Hotel Le Méridien bankrupt

Brussels’ well-known hotel Le Méridien, across from Central Station, has declared bankruptcy following a dispute between hotel lease holder Starman and the owner of the building, investment company SHLC, based in Switzerland. According to a spokesperson from the socialist union, 140 jobs are at risk.

On Wednesday, the Commercial Court of Brussels pronounced the hotel bankrupt, reports alderman for tourism Philippe Close. News of the bankruptcy comes three weeks after the hotel staff went on an hour-long strike demanding more transparency from Starman, including information on a potential take-over.

The ultimate cause of the collapse was a dispute over the rent, which amounted to about €300,000 per month. The hotel cannot complain about a lack of clients, however, which Close refers to as “the paradox of the Brussels hotel sector”. There is plenty of interest in rooms, but the revenue per room is too low, according to him.