NH Collection Hotels Launches Storybook Stays Across Europe — Reading Retreat Inspiration for Well-Read Travelers
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” — Anna Quindlen
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▲ NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa Lobby
October 22, 2025 — Reading retreats are expected to be hot in 2026, and NH Collection Hotels is at the heart of the trend. With a rich history of supporting the creative arts and a portfolio of properties steeped in literary connections, NH Collection is unveiling a curated selection of storybook stays designed for the passionate, well-read traveler this winter. From historic palaces and baroque residences to cozy alpine hideaways, these destinations invite guests to immerse themselves in timeless tales while creating their own storied memories.
Setting: Once home to the Earl of Tepa and designed by royal architect Juan de Villanueva, this palace brims with literary charm. On the ground floor, guests can see the remains of the 16th-century canal system.
Why Read Here: Guests can dine at the restaurant, ‘Entre Letras’ (‘Among letters’), which was designed for book lovers. The hotel has an agreement with one of Madrid’s legendary bookstores, Crazy Mary Libreria & Co and together they host author reading events and debates.
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▲ NH Collection Madrid Suecia Speakeasy Cocktail Bar
Setting: Located in the city center, this property dates back to the 1950’s and has welcomed numerous famous guests, including Ernest Hemingway, Julio Cortázar, and Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Ernest Hemingway once called this hotel his home away from home.
Why Read Here: After wandering the Barrio de las Letras neighborhood, once home to Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Spain’s Golden Age writers, guests can retreat to the Speakeasy. Hidden behind a door in the hotel’s loo, the Clandestino Speakeasy Bar (formerly “Bar Hemingway”) is a secret cocktail lounge inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies. The concept was designed to recapture the spirit of “La Casa de Suecia,” a meeting point for intellectuals in the 1960s. The signature cocktail, Hemingway Especial, is made with Zacapa 23 rum, grapefruit, lime, and pepper bitters. The hotel offers a guest library located next to the Casa Suecia restaurant area, paying homage to the hotel’s literary roots.
Italy:
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▲ NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi Garden Sunbed Relax Area
Setting: Originating as a 17th-century palace known as “Palazzo Rizzo-Patarol,” the original owner of the NH Collection Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi was the renowned collector and botanist Lorenzo Patarol, who wrote an herbarium now preserved at the Natural History Museum of Venice, a few steps from the hotel.
Why Read Here: The garden was once considered to be “one of the Venetian Singularities to be referred to by foreigners”. In fact, it was so renowned for its beauty, the Austrian Emperor Francis I visited in 1815. Its Private Garden and Baroque architecture make it ideal for quiet reading and literary inspiration.
Setting: NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano, the latest addition to the brand in Italy, is located within a stunning Baroque palace that was once three separate noble residences.
Why Read Here: Nestled near historic markets, churches, and the port of La Cala, this property offers the perfect setting to dive into The Leopard or the works of Mario Puzo and Leonardo Sciascia, all inspired by Sicily’s complex history.
Setting: Located in the Italian Alps, this hotel offers tranquil, family-friendly winter escapes—perfect for a cozy season reading session next to the crackling fire.
Why Read Here: The region itself inspired bestsellers like Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Eight Mountains. Families can ignite the love of reading with their children using the selection of children’s books in the Kids Club. Additionally, young guests will receive a custom storybook upon check-in, immersing them in the spirit of Mirtillo, taking muse in the natural elements of the Italian Alps.
Setting: The NH Collection Copenhagen is located in the heart of the “City of Spires.”
Why Read Here: The hotel’s peaceful lounge features a small area called ‘the library,’ where guests can read their own literature or be inspired by the many books available for their enjoyment.
Once they put their book aside, guests can step outside and experience the historic trail of the acknowledged author H.C. Andersen, famous for writing The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, and The Little Mermaid. Guests can experience his world by visiting Nyhavn, where he lived, seeing the statue in Town Hall Square, or visiting the Round Tower and The Little Mermaid Statue, which inspired his adventures.
Setting: Designed by famed Viennese architect Achille Wölf, the splendid Neo-Renaissance hotel building was initially constructed in the 1890’s for the Czech Mortgage Bank. Later converted into a hotel, many of the building’s features have been preserved or restored, including the original bank treasury room, which now functions as The Vault Bar.
Why Read Here: Prague is the backdrop to many famous books and movies. With the recent release of Dan Brown’s new novel, The Secret of Secrets, guests can experience the book by joining the Book Walking Tour available through Prague City Tourism. Guests can continue their inspiration by visiting the many muses of Kafka to explore his works and life.
Finland:
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▲ NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa Lobby Lounge Area
Setting: This stunning property combines two historically significant buildings, the New Student House and Hotel Seurahuone, one of Helsinki's best-preserved heritage properties and the heart of Finnish culture and social life since the early 20th Century.
Why Read Here: The rich history of the property indicates that Finnish Novelist, Historian, and Playwright Mika Waltari spent many memorable, cocktail-filled nights at Socis Bar. The legendary Socis Bar, which opened just before the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, was a favorite hangout for many artists.
Winter Rates to Experience a Storybook Stay with Savings from 25% Off
Whether it’s tracing the steps of Hemingway in Madrid, reading under frescoed ceilings in Venice, or curling up by the fire in the Italian Alps, NH Collection Hotels offer the perfect setting for travelers who believe books are as essential as passports. The Magical Season Awaits with Winter Promotional Rates up to 25% off (for DISCOVERY Loyalty Members), as well as 5 DISCOVERY Dollars for online bookings and flexible cancellation.
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About NH Collection Hotels & Resorts
NH Collection Hotels & Resorts is a premium hospitality brand with over 100 properties across Europe and the Americas and a growing global footprint in Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. Offering worldly travelers stays that evoke extraordinary feelings, NH Collection perfectly combines comfort, innovation, intuitive service, an elegant atmosphere, and surprising flavors, all embedded in the local identity.
NH Collection Hotels & Resorts is a Minor Hotels brand and recognizes its guests through one unified loyalty program, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.
Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with over 640* hotels, resorts and branded residences across 59 countries. The group crafts innovative and insightful experiences through its hotel brands including Anantara, Elewana Collection, The Wolseley Hotels, Tivoli, Minor Reserve Collection, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, Colbert Collection, NH, Oaks, and iStay, as well as a diverse portfolio of restaurants and bars, travel experiences, and spa and wellness brands. With over four decades of expertise, Minor Hotels builds stronger brands, fosters lasting partnerships, and drives business success by always focusing on what matters most to our guests, team members and partners.
Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognizes its guests through one unified loyalty program, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.
*Property count includes operating properties as well as committed developments through ownership, joint ventures, signed leases and management agreements.
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