Location:

The Radisson Blu, Basel is located within a 5-minute walk of the Basel SBB train station with connections to Zurich city and Zurich and Basel Mulhouse airports. The hotel is set close to the famous Barfüsserplatz street, which is the home to bars, restaurants and shopping outlets but in the main the impression created by location is that of a city hotel. The hotel is within 5 minutes’ drive of the life science HQ’s of Novartis and Roche and many other biotechnology companies. The A2 motorway connection is close, less than 5 minutes’ drive which can connect to all points in Switzerland. There are 30 paid parking spaces available in an underground garage and a supporting covered parking space (at extra fee) at the Parkhaus Elisabethen within walking distance.

Design:

The exterior of the hotel is a modern building which blends into the commercial and residential apartments that make up the street on which the hotel is located. There are no design statements to distract from the initial impression of a modern city hotel.  The interior is somewhat different with a contemporary, to cool appointment with statement furniture and design which lifts the hotel from a factory product to something more individual without being high-end.  There is a liberal use of modern low tone colour schemes, wooden floors and contemporary furniture throughout public spaces, meeting rooms and bedrooms. The overall impression is that of a business hotel with design twists and upgrades which can be seen in the description of the hotel in some marketing materials as “sleek interior design”. 

Meeting space:

There are 8 meeting rooms which reflect the design style applied to public areas with contemporary styled chairs, tables and some room decorations such as wooden bookcases to lift the visual impact of some rooms. The main meeting room can accommodate 250 persons in theatre style with front projection. This room can be divided into three rooms with a further 5 rooms for use as breakout spaces. All rooms except of one are located on the ground floor close to public spaces. One meeting rooms is located on the 1st floor.

The hotel is, in our opinion, most suited to mid-size meetings such as disease state education, product launch training programmes, commercial and medical meetings and advisory boards.

Sleeping rooms:

There are 206 rooms, newly renovated at the time of this assessment, which promise an upscale, contemporary interior design and we would agree. The rooms are heavy on wooden floors, wall coverings and neat twists on an almost chalet style feel. Many room types include artwork which compliments the modern, contemporary design. Bathrooms reflect the styling of the rooms and have an upgraded feel. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, wifi and large flat screen televisions, self-controlled air-conditioning, as well as private bathroom with shower or bath tub, hairdryer, towels, ironing board, iron and safe.

Restaurant:

The Rein restaurant and bar is the only location in the hotel for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is elegant to the eye and carries all the styling of all other areas of the hotel with feature furniture and fresh, modern, colour schemes. Some language in marketing asses might suggest an upgraded, high-end, gourmet product however, though individual the reality is that of a very good restaurant with some stylish design flourishes.    

Fitness:

The hotel has a fitness room and good-sized pool. This space, as at the time of this assessment, has not received the same styling attention as other parts of the hotel and is a functional space. There is no spa. 

The interior of the hotel has a stylish almost individual design to public spaces, meeting and sleeping rooms. Without striving for a 5-star classification the hotel does have higher end touches which would differentiate the hotel from that of a traditional 4-star meeting venue.