In the heart of Barcelona, the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I, together with the congress palace (Palau de Congressos de Catalunya), forms one of Europe’s most complete MICE complexes, satisfying both corporate and leisure needs.
The hotel building, situated on the Avenida Diagonal, stands out impressively as you enter the city via its main artery. Located in the financial district, it is just minutes from the commercial hubs and only a few kilometres from the historic centre of Barcelona. This location, combined with impressive corporate facilities, makes Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I Business Destinations’ Best Business Hotel, Spain, 2014.
[The hotel] is just minutes from the commercial hubs and only a few kilometres from the historic centre of Barcelona
There is nowhere else in Europe that offers a combination of urban resort, five-star deluxe hotel, and private congress centre specialising in medium and large events. The privacy and security available here make it an ideal venue for high-level meetings.
Exceptional service
The hotel comprises 432 rooms including a presidential suite and a royal suite (offering an ample 450sq m), as well as a whole executive floor, all with free wi-fi connection. The executive rooms give guests impressive views over Barcelona from the twelfth floor, and they can enjoy business centre services and meals served in the executive lounge. Some of the suites also come with their own boardrooms, perfect for the travelling businessperson.
Beyond the executive floor, the Rey Juan Carlos I bars and restaurants provide a variety of dining options, from Mediterranean classics to casual tapas. There are also a host of exterior options within the 25,000sq m of private gardens. The Garden Restaurant allows guests to enjoy delicious meals dining al fresco, while the tapas and pool bars open during the summer months for relaxed food and cocktails in the heart of the gardens. You’ll also find three marquees, two exterior swimming pools, a heliport, and direct access to the Fitness Centre and the Royal Polo Club adjacent to the complex.
Royal Fitness and Spa can be found in the hotel’s lush grounds and adds an extra element of relaxation to your stay. Famed Spanish architect Carles Ferrater designed the spa building, which is adorned with the paintings of Catalan artist Xano Armenter. The spa provides relaxation and beauty treatments and Royal Fitness houses a team of sports medicine specialists.
The hotel’s motto – “Everything we do, we do so that we can welcome you back” – informs the excellent service and facilities. This mission is shared among all members of the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I staff, a proud team that has offered professional service for more than 20 years. The vision is to continue offering unrivalled service, to contribute to the local community through social actions, and to protect the environment with a policy founded on sustainability.
Sustainability initiatives
Built in 1992, the hotel had an Integrated Energy Management System (SIGE in Spanish) installed from the very beginning to monitor and correct any deficiencies caused by low production or leaks, something that has helped simplify the maintenance of the building.
Some of the suites also come with their own boardrooms, perfect for the travelling businessperson
The Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I is the first and only hotel in Spain to have achieved the ISO 50.001 certification for its Energy Management System for the whole hotel. However, the commitment to the environment does not stop here, and the hotel believes in actions and not just words. The hotel is aware that climate change is long-term and its effects are only just beginning. That is why the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I and the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya have a strong commitment to the preservation of the environment.
The hotel goes beyond just energy-saving bulbs and occupancy sensors in the rooms. During the past few years, an energy-efficiency system has been developed with the goal of reducing total gas and energy consumption by about 40 percent. This reduction is achieved via a heat-recovery process that reuses the heat produced by other processes. Instead of being wasted in the atmosphere, the energy recovered is used to heat both the outside and inside swimming pools to an average temperature of 29˚C. It also powers the jacuzzis located in the hotel’s spa.
A full recycling programme has been implemented across the hotel. Different colour rubbish bins have been placed in strategic places to separate glass, plastic, paper, aluminium and organic waste. As a result of this commitment to the environment, all the staff of the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I are well trained in environmental practices. Guests are also encouraged to participate in the recycling programme, and paper-recycling rubbish bins are present on several hotel floors. The Barcelona Council has even issued a statement congratulating Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I on its waste management programme.
Inside the hotel rooms there is a linen and towel reuse programme, and the natural environment is protected by using natural cleaning products such as vinegar, rather than aggressive cleaning substances. Non-toxic cleaning products are used throughout.
Recently there has been an important reduction in energy use of over 20 percent – equivalent to the energy consumption of 1,520 families – as well as decreasing CO2 emissions, which have gone down by 1,100 tons. All of these actions have been taken to move the hotel closer to its main goal: guaranteeing the comfort of guests, while adapting the hotel’s infrastructure to eco-responsibility.
