Iceland Parliament Hotel Explained

Iceland Parliament Hotel
Image Alt:Iceland Parliament Hotel as seen from Austurvöllur Square
Coordinates:64.1467°N -21.9403°W
Location:Reykjavík, Iceland
Address:Thorvaldsenstræti 2–6
Chain:Curio Collection by Hilton
Years Built:2016–2022
Developer:Lindarvatn ehf
Architect:THG Arkitektar
Operator:Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya
Number Of Rooms:161
Number Of Suites:2
Number Of Restaurants:1
Number Of Bars:2
Elevator Count:8
Floors:7
Website:Iceland Parliament Hotel

Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a 163-room hotel located in central Reykjavík, Iceland, by the Icelandic Parliament, Alþingi. It is managed by Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya through a franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide. The hotel is situated in a complex of seven rebuilt and new buildings.[1] Three of downtown Reykjavík's main squares surround the building, with Austurvöllur to the east, Ingólfstorg to the north, and Víkurgarður to the west.[2]

Initially scheduled to open in 2018, the hotel faced construction delays and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These setbacks delayed the opening timeline, causing the hotel to open on December 27, 2022, by nearly 5 years behind schedule.[3]

Architecture

The hotel is made up of seven buildings. These include Iceland's former telecommunications headquarters (Landssímahúsið), the first secondary school for women in Iceland (Kvennaskólinn), and the Independence Hall. Other new buildings were added, both serving the purpose of connecting the buildings, but also add to the hotel’s capacity and facilities.

Controversy

In 2017, a controversy arose when a change in the local planning was approved to allow the expansion of the hotel building in Landssímahús and into to Víkurgarður park on the building's northeast side. The Parish Committee of the Reykjavík Cathedral claimed that the project violated the Cathedral's right of jurisdiction over the ancient Víkurkirkjugarður Cemetery, which had also never been formally exhumed.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, Opens in the Icelandic Capital . 18 December 2023 . www.hotelnewsresource.com . Hotel News Resource . 3 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Staff . Icelandmag . See how three of Reykjavík's squares will be transformed by a new Hilton hotel . 19 December 2023 . Icelandmag . en.
  3. News: Valdórsson . Gísli Freyr . Opnun Parliament Hotel tefst enn . 19 December 2023 . www.mbl.is . Mbl . 17 August 2022 . is.
  4. News: Kristin . Sigurdardottir . Lögreglustjóri vísar frá kæru vegna Víkurgarðs . 19 December 2023 . RÚv . 9 July 2019.