Moscow news
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03-Apr-2008
The Golden Ring Hotel Means Business
Known by many people from the giant Russian flag that is projected over its entire fascade, The Golden Ring Hotel recently opened its doors to The Moscow News for a closer peek inside. Already in the lobby, which is lined with cushy armchairs, couches and greenery, it is apparent that the hotel lays great value in creating a homey ambiance for business guests, who can find all they need within the walls of the Golden Ring.
Location
Positioned almost directly across the street from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Golden Ring Hotel offers guests a rather central location. The famous tourist boulevard, Old Arbat, is a mere 10-minute walk across the street, under a pedestrian tunnel. The Smolenskaya metro station is in the same direction.
Due to its close vicinity to the ExpoCenter, rates tend to rise by 60 euros per night during major exhibitions. As most guests come to the hotel for business, the Golden Ring structures their services in such a way that business visitors can find everything they need within the walls of the hotel. Although a good deal of the city can be viewed from the panorama restaurants on the 22nd or 23rd floors, tourists will have to invest a long walk or a Metro ride to get a a closer glimpse of the city's major sites.
Rooms and Prices
The Golden Ring Hotel has 83 Standard rooms, 126 Deluxe, 75 Junior Suites, 1 Studio, 4 Corporate Suites, 1 Business Suite, 1 Apartment with a kitchen and 2 Presidential Suites. A standard double room begins around 413-484 euros per night (including VAT and depending on exhibition activity at the nearby ExpoCenter), which places hotel rates in this category on the higher end of the cost spectrum among 5-star hotels in the capital. The rooms are quite small (25.7 square meters) with rather plain interior décor. Nevertheless, Internet access in all its convenient forms is available, as is satellite TV, phone and fax. The next category up is the Deluxe, which will set guests back 437-508 euros (including VAT).
The business suite, of which unfortunately only one exists, offers VIP guests a spacious (97.8 square meters) and beautiful three room, two bath apartment, tastefully decorated in hues of blue and cream. Both the design style and smart utilization of space in this suite stand out. Outfitted with a strikingly elegant king-size bed and surrounding drape in the bedroom, a dinner table and large sitting area in the living room, as well as a separate and fully equipped working place with computer in the third room, this suite is ideal for business people wishing to conduct intimate meetings in a private and comfortable setting. A fireplace in the corner, espresso machine and DVD player are among some of the nice touches that make this room the favorite at the Golden Ring Hotel. The business suite ranges between 1,298-1,534 euros per night.
The highest category, the Presidential Suite, in contrast to the standard category, ranks at the more affordable end of the price spectrum (2,124-2,360 euros per night) for presidential suites in Moscow and is luxuriously furnished with antique pieces in navy blue, light cream and gold. This suite makes an eloquent yet cozy impression with large arm chairs and a sofa in the sitting area. It also incorporates a complimentary bar counter included in the price of the room. Divided into three zones, the Presidential Suite spans 169 square meters and also includes a Jacuzzi in the bathroom.
Dining
Dining in the Winter Garden Hall and Panorama Restaurant on the 22nd floor is spectacular. Its curved windows extend from the floor to the ceiling, giving guests a view over the city. Ivy-draped windows and walls of the restaurant, in addition to surrounding flora and natural sunlight create a truly magnificent atmosphere. From one end of the hall, guests stare from across the street into the face of the Stalinist tower of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which makes quite an impression. While the Garden Hall serves all meals from noon until midnight, with main courses ranging from 13-35 euros, a good tip is to treat yourself to a themed brunch on Sundays from noon 5 p.m. Although quite expensive, the price is even a bit lower than other 5-star hotel brunches, and the buffet is amazing and includes an open bar and show-cooking with a view over Moscow.
For fine dining, guests can enjoy a meal at the Panorama Restaurant, located on the 23rd floor. With a view just as captivating and classic as the interior décor, this evening restaurant presents impressive dishes in an entirely different atmosphere. Prices here are higher than in the Winter Garden Hall. Appetizers range from 14 euros to 124 euros (for Astrakhan Sturgeon caviar). The least expensive main course on the menu, seabass fillet with asparagus served with grapefruit sauce, costs around 32 euros.
The third and most affordable restaurant, the Stolichny, exhibits a retro design reminiscent of Moscow in the 1970s and is located on the lower level. The menu boasts of traditional Russian dishes as well as many from the former Soviet republics and main courses can be had for 16-33 euros. Testifying to its traditional flare, the menu displays a long list of cold appetizers, a separate section for vodka appetizers and home-made mors (a bitter Russian berry juice).
The Diamond lobby bar wins the award for the smartest creation of private space in lobby bars seen so far. Although an open area, its off-set position and large fountain allow guests to engage in intimate conversation. Here guests can enjoy a drink, talk with business partners, and sink into large, cozy armchairs.
Facilities
A particularly accommodating aspect of the Golden Ring Hotel can be found in its extraordinarily wide range of services for banquets, meetings and conferences. While certainly not all 5-star hotels leave organizers the flexibility of arranging a low-budget meeting or conference, the Golden Ring even presents an option for a very small coffee break, where guests only pay for the price of the products ordered. Of course, they also offer other services running the entire gamut, including those for the choosiest of professional business patrons. Around almost every corner, the hotel has placed sofas and large armchairs for comfortable and private conversation during conference breaks.
The Golden Ring's business center offers a unique service for international guests: they have a special deal with an endless list of foreign newspapers, which enables them to print off almost any edition and deliver it to a guest's room upon request. It also provides access to the Internet for those few people who do not bring along their own laptop, however, prices are incredibly high - one euro for two minutes! Guests with their own computers can access wireless complimentarily anywhere in the hotel.
In comparison to other 5-star hotels in Moscow, fitness facilities are minimal. The hotel has a sauna and Jacuzzi, but no pool. Moreover, guests may only use the fitness area free of charge for three hours, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., as it is also open to the public for a fee. As some of the other 5-star hotels visited by The Moscow News provide 24-hour complimentary fitness centers with modern machines and attention to comfort and detail, this area clearly needs some work to keep up with the competition.
Recommendations
The Golden Ring Hotel makes an attractive offer especially for hosting events and staying in rooms of its highest categories. Friendly hotel personnel will go out of their way to accommodate the varying needs of their clientele.
By C. Anne Shupe
The Moscow News