing. โItโs more accessible and more affordable, but youโre not compromising on the experience,โ Pierre says. The city offers everything from Art Nouveau architecture and world-class museums to chocolate shops, Michelin-starred restaurants, and famous frites.
And August, he says, is a particularly good time to visit. โThe city is calmer, the weatherโs lovely, and unlike other places, the best attractions and restaurants stay open,โ he explains.
A Message to Indian Travel Professionals
To wrap up, Pierre had a note for the travel trade in India: โBrussels is like a box of Belgian chocolatesโfull of surprises, rich in flavour, and always worth exploring. Weโre proud to welcome more and more guests from India, and we understand what matters to themโfrom familiar food to flexible planning support.โ
With the cityโs central location, the hotelโs refreshed look, and the teamโs growing understanding of Indian travellersโ needs, Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place is ready to welcome more visitors from the subcontinent.
“เคนเคฎ เคเคชเคเฅ เคธเฅเคตเคพเคเคค เคเฅ เคฒเคฟเค เคเคคเฅเคธเฅเค เคนเฅเค,โ Pierre signs off.
