HOTEL REVIEW: DÜSSELDORF - MUZE HOTEL
A STAY WITH ART & MUSIC
This article is an excerpt from LifeBytes Magazine #3
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Although maybe a lesser known vaction spot than even more iconic cities like Berlin, Düsseldorf has a lot to offer. Often named Germany’s major fashion capital, home band Kraftwerk and other native artists have made sure that the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia has become famous far beyond the Königsallee – still, we believe, Europe’s most luxurious shopping street. With amazing restaurants like Fritz’s Frau Franzi and Mod by Sven Nöthel raising the bar for the region’s gastronomy, and with important conventions in nearby Essen like Essen Spieltagen only half an hour’s drive away, Düsseldorf currently is a major hub for the arts as well as entertainment in general. It was only a matter of time, then, before we would visit the amazing – and fairly new – MUZE Hotel to do a full review. We visited in October 2023 and also used the hotel as a base of operations during Spiel, so here’s a full review of the great experience we had.
Location
The MUZE Hotel is located on the Vagedesstraßße - Alt-Pempelfort - Duisburger Straßße triangle, at a stonethrow’s distance from the Goethe-Museum. Although there aren’t a lof things to do in that particular corner of the city, there are plenty of public transporation options and the hotel is easily accessible through both regular streets and the highway. With the city center just 15 to 20 minute walk away, one could do a lot worse location-wise. From the outside, the hotel looks nice but not entirely exceptional. Once inside, however, it starts revealing its secrets, with a water corner at the reception and a great bar where breakfast is also had to start with.
Interior & Art
One thing that immediately catches our eyes are the great paintings and the references to music scattered throughout the hotel.
Clearly, the art has been carefully chosen, with a lof attention to detail. Where many hotels features eclectic artworks that often don’t match the interior or each other, everything here seems well thought-out and complementary, and work from the same artists is thoughtfully showcased in both the communal areas and the individual rooms.
The hotel presents a permanent exhibition titled A Voyage Within, curated by the discerning eye of Erica Vassiliou. This captivating collection easily manages to keep our attention directed at our surroundings, unveiling the profound works of two remarkable artists, Vangelis Kyris and Anatoli Georgiev.
Curator Erica Vassiliou acts as a guiding force behind the A Voyage Within exposition. Equipped with a sharp eye for detail and a profound understanding of the art world, Vassiliou’s studies in Fine Arts both in London and in the United States have obviously granted her invaluable insight, and she seems to have become a catalyst for Kyris’ and Georgiev’s artistic journey.
Within just three short months of their initial encounter, Vassiliou successfully orchestrated the first joint exhibition with both artists.
The imaginative postcards and evocative slide by Kyris shows transport viewers into the realms of the subconscious, navigating the depths of space and time. Moreover, his unconventional interpretation of the Greek traditional wardrobe promises to unveil a groundbreaking historical project.
Bulgarian artist Anatoli Georgiev has already been collaborating with Vangelis Kyris since 2014. His natural inclination for diverse forms of creative expression, ranging from decoration to dance costumes, is clearly visible in the art we get to see at the MUZE Hotel.
Reception
Any regular traveler is likely to share stories about a widely differing range of receptions. Some hotels offer a completely automated experiences, while others have bellboys waiting for you. Most often, receptionists like to handle their tasks quickly and only very rarely have time for a quick chat other, perhaps, than telling you where your room is and maybe showing some prime tourist spots on a map. Our reception at the MUZE, however, is widely different - and much, much warmer.
We are taken to the receptionist’s office and told about the hotel while having a drink. In the meantime, everything is done to make sure our room is optimized, and we even get the keys to a garage across the street where our electric car can be charged. Excellent!
About the Hotel
Online, we catch some guest reviews that state the MUZE is a boutique hotel, and that’s actually a great compliment, as it features no less than 60 rooms – too many to really call it a boutique hotel, in our opinion.
The confusion probably stems from the fact that the entire stay oozes with atmosphere and accesibility. Aside from its reception, art, and music, there are great Nespresso machines in every room, as well as a bidet and convenient work desks. Moreover, we are extremely glad to find a Google Chromecast connected to our TVs, while it’s also possible to access Netflix without needing to link our laptops to the hotel screens. With a very fast WiFi connection and a 24_hour onside concierge service to boot, we feel like eveyrthing has been done to make sure guests are comfortable while staying here.
One piece of advice here: the airconditioning is controlled out of a central hotel computer, so make sure to call the reception should you experience difficulties regulating the AC by yourself!
The Bar
As already indicated, the MUZE Hotel also has a very nice bar. Our bartender, a suave young man who is passionate about cocktails and very willing to learn, started his career in the hotel and might have a bright future in front of him, as the cocktails we get to taste are very well catered to our personal tastes.
Although the number of breakfast options is a little bit more limited here than what you might expect in many similar 4- or 5-star hotels, care has been taken to eliminate some of the unhealthier options, and there are also plenty of vegan ingredients available. We also get to taste an excellent salad and some great tacos (with some less impressive garnish on the side) for brunch. Nice.
Interview with Roxana Maria Visan
During our stay in October, we get the opportunity to sit down with the amazing MUZE Hotel Brand Manager and General Manager Roxana Maria Visan, who has only been with the hotel since June 2023. Despite only having occupied that post for about 4 months at the time of our interview, Roxana instantaneously impresses us with her charisma and knowledge of the ins and outs of the chain she is now part of. Here’s what we talked about!
LifeBytes Magazine: When did MUZE Hotel start?
In 2021. Yes, it’s a new hotel. It opened during the pandemic, which we all know was ongoing in 2021.
Well, technically, there is still a COVID problem. Most people just ignore it.
Yeah, well, we need to recover. We need to move forward and see what we can improve based on what we’ve learned from this experience, which was very tough for two reasons. It greatly affected all of us and created many challenges in the industry. However, hospitality is also one of the industries that bounced back quickly because people are eager to travel again.
Yeah, because when you’re used to traveling and being free to go wherever and whenever you want and suddenly not being able to do it… it was a shock.
Exactly. We want to recover from the pandemic. It’s nice to see that people want to travel again and are not afraid to do so anymore.
So tell me about the name; MUZE Hotel?
I guess our artistic team came up with the name, and if we want to develop a chain of hotels, they will all need to have the MUZE Hotels branding… and that’s the plan. Our main goal is to develop a chain of MUZE Hotels.
Are there already locations planned for the next months?
Yes, the company already owns 7 hotels: one in Budapest and the rest in Germany. All these hotels should and will be grouped under the MUZE Hotels umbrella brand.
Okay, so you just said ‘should be or will be’... So some of them are still under development?
We have our this – our first design hotel – as a pilot project. After that, we will develop more stages and types of MUZE Hotels. Each hotel under the MUZE brand will have its own unique characteristics, depending on the number of stars and the type, whether it’s an airport hotel, a business hotel, or a lifestyle hotel like ours. So we’ll have different sub-brands.
Let’s talk about the big project you mentioned earlier. Can you give me some more details?
Of course, we have a vision to create an immersive experience at MUZE Hotel. We want our guests to feel something special, something unique when they stay with us. Our focus is to create this music experience in every city we are located in. As a lifestyle hotel, it’s important for us to create a memorable experience from the moment our guests decide to travel and make a reservation all the way through their stay and even after they leave.
So you’re really focusing on the entire guest journey.
Yes, exactly. We want to create a seamless journey and deliver this music experience at every touchpoint. We’re working on developing our own playlist and curating the right music for our guests. We’re also working on the fragrance of the hotel, creating a signature scent that will be consistent across all our locations. Another aspect we want to implement is a welcome water corner with fresh fluids and snacks. We want our guests to have access to refreshments whenever they need them. It’s all part of creating a unique brand experience.
That sounds great. It seems like you’re really paying attention to all the details.
Yes, we want to create a consistent and memorable experience for our guests. We’re also working on an app that will allow guests to easily check-in, book extra facilities or services, and provide them with support throughout their journey. It’s worth mentioning that we are constantly improving and implementing new ideas. We want to ensure that every aspect of the guest experience is exceptional.
That’s impressive. It seems like you’re already making progress. By the way, I noticed that the toilets in your hotel have bidets, which is not very common in all hotels – at least not in this part of Europe.
Yes, we believe in providing top-notch amenities for our guests. Having bidets in our bathrooms is just one example of how we aim to exceed expectations and provide a luxurious experience.
You run a 4 star hotel…
We have 4.5 stars actually, because we all of the tools we provide.
Your coffee machine at breakfast was amazing. That’s really cool as well.
It’s our partner’s espresso brand, and we want to maintain the quality. We also have an espresso machine in the rooms. We believe in providing our guests with every luxury experience, including having their own coffee in the morning. We know how important it is to wake up and enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in your own room.
So you have seven hotels in Germany under the same ownership. Why did you choose this particular location for your pilot project?
This location is special because it offers everything for a nice experience, whether you are traveling for business or leisure. We wanted to create an environment that combines both business and relaxation. We have all our locations in cities where you can combine both, and our hotels provide all the necessary facilities for a leisurely experience while doing business.
Another thing I noticed is the art. I appreciate the continuity and the well-chosen collection from the same artist. Who is responsible for selected all of it?
The design team is responsible for curating the art. We work with a curator and an artist who combines photography with art, blending traditions and modern elements. We wanted to create an environment that merges modern, classic, and traditional elements.
Another thing that caught my eye was the number of breakfast options. I appreciated the vegan choices and the variety, even though it’s not an overwhelming amount. Can I expect similar breakfast experiences at all MUZE Hotels?
Staying true to our brand, we are working on improving and maintaining the authenticity of our breakfast. We pay attention to the quality of our products and want to offer diversity in our breakfast options… And, yes, we want everything to be fresh. We don’t offer traditional sausages or bacon because it’s not in line with our brand, but we do want to offer something different and an upgraded experience.
Checking in was lovely as well…
We want the check-in process to be very fast and ultimately automated. We are working on improving our system so that guests can sign in online and have more time for other aspects of their stay. When guests enter the hotel, they will notice a different reception are than what they’re used to in typical 4- or 5-star hotels. We have a desk where they can check in and have a seat, relax, and start their experience. We have a nice chat with them, making sure they feel comfortable regardless of whether it’s their first time staying with us or not.
How did you become involved with the brand?
I used to work for a Marriott [the Marriott Bucharest Old Town – ed.] and developed the new-generation Moxy brand.
I was then invited to work for MUZE Hotel and was convinced to join the team.
When will the next MUZE Hotels open?
We currently have more in our pipeline, but some are stuck due to renovations. We are also working on developing new standards while looking for new hotels in new locations. Overall, it’s an exciting job because we are creating something new and enjoyable. As some of the lucky ones who are able to enjoy what they do, we strive for excellence.
So how come you decided to move to Germany?
Actually, I was offered the job. We discussed it for quite a long time. I was a bit hesitant at first, but I wasn’t really happy where I was, so I decided to give it a try… and after going over everything, they convinced me and I trusted them. I liked the idea, so I agreed to come. I’m managing this hotel as the Assistant General Manager (AGM), and I’m also part of the corporate team working on brand development. Actually, brand development is my main responsibility.
When will the next MUZE Hotels open?
Right now, we have 21 hotels in our pipeline. Some are going through renovations and operations, but we will see which one will be the next to open, and if we will acquire another hotel as well.
By the way, we are also looking for new hotel locations. So in the meantime, we are working on setting new standards, which is also part of my job.
Sounds exciting!
Yes, it’s an exciting job. It’s nice to see how you create something and find joy in it. If you don’t like what you’re doing, it’s difficult to excel. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have a job they enjoy.
You’re – unfortunately – so right. Thank you so much for your time.
More info: www.muze-hotels.com/muze-dusseldorf
Dirk Vandereyken
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