Hotel check: Corinthia Lisboa

Published: 24/11/2007 - Filed under: Archive » 2007 » December 2007 / January 2008 » Tried and Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » Tried & Tested » Hotels » Portugal »

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WHAT’S IT LIKE? The Corinthia brand started in Malta in the 1960s with the flagship Corinthia Palace Hotel, and now numbers over 20 mainly five-star properties throughout Europe and Africa. The Corinthia Lisboa is a high-rise hotel which opened in 2004 and still feels extremely fresh and modern three years on, due to a soft refurbishment earlier this year.

WHERE IS IT? Around 7km from Lisbon International airport, and ten minutes’ drive to the north-west of the city’s historical area. The hotel is located in Lisbon’s financial district, along with several Accor properties including a Mercure, an Ibis and a Novotel, which are all situated in the same area. The nearest metro link is Jardim Zoologico, with links to the town centre.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 518, including 360 Superior rooms, 82 Club Suites and one Junior Suite. The top floor also houses 75 executive rooms and suites.

ROOM FACILITIES The rooms feel extremely fresh, with light décor, large mirrors and modern prints on the walls – indeed the only giveaway that they haven’t had a total makeover is the lack of flatscreen TVs. All rooms have wired internet access (charged at €9 per hour or €18 for 24 hours), satellite TV with music channels, minibar, chair and footrest, air conditioning and combined bath and shower. My executive room also included a sofa, table and chairs, and access to the Executive Club Sky Lounge on the 24th floor. The lounge has fantastic views of Lisbon, including the Aguas Livres aqueduct, and access includes free drinks throughout the day, evening canapés, and breakfast.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS Sete Colinas (named after the seven hills on which Lisbon is built) is the hotel’s largest restaurant, offering international buffet and à la carte cuisine. Breakfast is served here in the morning and I would recommend sitting outside on the terrace as it’s a pleasant area to take in some sunshine. Next door to the restaurant is the Tempus Lounge Bar, which has a huge centrepiece clock behind the bar and is open until 1am. To the front of the hotel is Tipico which, as the name suggests, serves typical Portuguese dishes in bright surroundings and is open daily for lunch and dinner.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The Corinthia Lisboa has over 3,000sqm of meeting space, making it one of the largest conference venues in Portugal. There is a separate entrance and reception for the first-floor events area, with 15 meeting rooms available in a total of 22 combinations. The largest space, Floriana, can accommodate up to 1,000 delegates for a cocktail reception or 550 for a banquet, while the conference space as a whole can take up to 1,400 people for large events. Nearly all rooms have natural daylight, and there are several spaces for smaller meetings, as well as two further boardrooms within the executive lounge on the 24th floor. There is wifi internet access in the lobby, throughout the conference centre, and in the Executive Club Sky Lounge (charged at €3 per hour, €7 for two hours, or €25 for 24 hours). The business centre is also located on the first floor and is open from 8am-10pm.

LEISURE FACILITIES When I visited the hotel, the finishing touches were being made to the property’s 300sqm Puro Spa on the second floor of the hotel. This is now open, and combines the original outdoor swimming pool with a new indoor pool, and a large range of facilities including a vitality pool, solarium, ice-sauna, steam bath and gym. There are also 13 spa-rooms, offering treatments including chromo and aromatherapy, a Vichy shower, and an Oriental Thai Cabin, with Body Bistro products “inspired by Oriental philosophies”.

VERDICT Ideal for corporate events, the meeting facilities at the Corinthia Lisboa will attract big players in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) market. The addition of the new spa should also encourage leisure visitors, and the views of Lisbon from the executive floor are stunning.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in mid-January (room-only) started from €110 for a Standard room.

CONTACT Corinthia Lisboa, Avenue Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 105, Lisbon; tel +351 21 723 63 63; corinthiahotels.com.

Mark Caswell