First opened in 1971 by Grand Metropolitan Hotels, the Europa inadvertently became a base for high-profile journalists covering the Troubles, including the likes of Trevor McDonald, Katie Adie, John Sergeant and Richard Ford.
It is now owned by the Hastings Hotel Group, after the late Sir William Hastings bought it in 1993 and invested £8million into refurbishing it before reopening in 1994.
Since then it has hosted presidents, movie stars, musicians and fashion icons including Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Bob Dylan, Lionel Ritchie, Victoria Beckham and Elvis Costello.
President Clinton became the first serving US President to visit Northern Ireland and stayed there in 1995, booking 110 rooms for his entourage. He returned to stay at the hotel in 1998.
Over the last 30 years, Hastings Hotels has invested millions in continuous renovations, adding 88 new luxurious bedrooms to the existing 184. A further renovation programme currently underway will see the 90 front-facing superior bedrooms, 85 classic bedrooms and six suites redesigned and upgraded.
One of the largest and most luxurious hotels in Northern Ireland, the Europa is renowned for its cosmopolitan buzz, prime location and superb facilities.
Its story was told in a book published 10 years ago called In the Headlines because it always was. No other hotel in the world has the history to rival that of the Europa’s.
Just a short distance from many of the city’s top visitor attractions including the Ulster Museum, City Hall, Titanic Belfast, Crumlin Road Gaol and the SSE Arena, it is the perfect spot for a Belfast city break.
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