The InterContinental Barcelona hotel is now open

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If you are looking for somewhere different for a weekend break this Winter, InterContinental opened a hotel in Barcelona this week.

It offers a new way to use your IHG Rewards points, or to use a ‘free weekend night’ voucher if you are an InterContinental Ambassador member.

The hotel website is here.

The InterContinental Barcelona is now open

Billed as the only luxury hotel to open in Barcelona so far this year, the hotel is in the Montjuïc district. South-west of the city, Montjuïc overlooks the harbour and, being on a hill, has views over Barcelona. Nearby attractions include the Palau Nacional which holds the National Museum of Catalan Art.

This hotel sounds familiar ….

This is not a new hotel. Well, it is and it isn’t. The building was previously the Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center, and the Fira Palace Hotel before that.

As the old name suggests, the hotel is next to Fira Center, a large trade fair and events complex. This implies that room rates are likely to vary sharply depending on whether any major events are taking place. It is a short walk from Plaza Espana which has a metro stop.

The hotel has, apparently, had a full renovation and it does look impressive from the images in this article.

The company says that:

“InterContinental Barcelona is a perfect example of how the brand can reimagine an existing property to exceed the expectation of the modern luxury traveller.”

We will see.

What’s inside?

The hotel has 273 rooms, with “nods to the richness of a European city built on unique Catalan culture, including the use of natural wood interiors with hues of blue, ochre, and neutral tones woven into the soft furnishings.”

There is a Club Lounge available for Royal Ambassador members and anyone who books a room with Club access.

The hotel has three restaurants and bars. The key offering is Quirat, which is run by Victor Torres. Torres is the youngest chef in Spain to earn a Michelin star.

Arrel, the second restaurant, has “been designed around the concept of roots …. The menu pays homage to the humble root as the origin of all earth’s ingredients.” There is also a cocktail bar, a coffee lounge and a rooftop terrace with a seasonal swimming pool.

The hotel boasts a 1,200 sq m spa with six treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, jets and water beds, steam bath, sauna, and a hammam.

You can find out more about InterContinental Barcelona here.

IHG Rewards update – December 2021:

Get bonus points: You can earn up to triple IHG Rewards base points with IHG’s new Autumn promotion. It runs from 1st October to 31st December. You can register here and our full article on the offer is here.

New to IHG Rewards? Read our overview of IHG Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG Rewards points, you can buy them here.

You will get a 100% bonus when you buy IHG Rewards points by 4th January 2022. Click here to buy or learn more.

Want to earn more hotel points? Click here to see our complete list of promotions from IHG and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

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This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Irons80 says:

29 Oct29 October 07:57

Since it was one of the best Crowne Plazas I have ever stayed at – great lounge, huge rooms – I have no worries it will be a great Intercontinental
- Chris says:
  
  29 Oct29 October 09:48
  
  Agreed. Stayed here when I went to the Spanish F1 GP a couple of years ago and it was excellent. Great tapas bar just over the road as well.
- BP says:
  
  29 Oct29 October 14:50
  
  CP Vientiane is better than most ICs I’ve stayed at. There are a few outstanding CPs.
marcw says:

29 Oct29 October 09:02

ME Barcelona is opening in November, so hardly the only luxury opening this year.
AndreasJ says:

29 Oct29 October 09:17

Not a common location for hotels in Barcelona, but it’s fairly well positioned. It is on the south side of the city, so that much closer to the airport which means the taxi ride will be a bit cheaper, the Aerobus also stops at the nearby Plaza Espanya. And you are a short walk from Poble Sec which undoubtedly has been the trendiest and most upcoming neighborhood in the city for the past few years, so a great mix of bars and restaurants to discover that are definitely off the main tourist trail. Sant Antonio market is also close by. It is a short walk from Calle Blai – a fairly local yet lively street stuffed with tapas / pintxos bars, and the legendary bodega / bar Quimet & Quimet to go back in time.
Craig Vassie says:

29 Oct29 October 09:47

This was a great Crowne Plaza with large airy rooms, and in my experience they always gave lounge access to Spire members. With the change to IC I expect that now you’ll have to pay for lounge access.
jarvester says:

29 Oct29 October 10:16

I stayed there with my family on Saturday night on my free night IHG CC voucher. The bits of the hotel that are opened look great from a distance but loads of teething issues going on, which made our stay a bit annoying. Some floor still under construction so a lot of the top end rooms are unavailable. We were offered a higher room with a sofa bed for a supplement as travelling with our two young children, after spending a week with family in the city. TV, kettle and mini bar fridge did not work (not power related, all different issues), so were offered a room change across the corridor. We were not exactly packing light so first negative point was to have to repack and move, so we decided to go for lunch first. Upon return, I sent the family to the rooftop pool (which I’d been promised in multiple occasions it would be heated) whilst organising everything, just to find out the water was freezing cold. Dissapointed children as this was the big selling point (pool is also tiny, don’t be fooled by pictures). Went down to reception to ask what’s going on just to be told there is a problem with one of the pumps and it won’t work until next day. Guy at the desk offers to check if they would allow us into the spa (adults only) to be told no way. I politely expressed my frustration as lots going wrong in the first hour, so he phones a GM and gets authority to overrule spa lady. Spa is wonderful and we had it to ourselves for an hour, highlight of the holiday, but again some jets etc not working and lots of sharp wobbly tiles on floors. Anyway we appreciated the freebie and enjoyed our time there, so happy family. Hotel was dead, no atmosphere in bar or restaurant in the evening so we went out.
Lastly, I enquired about breakfast prices in advance as wanted to treat kids (wife does not have breakfast), so we go down and when I ask for the bill it comes to double what I was quoted. Lady at the bar got quite defensive when I asked about this, so raised it at checkout and got original price honoured. Front desk, concierge and porter’s service was impeccable and extremely polite, as you would expect, but just too many issues/trips to reception in what was supposed to be a relaxing day.
It’s only been open for a week, but it was also apparent there is a lack of quality control and some of the issues could have been easily avoided. I’m sure things will get better soon, location is very handy for Poble Sec, Caixa Forum and Montjuic. Hope this helps!
- Duncan says:
  
  29 Oct29 October 11:09
  
  Ooops – I’m not sure how I managed to reply to the wrong comment here. 🙈
Ant says:

29 Oct29 October 10:30

off topic, has anyone received their IHG points from their black IHG credit card this month? They usually come in around the 23rd of the month. The statement says
IHG Rewards Points
Earned this
month:776
Bonus points: 0
Points transferred: 0
- Duncan says:
  
  29 Oct29 October 11:09
  
  If you’re one of the folks getting their account closed, there have been a number of people in the same boat who have been told by Creation that the points wont be transferred to IHG. Messaging seems inconsistent from what I’ve seem (I’m not affected, and points transferring normally for me.)
  - Simon says:
    
    29 Oct29 October 11:33
    
    I am in this boar but have not been notified by Creation.
    - Duncan says:
      
      29 Oct29 October 12:10
      
      I don’t know whether to feel more sorry for you or the boar!
Olly says:

29 Oct29 October 10:51

Also stayed when it was CP a few years ago, nice big room as upgrade for being Platinum. Would have got lounge access if Spire, I was told upon check-in. We’ve been thinking about a long weekend away so now it’s an IC and I am now Amb Spire looking to use up some free night vouchers, might go for a long weekend before Christmas.Location is on the outskirts but plenty of transport options. The Montjuic area is pleasant with tourist attraction. As CP Fira a it was big on conferences and when we were there the desk/ lobby always seems busy, presumably it won’t be conference orientated now it’s IC.
- Olly says:
  
  29 Oct29 October 10:53
  
  Oh……. And yes,the rooftop pool was freezing.
Toppcat says:

29 Oct29 October 15:31

Agree with all of the above – this was a great CP, undoubtedly better than some ICs… Status benefits were really good when I stayed, and the room was both blackout and absolutely silent. I can’t think of a better night sleep I have had anywhere!