a

Accor continues to expand its portfolio in Hungary with Hotel Lycium in Debrecen joining the Handwritten Collection, a select collection of hotels offering unique accommodation

Opening in October, the hotel will be the first Handwritten Collection hotel in the country, bringing a unique charm to the region’s hospitality industry.

With nearly 30 hotels open and more than 30 more in development, the Handwritten Collection continues to offer unique accommodations that focus on human connections and individuality. Thanks to a recently signed agreement, the addition of Hotel Lycium in Debrecen adds the first hotel in Hungary to the curated group of hotels.

“With the addition of Hotel Lycium to the Handwritten Collection, Debrecen and the region will be enriched with a unique hospitality brand that will offer its guests an authentic and stylish experience,” Vice President Frank Reul (Accor Premium, Midscale & Economy Development, Eastern Europe, Balkans, Italy and Greece) said, adding that it would also contribute to the expansion of our portfolio in Debrecen, the economic, cultural and scientific center of Eastern Hungary, further strengthening our leading position in the hospitality sector in Central and Eastern Europe.”

The refurbished Hotel Lycium will offer 92 modern, comfortable rooms (including 4 suites), a restaurant and a bar on two floors. The hotel is part of a complex of buildings including the Kölcsey Centre, the largest and most modern conference centre in Eastern Hungary, and the MODEM Centre for Modern and Contemporary Art (MODEM), built in 2006 and being one of the first cornerstones of Debrecen’s transformation into a smart city.

The project, designed by Ybl Prize-winning architect András Kováts, has enriched the business and cultural life of the city, and of Eastern Hungary more broadly, with high-quality spaces. Thanks to the new infrastructural impulse, the Kölcsey Centre has hosted more than 7,000 business events since its opening until 2021, resulting in nearly 300,000 guest nights at Hotel Lycium.

The Handwritten Collection is present in more than ten countries globally with nearly 30 hotels and more than 30 more in the pipeline.

Located at the foot of Mont-Blanc, Hotel Le Saint Gervais, the first hotel of the Handwritten Collection brand, elegantly highlights the owner’s passion for Ottoman culture. In our region, the Art Deco-inspired Crown Krakow Handwritten Collection combines geometric simplicity of form with noble finishing materials. The iconic 135-year-old Hotel Continental in Rijeka will also join Accor’s boutique collection, welcoming its first guests in 2026.

The brand is for instinctive connectors – people who value human connection above all else.For those looking for authentic experiences, the Handwritten Collection offers more than just accommodation; it invites them to immerse themselves in an intimate setting and develop genuine relationships with their fellow guests and hosts. A beacon of individuality in the mid-range hospitality segment, Handwritten Collection accommodations embody the essence of stylish and inviting homes. Guests are welcomed into a world of charm and personality, where the uniqueness of each destination is reflected in every detail.

Debrecen, as the centre of Eastern Hungary and the wider region, has significant economic potential. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly attractive as a tourist destination. The number of tourists and the number of nights spent in 2023 will be significantly higher than in 2019. The Accor group is present in the city with the Mercure Debrecen hotel, which opened in 2022, and the ibis Styles Debrecen Airport hotel, which will open before this summer season. 

Source: economx.hu, visitdebrecen.com, dehir.hu