Interview with Mr. András Horváth, General Manager, Mystery Hotel

12 Jun Interview with Mr. András Horváth, General Manager, Mystery Hotel

2019 was a great year for tourism in Budapest and Hungary. How do you see the current tourism and hospitality sector and what could be improved?

Restarting the hotel industry after the pandemic was especially difficult in Central Europe. In Hungary, locals tend to travel more to the countryside than to Budapest. However, tourism has been improving year by year. Visit Hungary and the Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association have been supporting us in many ways, listening to our needs and helping us move forward.

Can you share the hotel’s history and how its heritage shapes the guest experience?

Mystery Hotel Budapest is an 82-room luxury boutique hotel with unique spaces like the Great Hall restaurant on the fourth floor, often used for special events. We also feature the Sky Garden Rooftop and the Secret Garden Day Spa at the heart of the building. Unconventionally, our three event rooms are on the lower level, while the spa and restaurant are placed above — a creative layout by our designer, Zoltán Varró. Guests find the setup surprising, but they love the experience.

The hotel opened in 2019, so it’s still quite new. Aside from some light touch-ups in the restaurant and bar during the pandemic, no major renovations have been needed. We are located near the Danube and Buda Castle, with easy access to the parliament, Andrássy Avenue (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Heroes’ Square. Nearby, the fully renovated City Park is home to the historic and expansive Széchenyi Spa.

Guest satisfaction is a top priority. We monitor reviews closely with support from Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which provides a platform to track feedback. Our service scores 96% and guests consistently praise our friendly, helpful staff, especially in the restaurant and Sky Bar.

What makes the Buda side of the city a luxury tourism hotspot and boutique hub?

In recent years, several new hotels have opened on the Buda side, like Kimpton Bem and Hotel Clark. More developments are planned, including the renovation of the historic Hotel Gellért into a Mandarin Oriental flagship. Most major hotel chains, including Mystery Hotel Budapest, are on the Pest side near the Western train station. Pest is known for its stylish boutique hotels and vibrant cultural life, while Buda is more elegant, residential and scenic with landmarks like the Buda Castle and Citadel. From our Sky Bar, guests enjoy stunning views of Buda.

Do you see many American tourists and what do they expect from a luxury stay?

We welcome American travelers and are part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which is strong in the UK and US markets and we work with American Express Travel and Expedia. Most of our leisure guests find us through Expedia.

Around 70% of our guests are from the UK and 5% from the US. A direct New York–Budapest flight, which stopped during the pandemic, would greatly support more US  visitors—we hope it returns soon.

How do you use digital technology and approach sustainability at the hotel?

We have minimized paper use by managing reservations digitally, making operations smoother and more efficient. Our key card system from SALTO is reliable and easy to use — we have had no guest complaints. In line with our sustainability goals, we have switched to Rituals products and wall-mounted dispensers for toiletries, reducing plastic waste across all rooms.

What types of events does the hotel usually host?

We host weddings but currently focus more on corporate clients. We often have corporate groups booking the entire hotel and using all our facilities and event rooms. Both areas are strong, but corporate partnerships are our priority now.

Mystery Hotel ranks 22nd among Europe’s best luxury hotels in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice. What other awards have you won since opening?

We have won several awards, including the 2024 Luxury Historical Hotel and the Hungarian National Restaurant Week last autumn as well as this spring. Our chef creates high-quality dishes close to Michelin star level. We are very proud of these achievements.

What are your personal goals for the hotel in the next 3–5 years?

I became general manager this January and my goal is to succeed in this role during my first year. I am happy and find the job challenging. My young team is eager to excel, whether here or elsewhere. In Hungary, hotels are rated by stars and next year we plan to pursue a five-star rating.

What is your final message?

Budapest and its people are very friendly. We strive to be welcoming hosts and look forward to welcoming more guests from the US.