{"id":22211,"date":"2026-08-21T20:58:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T20:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/22211\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T20:58:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T20:58:14","slug":"in-krakow-jw-marriott-transforms-a-1922-bank-into-a-luxury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/22211\/","title":{"rendered":"In Krakow, JW Marriott transforms a 1922 bank into a luxury"},"content":{"rendered":"

In brief<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f A 1922 gmach \u00b7 the former headquarters of the PKO bank on Wielopole Street, designed by Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz, is becoming Krakow\u2019s first JW Marriott.
\n\ud83d\udd28 Construction started in late September 2025 \u00b7 no completion date has been announced, and this is deliberate.
\n\ud83d\udecf\ufe0f Around 120 keys \u00b7 within the spaces of the former offices, featuring extraordinary ceiling heights.
\n\ud83e\udd85 The Polish eagle will return \u00b7 the sculpture destroyed during the Second World War will be reinstalled on the facade.<\/p>\n

There are construction sites where the opening date is announced before the first shovel hits the ground. This one is doing the opposite. On Wielopole Street in Krakow, the monumental former headquarters of the PKO bank is being transformed into a JW Marriott, and the investor refuses to commit to a schedule. \u201cIt takes time,\u201d summarises the project management. In a sector that lives by opening dates, this admission is worth noting.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe former PKO bank gmach, on the corner of Dietla and Wielopole streets \u00b7 photo Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n

Marriott news on La Revue des H\u00f4tels<\/p>\n

From a financial bastion to a luxury hotel<\/p>\n

The building is no ordinary office block. Built between 1922 and 1924 to the designs of Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz, one of interwar Poland\u2019s major architects, it features a monumental colonnade that makes it a landmark in the centre of Krakow. Adaptation work began in late September 2025.<\/p>\n

Publicit\u00e9<\/p>\n

Before the main structural work, a preservation phase was systematically carried out. Conservation teams catalogued and protected the original decorative elements: moving parts were sent to secure warehouses, while fixed structures, period wood panelling, and monumental fireplaces were wrapped in custom-made casing. Adapting an early 20th-century administrative building to five-star standards then requires major interventions: new partitions, excavation of lift shafts, and entirely rebuilt technical networks.<\/p>\n

The dome, the parquet floors and the eagle<\/p>\n

The signature of the future hotel lies in its ceremonial spaces. The financial banking hall, topped by its dome, will become the heart of the establishment, under a restored skylight. The original parquet floors are undergoing specific treatment, and the former executive office, a remarkable piece of fine woodwork, will be preserved.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe north facade and its colonnade, designed by Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz \u00b7 photo Zygmunt Put, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n

The most symbolic gesture concerns the exterior. The Polish eagle, a sculpture destroyed during the Second World War, will be reinstalled on the monumental facade. The building\u2019s shell will be cleaned to restore its original brightness, and the surrounding area landscaped.<\/p>\n

What the hotel will offer<\/p>\n

The address will feature around 120 rooms and suites. The spaces of the former offices lend themselves to extraordinary suites, with high ceilings and views of the historic centre. The most appealing detail is found in the basement: the spa and its indoor pool will occupy the former vaults. A fine-dining restaurant, whose concept is yet to be revealed, and a permanent exhibition dedicated to the building\u2019s history complete the programme.<\/p>\n

See also<\/p>\n

\"Hotel<\/a><\/p>\n

Original featureFuture use<\/p>\n

The banking hall and its domeThe heart of the hotel, under a skylight
\nThe basement vaultsThe spa and indoor pool
\nThe bank officesAround 120 rooms and suites
\nThe executive officePreserved as is, an exceptional lounge
\nThe facade eagle, destroyed in 1939-1945Recreated and reinstalled<\/p>\n

A Krakow market in full transition<\/p>\n

This operation is not happening in a vacuum. In the summer of 2026, Pekao bank prepared the sale of its own historic city-centre building, while other projects conversely plan to convert existing five-star hotels into apartments. Krakow is deciding, asset by asset, between luxury hospitality and high-end residential. In July 2026, the road layout on nearby Dietla Street was also reconfigured to prepare access to the future establishment.<\/p>\n

Our take: the lack of a date is the real news<\/p>\n

Heritage conversion has become a reflex in luxury hospitality, and for good reason: a listed building tells a story that no new build can replicate. Restoring a dome and reinstalling a long-lost eagle reflects a sensitivity that international guests appreciate, and Krakow is better suited to this than most European cities.<\/p>\n

Publicit\u00e9<\/p>\n

But the most instructive part remains the refusal to announce a date. In a sector where the opening date is a marketing tool, doing without it is tantamount to admitting that the construction site dictates the pace, not the marketing calendar. This is rather a good sign for the quality of the restoration. It also means we will have to be patient, and be wary of any deadlines circulating that do not come directly from the investor.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udece\ufe0fAlso read on La Revue des H\u00f4tels<\/p>\n

\u2726\u00a0 Vous planifiez un s\u00e9jour\u00a0? R\u00e9servez votre h\u00f4tel de luxe au meilleur prix.<\/p>\n

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