On September 9, 2010, the award-winning citizenM hotel group officially opens the doors to its first property outside Amsterdam in the very heart of Glasgow’s city centre, an area bustling with theatre, music, shopping, art and vibrant street life.
Since launching its first hotel at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in summer 2008 and a second in Amsterdam city proper in the spring 2009, citizenM has established a unique brand of affordable luxury that gives global mobile travellers – the “M” in citizenM stands for “mobile” – what they most want and need. Now, with its newest, 198-room hotel in Glasgow, citizenM enters new geographic territory in one of the United Kingdom’s most fascinating yet often overlooked cities. “Glasgow is actually the number-one conference city outside London, and the UK’s second retail destination,” says Michael Levie, citizenM chief operating officer. “And it has plenty of music, art, shopping, everything. We really like its dynamics.”
The vibe is already going strong in the new citizenM location, on the buzzing corner of Hope and Renfrew streets. Traditionally a music and theatre hotspot, it’s also steps away from the city’s acclaimed art school. Eight storeys high with a façade made in robust natural granite, guests enter the hotel through an illuminated, double-height glazed red entrance leading to the first floor via a striking red spiral staircase.
Upstairs, the lobby immediately puts guests at ease: To the right is a long bar and relaxed lounge area that’s already attracting locals, as well as canteenM, the 24/7 kiosk-style cafeteria where guests can get their own high-quality snacks, like sushi, barista made coffee and now, even hot breakfasts. To the left are check-in kiosks that lead to an array of comfortable nooks – living rooms, so to speak – to suit different purposes. Guests can relax, meet, converse or work in areas with furnishings by Hella Jongerius, Verner Panton, Jasper Morrison and more designer classics from Vitra, citizenM’s exclusive interior design partner. Wall to wall windows allow a fabulous first-floor view of the bustling street scene outside, and the public space’s L-shape allows a more intimate, hang-out feel.
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