Historic Art Nouveau gem in Transylvania reborn as modern hotel! – photos
The over one-hundred-year-old Pannónia Hotel on the main square of Satu Mare (Szatmárnémeti), one of the most beautiful examples of Transylvanian Hungarian Art Nouveau architecture, has finally regained its former glory. The restoration of the building’s exterior was completed in autumn 2025, and by the spring of 2026, the interior is also expected to welcome guests in full splendour. However, the reborn hotel will reopen under a new name: as Hotel Indigo, part of the British IHG chain, with a Hungarian operator.
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The history of the Pannónia Hotel
The story of the Pannónia Hotel dates back to the late 19th century. It was under the leadership of Mayor Mihály Hermán that Satu Mare’s city administration announced a competition in 1897 for the construction of a new hotel. The winning design was created by Zoltán Bálint and Ferenc Jámbor, one of the most prominent Hungarian Art Nouveau architect duos of the era, who designed a building that was both elegant and distinctive.
The cornerstone was laid in 1901, and just a year later, in 1902, the Pannónia Hotel opened its doors. It functioned not only as a hotel but also as a centre for the city’s social and cultural life, housing a café, restaurant, confectionery, ballroom, and artists’ quarters. Its domed auditorium—today home to the Dinu Lipatti Philharmonic—became famous for its acoustics and grand interior. The façade is decorated with Zsolnay-glazed ceramic details and roof tiles, the city’s coat of arms adorns the pediment, while the interiors feature rich painted and carved ornamentation.
From decline to restoration
According to TransTelex, after the regime change, the hotel first came into the ownership of its employees and then of Romanian businessmen. Though many ambitious redevelopment plans emerged, they all failed, and illegal demolitions even caused structural damage. The building was closed off and left to deteriorate without maintenance.
At the end of 2017, Budapest-based Manevi Plc. purchased the company owning the Pannónia Hotel, with support from the Hungarian state. Although locals initially hoped for rapid heritage restoration, the project fell silent for several years. In 2021, the Central European Built Heritage Preservation Foundation (Közép-európai Épített Örökség Megőrző Alapítvány, KEÉÖMA) took over ownership of the building. While officially independent, the foundation operates under government-linked management.
Actual renovation work only started in 2023, after the Hungarian government approved funding for the project. According to the city’s mayor, this finally paved the way for complete reconstruction.
New name, global brand
The restored building will not retain its original “Pannónia” name, nor the later “Dacia” name. It will reopen as Hotel Indigo, joining the British InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), becoming the first Indigo-branded hotel in Romania. The brand’s “lifestyle” concept focuses on highlighting each location’s local character through unique design.
Daily operations will be handled by Hungary’s Hotel & More Group, known for running countryside wellness and conference hotels in Hungary. This will be the company’s first international venture, operated under an international franchise model.
A new operational model
The reopening is based on a three-part arrangement:
- Owner: KEÉÖMA, a Hungarian public foundation
- Brand: British IHG – Hotel Indigo
- Operator: Hungarian Hotel & More Group
This complex ownership and operating structure represents a unique model in Transylvania. However, its transparency and sustainability will only become clear once the hotel officially resumes operations.
