Mövenpick Brussels Airport

Surrealist hospitality with cloud rooms and copper-veiled dining “This is no ordinary airport hotel. It’s an audacious attempt to turn the most forgettable hospitality category into an experience worth remembering.”, Ian Johnston, WIN Awards Judge

As Accor’s first Mövenpick in Belgium, Mövenpick Brussels Airport set out to recast the archetype of the airport hotel into a resonant hospitality experience. The brief asked for a place that would be remembered beyond check-out, aligning with Mövenpick’s ethos of doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways. WeWantMore answered with an interior narrative rooted in Belgium’s surrealist lineage, creating a seamless journey from lobby to guest room that swaps anonymity for identity, and transience for theatre. The result is a coherent experience that prioritises guest comfort while provoking curiosity at every turn.

Innovation sits at the heart of the execution. Guest rooms evoke the sensation of drifting above the clouds through light blues, warm whites, soft curves, cloud-shaped carpets and sky-like, illuminated shower ceilings. Public spaces double down on playful surrealism: sculpted hands support fittings and footrails, books perform as shelf brackets, and a bedside lamp casts a bird silhouette nodding to Magritte and the brand’s emblem. Material experimentation drives form and endurance, from a multi-coated, hardened styrofoam bar to 3D-printed booth panels that recall stracciatella ice cream, tying back to Mövenpick’s heritage. The Magritte restaurant’s floating copper veil amplifies the sense of elevation and frames expansive sky views.

The project also integrates long-term operational foresight. A geothermal installation underpins efficient energy management, complemented by EV charging facilities and a palette of robust, long-life materials selected for rigorous hospitality use. With 103 guest rooms in the first phase, plus wellness amenities and a rooftop restaurant, the hotel engineers a memorable stopover that functions as a social hub—turning necessity into a choice guests anticipate rather than tolerate.

Judges praised the sophistication, wit and escapist quality of the concept, noting how the design creates stories worth sharing and subtly communicates Belgium’s cultural DNA. Overall, the jury saw a rare airport hotel that elevates experience through cultural storytelling, material ingenuity and clear strategic intent.

The judges said: “Mövenpick Brussels Airport features a sophisticated, modern design with theatrical spaces accentuated by bold, sculptural elements.” “Beautifully designed space with some subtle but impactful details.” “Where others add generic luxury, Mövenpick adds surrealist wit.” “I love how Belgium’s surrealist tradition shaped the design, it feels theatrical, dreamlike, and full of unexpected moments.”