Starwood has opened the first Aloft hotel in Europe.

Owned by Thornsett Group, the Aloft Brussels Schuman is located in the heart of the buzzing European Union district, and features 147 loft-like guest rooms, including three Breezy Lofts (Aloft’s re-interpretation of a suite), a bar in the open lobby and a grab-and-go café.

With more than 40 hotels open since its June 2008 debut, Aloft currently operates hotels in five countries - the USA, Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates and India, with Belgium marking its sixth destination. Further openings are already planned in India and the USA as well as brand introductions in Thailand and the UK.

Aloft Brussels Schuman features public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mix lounge and w xyz bar, a destination bar for hotel guests and local residents alike. The w xyz bar is an ideal place to have a cocktail with friends or dance the night away at one of the many DJ evenings.

The guest rooms (minimum of 28m2) will feature the brand’s signature ceilings of nearly three meters high, oversized windows and a comfortable bed as well as roomy walk-in showers and bath amenities created by Bliss Spa.

Each Aloft room will also be equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access and a plug-and-play connectivity solution which connects most electronic devices to the 42” flat-screen TV, turning the room into a high-tech office as well as an entertainment centre.

Travellers will be able to de-stress and re-energize in the re:charge fitness centre whilst the 24-hour grab & go food and beverage area re:fuel by Aloft offers sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages.

For work meetings, training courses and presentations, the hotel’s Tactic meeting rooms, which are equipped with the latest generation of audiovisual hardware, provide a creative space for groups of up to 50 people.

Aloft Brussels Schuman is the fifth Starwood Hotel in Belgium, joining Le Méridien Brussels, Sheraton Brussels Hotel, Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Brussels.