Old Post Office in Novi Sad to become part of large global Accor franchise – To open as Grand Mercure Hotel with spa center, congress and conference hall in 2028

The Old Post Office building in Novi Sad, which once housed the Central Hotel, will once again begin receiving guests after more than a century. The building at 4 Narodnih Heroja Street, which overlooks the “Mladenaca” Square on one side and Postanska Street on the other, known to Novi Sad residents as the Old Post Office, has been out of operation for years.

In the past, photos of the interior have appeared on social media, revealing massive columns and hinting at the former splendor of this building in the city center, which became the property of the Novi Sad tourism company Grand Tours after a public auction.

The director of this company, Petar Knezevic, says that the deadline for completion of the works and opening is the first half of 2028, and that the works could be completed earlier if weather conditions permit.

– Our intention is for the hotel to be of a high category and, in addition to rooms and apartments for guest accommodation, to include a restaurant for boarders, an a la carte restaurant for hotel guests and our fellow citizens, a good café bar, lobby, swimming pool, spa, gym, massage rooms, congress hall, two conference halls, so we have given the architects additional information in that area and they are in the design phase – explains Knezevic.

He explains that, based on the permit, they have begun preparatory work for reconstruction, adding that the original appearance of the building will not be changed.

– We submitted a request for a change of purpose of the building and requested a permit for reconstruction, and we received a permit for preparatory work, which has been started. The project is very comprehensive. The facade will remain authentic, not only that, but also everything related to the roof and attic will remain in its original form, but will be in better condition – says Knezevic.

The interior of the building is currently in the first phase of reconstruction and, according to the owner, there will be no deviations from the original style in the construction.

The former Central Hotel will now become part of a franchise, namely the French Accor Group, one of the largest companies in the world in the field of hospitality.

– We decided on a brand that does not yet exist in Europe and I think we will be the first hotel with that name in Europe and it will be called Grand Mercure Novi Sad – says Knezevic.

From hotel to post office

The building was raised in the 1870s, and it is not known who designed it. In 1889, the building was taken over by Jovan Horvat and during that period it became the Central Hotel. However, a decade later, the building was ceded to the postal service.

In the early 1920s, more extensive works were carried out and the original appearance was changed. The designer Momir Korunovic was responsible for these works, which included an extension.

Over the years, massive columns were built into the partition walls, which is why the people of Novi Sad were surprised when they saw photos of the interior of this building.

Grand tours doo Novi Sad

Old Post Office Novi Sad

Grand Tours Novi Sad

Grand Mercure Hotel

Petar Knežević

Mladenaca Square Novi Sad

Poštanska Street Novi Sad

former Central Hotel Novi Sad

Momir Korunović