On 24 June 2026, a gala celebration marking the 50th anniversary of one of Poland’s most recognisable hotels took place in the ballroom of Sofitel Warsaw Victoria. The event brought together around 400 guests, including representatives of business, culture, the media, public administration, the tourism industry, as well as long-standing partners and friends of the property. The hotel also became the second recipient of the Bursztynowy Splendor award.
The anniversary was not only a commemorative occasion. It was also an opportunity to recall the history of a property which, for five decades, has helped shape the image of Warsaw as a city open to guests from Poland and around the world. Since its opening in 1976, still operating then as Hotel Victoria, the property has become one of the most important addresses in Polish hospitality – a meeting place for diplomacy, business, culture, the media and international events.
Its story forms part of a broader narrative about the development of Polish tourism, the professionalisation of hotel services and the building of hospitality standards in Poland.
A Hotel that Helped Shape the Image of Warsaw and Poland
Over the years, Victoria has been much more than a hotel. For many international guests, it was one of their first points of contact with Warsaw and Poland. Its location on Piłsudski Square, close to the capital’s most important institutions, monuments and symbolic spaces, made the hotel a natural reference point for business travellers, delegation members, conference participants, cultural event guests and official visits.
In this sense, the history of Sofitel Warsaw Victoria is also the history of inbound tourism in Poland. For decades, the property helped build confidence in Poland as a destination capable of welcoming the most demanding guests. It combined the functions of a luxury hotel, a representative venue and an event space, strengthening Warsaw’s position on the map of European cities of business, culture and meetings.
Bursztynowy Splendor Award for Sofitel Warsaw Victoria
A special moment during the ceremony was the presentation of the prestigious Bursztynowy Splendor award to Sofitel Warsaw Victoria. The distinction is awarded to the most luxurious, attractive and innovative properties in Poland, recognised for their high standard of service, unique character and importance for the development of Polish tourism.
In June 2026, the first recipient of the Bursztynowy Splendor was Dom Restauracyjny Wierzynek in Kraków – a place of exceptional significance for culinary heritage and hospitality in Poland. Sofitel Warsaw Victoria became the second property to receive this distinction.
The award was presented by Ireneusz Raś, Minister of Sport and Tourism, and Magdalena Krucz, President of the Polish Tourism Organisation, and was received by Aneta Lewandowska, General Manager of the hotel.
This recognition gave the anniversary an additional dimension. It highlighted not only the hotel’s contemporary quality, but also its historical importance – as a property that has for years represented the highest standard of Polish hospitality and strengthened the attractiveness of Warsaw as a business and cultural destination.
The Anniversary Evening
The anniversary evening was prepared in an atmosphere inspired by the French music festival, Fête de la Musique. This theme emphasised the links between the Sofitel brand and French culture, elegance and the art of living, while also corresponding naturally with the history of a place which, for five decades, has combined an international character with Warsaw’s identity.
The gala was hosted by Grażyna Torbicka, who invited guests on a journey through the hotel’s history – from its opening in 1976 as Hotel Victoria to the present day, in which Sofitel Warsaw Victoria remains a symbol of luxury, elegance and hospitality at the highest level. The narrative of the evening also included a personal note from the host, who recalled her own wedding reception, held in this very ballroom in 1981.
The ceremony opened with an impressive dance performance by the Dansinn by Malitowski ensemble.
The official part of the evening was complemented by speeches from invited guests, including Ireneusz Raś, Minister of Sport and Tourism; Dominik Sołtysik; Magdalena Krucz, President of the Polish Tourism Organisation; Aneta Lewandowska, General Manager of Sofitel Warsaw Victoria; Dominik Sołtysik, Chief Operating Officer for Eastern Europe at Essendi and President of the Management Board of Essendi Poland SA; and Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems.
“Victoria” – a Symbol of Warsaw
A special place in the narrative of the anniversary evening was given to the story of the iconic, three-dimensional “Victoria” sign, which for years was one of the most recognisable symbols of both the hotel and Warsaw. Although it disappeared from the building’s façade in 2011, its significance has remained alive. Today, it functions as part of the artistic project “Inscription”, becoming a carrier of memory and a testimony to the history of a place that has been an important point on the map of the capital for five decades.
This symbolic element reflects the continuity of the hotel’s history. Victoria changed together with Warsaw, with Polish tourism and with guests’ expectations, yet it retained its recognisability and significance as a venue for prestigious meetings.
Five Decades of Polish Hospitality
The 50th anniversary of Sofitel Warsaw Victoria was a celebration of one hotel, but also a symbolic reminder of the journey travelled by Polish tourism and hospitality. From the 1970s, through the period of transformation, the development of the international market, the arrival of global hotel brands and the growing role of Warsaw as a centre of business, culture and events, Victoria remained one of the addresses that helped shape this change.
Today, Sofitel Warsaw Victoria remains a place of meetings, conferences and exceptional events. It combines history with a modern standard of luxury, local identity with an international brand, and the tradition of Polish hospitality with the expectations of contemporary travellers. The anniversary showed that the legend of this place is not merely a memory of the past – it continues to be an important element of the image of Warsaw and Polish tourism.
