In the Baroque salon added in 1883, the late Queen Elizabeth II once stood, as did Prince Albert II of Monaco—and the Rolling Stones. Built in 1869 directly across from Innsbruck's central train station, Grand Hotel Europa was the Tyrolean city's first luxury hotel, and for 160 years it has barely changed its main setting. Now the entire building is being renovated, and for the first time, it will drop the standalone "Grand Hotel Europa" name in favor of an international chain banner.
Minor Hotels has officially signed on to take over operations, with the property to be rebranded as "NH Collection Innsbruck Grand Hotel Europa" upon its planned 2029 reopening, featuring roughly 120 rooms and suites. Owner Dr. Ernst Hutterer will retain ownership of the property, and the operator selection process was handled entirely by real estate consultancy Christie & Co. Once renovated, it will be Innsbruck's only five-star hotel.
Location itself is the selling point: the hotel sits just minutes on foot from the old town, with the Golden Roof, Maria-Theresien-Straße, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Hofkirche, City Tower, Hofgarten, and the Congress Innsbruck all within walking distance, surrounded by the Alps. This is precisely why Minor Hotels describes it as having a "prime location"—a claim few rivals in Innsbruck could match.
The renovation isn't just about adding room capacity. The project will add additional floors, open a rooftop bar with panoramic views, and introduce restaurants and bars with independent street entrances, a wellness spa, indoor and outdoor pools, plus meeting and event spaces. The most crucial element is the full restoration of the Baroque salon that once welcomed royalty and rock legends, preserving it as a venue for celebrations and social gatherings—the only part of the entire transformation explicitly designated to retain its original form rather than be rebuilt.
Minor Hotels currently operates 8 hotels in Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz, making Innsbruck a new foothold for the group in Austria and marking the first entry of the NH Collection brand into Tyrol. The official opening date is set for 2029, though room rates and detailed opening schedules have yet to be announced.
