Three hotels on Passeig de Gràcia open their doors to TBS students

Passeig de Gràcia is one of the streets that form the backbone of Barcelona’s Eixample. Located right in the center, it is home to some of Barcelona’s most emblematic modernist buildings, along with one of the city’s most important shopping and business areas. For all these reasons, it is also a place of reference for the tourist industry and is where we find some of Barcelona’s top hotels and restaurants.

Last Friday, a group of MSc Tourism and Hospitality Management students were able to visit three key points for Barcelona’s hospitality industry: Suites Avenue Apartments, Hotel Condes de Barcelona, and Hotel Monument; all three located in Passeig de Gràcia, very close to Casa Milà. The students enjoyed visits with hospitality professionals, who answered all their questions and shared their thoughts and perspectives on the sector.

“I think these visits are very necessary for the students, a very practical action for them to see in situ what they are studying and the content of the classes we give them,” explains Master’s lecturer Deborah Carrer. This year, because of the pandemic, it has been more difficult to organize visits, due to security issues and protocols related to Covid. Despite the difficulties, three major hotels have opened their doors to our students.

Suites Avenue Apartments

At Paseo de Gracia 83 is a building that is striking for its modernity and sinuous forms, almost like a contemporary version of Gaudí’s La Pedrera, just a few meters from each other. It is the Suites Avenue Luxe, designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, which houses 41 luxury tourist flats.

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The students enjoyed a tour of the entire building, including the gymnasium, terrace, swimming pools, and some of the rooms. They were also able to view the works of art housed in Suites Avenue. Already of great architectural value, the building also has a Museum Room where Hindu and Buddhist works of art from the 16th to 19th centuries, which form part of the Clos Archaeological Collection, are on display.

Hotel Condes de Barcelona

The second stop was the Hotel Condes de Barcelona. Although the hotel has been closed for more than a year due to the pandemic, it opened its doors for TBS Barcelona students.

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The four-star hotel is located in a renovated former mansion, Casa Daurella. The students were able to visit its different rooms, taking in every detail and the services offered to guests. They also visited its spectacular Alaire terrace, which has privileged views of the entire city, with La Pedrera in the foreground and, in the distance, the Sagrada Familia and other highlights of Barcelona.

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Hotel Monument

The last visit was to the Monument Hotel 5*GL, located in one of the most outstanding buildings on Paseo de Gracia, the Casa Enric Batlló. The first things that strike you about its interior are the modernist elements combined with design spaces: the lobby, the stairs, or the windows, which give it a lot of personality and elegance. The group was guided through the rooms of the hotel, where they were able to see all the rooms on offer, as well as the Verbena terrace and the swimming pool.

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Besides, the Monument stands out for its gastronomy, accumulating 4 Michelin stars between its two restaurants, the Lasarte (with three Michelin stars) and the Oria (with one Michelin star); directed by the renowned chef Martín Berasategui. The students were able to visit the restaurant and the Chef’s Table (Mesa del Chef), a private dining room located above the kitchen that allows them to follow all the action behind the dishes.

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If you also want to join TBS Barcelona, find out more about our Bachelor in Management or one of our MSc programs, such as the MSc Tourism and Hospitality Management.