A real 'home away from home' for musicians (and other guests)

Harmonious combination of personal hospitality and modern approach

The picturesque town of Malmedy, located in the beautiful Belgian Ardennes, houses a true treasure for lovers of unique and musical experiences: the Daft Hotel. This extraordinary hotel is not just a place to stay, but a true experience. With its quirky and creative atmosphere, distinctive decor, hospitality and a professional music recording studio, the Daft Hotel conquers a special place in the hearts of musicians and other creative travellers.

Tine Blondeel, manager Daft Hotel: "Together with studio engineer and husband Stijn Verdonckt, I made the move to the Ardennes about 18 years ago. At that time, a position became available at La Chapelle Studios. A few years later, we took over that studio. We soon realised that musicians needed something more than a good studio and a technician and expanded to include a residency option and an agency. Since the residency part was a few kilometres from the studio, plans arose to build a new complex on a vacant lot, so that everything would be in one location. Totally as we saw and felt it. A real 'home away from home' for musicians and other guests."

Nose of the salmon

"Daft Studios is really the cream of the crop and at least as high-quality as the old Studios of the 1980s. It became an imposing, large hall of 200 m² and eight metres high. With absolute 'top gear' and superb acoustics. On top of the studio, we built a penthouse, with space for eight artists. So they can always seek silence and privacy if they want."

"If extra rooms are needed, they can move out to the second building. There you will find Daft Hotel, with 14 rooms that can, of course, be used for other purposes. Think of tourists, but also corporate seminars, teambuildings, parties, special events, you name it."

Emphasis on outdoor experience

"At the Daft Hotel, rooms are deliberately cosy and small. That way, guests are encouraged to seek out the fun, communal areas. We have a cool lounge with an open fireplace, a pizza oven where guests can bake their own pizza, a small cinema where you can stream your own films or music - through an iPad you are given - and there is also an 'honesty' bar where guests use a QR code to order their own drinks, pay for them and then collect them themselves. By working with different nooks and atmospheres, there is something for everyone."

"Of course music has a strong presence. Everywhere here you can hear playlists of musicians we have worked with, beautiful pictures and other nods to famous bands, ... Here you really have a festival feeling, but in a very quiet and relaxed way. The 10,000 m² garden, where we set up large glamping tents with beautiful views over the forest and the valley from May to September, also contributes to this.'

Feeling at home

"I think with Daft Hotel we have struck a good balance between very personalised hospitality and a more modern approach, with electronic tools, such as apps, playlists, streaming platforms and bluetooth devices. This all seems rather daring, but we find that it stimulates a sense of home. Guests are in control of what they want where and when. A real added value for the modern customer!"■