Budapest’s former main post office was built in the heart of town in 1870. After monumental reconstruction in 2007, it has since laid empty for a decade. Now, further major renovations will see a high-end hotel emerge from this focal landmark. Planned for 2020, a Hyatt will complement another hotel being set up by the same global chain at nearby Párisi Udvar.

With a Hyatt hotel already being created within the historic Klotild Palace and Párisi Udvar, it has just been announced that the Hyatt Regency Budapest will be a 231-room luxury and business accommodation in nearby Petőfi Sándor utca. Meanwhile, renovations are slowly being completed at the partner building.

Eclectic in style, the post office was erected between 1870-73 according to plans by Antal Szkalnitzky and Henrik Koch. Back then, it was referred to as the Main Post and Telegraph Palace. Added later, the telegraph hall was the first reinforced concrete structure in the city.

Until 2006, the building was in the hands of the Hungarian Post and Telegraph Office, who then sold the crumbling property to Telekom Rt.. Reconstruction of this heritage building began with a hotel transformation in mind but works then stalled during the financial crisis. Even though the façade has been restored, there is plenty of work still to be done on the building. The prospective owner, in addition to leisure tourism, is also factoring in business tourism, so the building houses more than 600 square metres of meeting space to meet its needs.