BBJ: The hotel opened in July 2024. Are you happy with the results to date? Have you found your level in the market?

Attila AE Domby: We are truly delighted with the reception Kimpton BEM Budapest has enjoyed. Opening a new luxury hotel in a city with such a rich hospitality heritage is both an honor and a responsibility. Thanks to the dedication of my exceptional team and the strength of the Kimpton and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brands, we swiftly established a strong presence.

Recognized internationally as one of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2025, and achieving the Number One position on TripAdvisor within six months, we have demonstrated high guest satisfaction and successful positioning as Buda’s preferred luxury destination.

BBJ: What are the targets for the remainder of 2025 and your strategy for 2026 and beyond?

AD: Our focus for 2025 is to consolidate our position as the market leader in luxury hospitality in Budapest and deepen guest loyalty. Commercially, our aim is to outperform our comp-set while ensuring sustainable growth across a well-balanced mix of leisure and high-end corporate segments.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are strengthening our presence in key and emerging feeder markets, advancing our ESG priorities, and elevating the guest journey through Kimpton’s highly personalized service.

Our ambition is not only to sustain our leadership in modern luxury hospitality, but to establish Kimpton BEM as one of Central Europe’s most talked-about hotel openings. Among the 11 Kimpton properties in Europe, and even when compared to those in the United States, Kimpton BEM stands out as the most beautiful and luxurious.

This distinction is the result of strong ownership and a successful partnership with IHG.

BBJ: Budapest is going through a remarkable period of attracting new luxury hospitality brands. Why do you think this is happening now? Will it continue? Is this growth a challenge or an opportunity? Does this mean Budapest is now a truly luxury market destination?

AD: Budapest has long been a hidden gem. It was only a matter of time before the world’s most prestigious hotel brands turned their attention to it. The city offers a rich blend of culture, history, architecture, gastronomy, and safety, all within a well-connected European capital.

As global travelers increasingly seek authentic and meaningful experiences, Budapest is emerging as a natural choice. The arrival of new luxury brands is not leading to saturation but instead fostering innovation and elevating standards across the market.

The caliber of openings in 2024 and those confirmed for the coming years highlight the city’s transformation. I believe Budapest is now firmly positioned as one of Europe’s leading luxury destinations.

BBJ: Hungary had a long-standing hospitality tradition. In the early 20th century, it was part of the broader European Grand Tour. All that was lost with war and communism, but it is making a comeback. How easy is it to find suitable staff today? How do you ensure it survives into the future?

AD: Hungary’s hospitality legacy runs deep. The older generation continues to serve with heart, while a new wave of passionate and talented professionals emerges. Attracting and retaining top talent remains one of the industry’s greatest challenges, especially in the luxury segment. But this is precisely what makes my role so rewarding.

At Kimpton BEM, our scale enables a curated approach to team building. I have the privilege of handpicking each member individually. During interviews, my heads of department and I often exchange a knowing phrase: “She or he’s one of us,” meaning they share the mindset and values that define our service philosophy.

At IHG, we are committed to developing talent through global exposure and meaningful career paths. Our goal is to build careers, not fill roles. By nurturing a people-first culture, for which IHG is known, we proudly support the renaissance of Hungarian hospitality. Great leaders create leaders. So we make sure to hire great ones.

BBJ: What does today’s luxury traveler want? What sets the Kimpton BEM Budapest apart in delivering that?

AD: Today’s luxury traveler values authenticity, intuitive service, and a sense of place. They seek moments that feel both personal and elevated. Kimpton BEM, designed by Marcel Wanders, was conceived not only to provide exceptional comfort but to create emotional resonance with each guest.
 

Through thoughtful local touches, sustainable amenities, and sincere connections with our team, we offer something truly distinct. From rooftop yoga to a glass of bubbly before check-in, we deliver luxury with soul, true Kimpton style. And yes, your four-legged companion is welcome to stay free of charge, provided they fit in our lift.

BBJ: How do you avoid Ivory Tower syndrome? What steps do you take to place the hotel within the Budapest community and attract locals to your venues?

AD: We envisioned Kimpton BEM as part of Budapest, especially Buda; not just a hotel for travelers, but a place where locals feel genuinely at home. Agos Restaurant, Bar Huso, and feNNen Skybar were created with the city in mind, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Locals join us for Saturday brunch with live DJ, daily business lunch, and sunset rooftop sessions with live music, open daily from 5 p.m. We are proudly Hungarian. Our culinary offering celebrates the classics, reinterpreting our grandmothers’ favorites.

BBJ: You had the great good sense to be born in Budapest, but have traveled much of the world (from Vienna to New York and Bali, and from the Maldives to London), often working in the luxury marketplace. How has Budapest changed, and how does it compare to its luxury rivals today?

AD: Budapest offers a far richer narrative of European history than many neighboring capitals. From Roman ruins to Ottoman-era baths, from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy to the scars of two World Wars and the 1956 Uprising, both sides of the Danube present an extraordinary journey for the curious traveler.

The city’s boutique hotels, restaurants, hospitality, and evolving arts scene are drawing a more discerning, experience-driven audience. While much progress has been made, there is still room to uplift, and I remain endlessly hopeful.

BBJ: What have you found the most challenging aspect of running this hotel, and what most excites you about the future?

AD: Launching Central Europe’s first Kimpton hotel in a post-pandemic, high-inflation environment was an ambitious step and not without its challenges. Yet, with IHG’s global strength, the ownership’s development expertise, my own luxury hospitality experience, and Marcel Wanders’ bold design, I was confident we were creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Budapest.

Kimpton BEM stands today as the city’s most beautiful luxury hotel, uniquely located in Buda, in an area that had never hosted a hotel before, just a stone’s throw from the Castle District. My mission was, and remains, to ensure that our team and service match the exceptional standards of this extraordinary property.

We are no longer simply the newest hotel in town; we are now part of Budapest’s story. The chance to help shape that story in the years ahead is both humbling and exhilarating. My sincere thanks to all who have contributed to this journey.
 

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