Iceland review - 2007, Qupperneq 74

As the name suggests, the Grand Hotel Reykjavík is a place of superlatives. Opened
in May 2007, it is the largest hotel in Reykjavík with 314 rooms and a total occupancy
of over 600 guests, as well as conference facilities to accommodate hundreds more.
W
ith a first-class spa and restaurant-cum-piano lounge to boot, the
Grand is a four-star-plus experience designed to meet its guests’ every
need. The “Wow” factor begins as soon as you enter the immense
atrium. Floor-to-ceiling windows rise to a glass roof a full five stories
above, filling the area with natural light. Potted trees and a veritable sidewalk bar/café
recreate the feeling of an outdoor promenade, but the Grand achieves the impossible
by making such a large space feel like a comfortable and self-contained community.
To the left of the prominent reception desk rises the largest stained glass in Iceland, a
work of Icelandic master Leifur Breidfjörd, which incorporates traditional Icelandic
symbols and passages from Hávamál, the Viking codes of conduct, for receiving guests.
With a second image over the hotel’s main entrance, the vivid colors filter the ample
light that floods the lobby from both sides.
On one side of the atrium rises the brand new 14-story tower whose 209 luxury rooms are
equipped with every modern luxury, including flat-screen televisions and wireless Internet, and
exude a modern elegance with Swedish bathrooms and furnis hings by established Scandi-
navian designers such as Arne Jacobsen.
Huge panoramic windows justify the sparse decoration on the walls, using the natur al
surroundings of the bay and Mt. Esja for visual stimulation. The magnificent views, and
the ability to open every window in every room of the hotel ensure that nature is woven
seamlessly into the experience.
On the bottom floor of the hotel, black stone walls lead to the Grand Spa, a full-
service health, fitness, and beauty center offering highest-quality equipment and services
in an intimate setting unmatched at the city’s main day spas. Indeed many spa guests
are locals who come for the superior service and atmosphere that is ideally suited to
mental as well as physical relaxation.
Whatever the type of guest, the Grand’s complete range of services creates a unique
experience enhanced by modern design and a unique approach to nature as art that
give this regal space an unexpected intimacy. With further renovations targeted for
completion in June 2008, there is no doubt that the Grand Hotel Reykjavík will only
improve on its already superior reputation.
Grand Hotel
reykjavík
I r p r o m o t I o n
Grand Hotel reykjavik, iceland
Grand Hotel reykjavík is a first-class hotel for business travellers, conference guests and
tourists who demand excellent service and facilities. Grand Hotel is now the largest
hotel in iceland with a total of 314 rooms.
Grand Hotel Reykjavík l Sigtún 38 l 105 Reykjavík l Iceland | Sími: +354-514 8000 l Fax: +354-514 8030