VARRODESIGN

Zoltan Varro

Zoltan Varro, the founder of VarroDesign is a multi-award-winning designer of international recognition who left his mark in several European locations from London to Lake Como. He has designed over eighteen hotels in the past few years and has won a Gold Key Award (New York), the World Luxury Hotel Award (Hong Kong) and the Boutique Hotel Award (London). He started his career over 20 years ago in the city of Budapest, where he was exposed to the rich and eclectic architectural heritage of great classical, art nouveau and modernist masters.

One of his landmark projects, the Aria Hotel Budapest was named the best hotel in the world by TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Award based on reviews complementing the hotel's music inspired design and sky bar, amongst other qualities. The Aria Hotel Budapest has also won Europe's Best Wellness Spa in London's World Boutique Hotel Awards and was nominated for a Gold Key Award in three different categories: Best Hotel Luxury, Best Guest Room Luxury, Best Lobby Luxury.

Zoltan Varro has been working on the renovation of the old luxury art nouveau hotel in Brunate (Italy), otherwise called the "balcony of the Alps" with spectacular views over Lake Como. The luxurious Nuvole Garden Hotel is due to open later this year. The owner of the property, Italiana Hotels has also commissioned the designer to renovate another of the group's estates, Borgo di Fiuzzi Resort and Spa in Praia a Mare.

He is also known for immersing into the heritage of his projects, such as the Mystery Hotel in the old FreeMasons headquarter of Budapest, the only European project among the finalists of Best Lobby and Best Guestroom in Luxury Design at the Gold Key Awards in 2019. The Mystery Hotel is one of those properties where one can observe Zoltan Varro's visionary usage of fabric. Beyond property-specific designs, he has been working closely with one of the world's leading fabric houses, JAB Anstoetz and was asked to design their luxury brand Grandezza.

At the end of last year, his Mirror Spa in Platan Tata (Hungary) built on the old moat grounds of a 14th-century royal castle was shortlisted for Gold Key Awards in the category of Best Specialty Design. The property went through a complete interior transformation inspired by the nearby Esterhazy Palace, the natural beauty of the neighbourhood, and the artisanal gastronomy of the resident Michelin-star chef.

He tends to work with his clients across the portfolio, an example of which is his co-operation with the hotel group, CPI Hotels with three projects in Budapest, the Mamaison Chain Bridge Hotel, the Funky Budapest Hotel, and the Mamaison Residence Izabella.

Besides making it to the finals four times with five different projects, Zoltan Varro received the Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design for the Science Hotel (Szeged, Hungary) in the category of Best Lobby Budget/Focused Service.

Summary of awards and nominations:

Gold Key Awards 2021 - Finalist - Best Specialty Design

Gold Key Awards 2019 - Finalist - Best Lobby and Guest Room Luxury Design

Gold Key Awards 2016 - Winner - Best Lobby Budget Focused Design

Gold Key Awards 2016 - Finalist - Best Fine Dining Restaurant Design

World Luxury Hotel Awards Hong Kong 2015 - Winner - Best Forest Hotel

Boutique Hotel Awards London 2015 - Winner - Europe's Best Wellness Spa

Gold Key Awards 2015 - Finalist - Best Lobby Luxury Design

Gold Key Awards 2015 Finalist - Best Hotel Luxury Design

Gold Key Awards 2015 Finalist - Best Guest Room Luxury Design

European Hotel Awards 2014 - Winner - Best New Small Hotel Construction and Design