NEXT: COMFORT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR MILLENNIALS
Techy, comfy, well-located, and trendy… that is how the new Savoy Signature hotel presents itself
You can tell Next is a different kind of hotel right from the self-check-in stations by the entrance to the joint bar and reception or the grab and go food station that stays open 24/7, like the Network Bar, and which is part of a lounge conceived for those who want to work remotely.
The Savoy Signature family's most recent addition is offered as a suggestion for millennials, young adults, with a strong connection to tech and concerned with healthy living and the sustainability of the planet, though not excluding age group.
It enjoys a privileged location in the Harbour area of Funchal. It is irreverent and combines technology with comfort. Here, there are almost as many USB plugs as there are electrical, which neatly captures the larger concept.
Music is everywhere, in the halls, the bars, the lifts and even in a speaker set in the water, in the rooftop pool. One should be expecting traditional hotel music here, though. The tunes at Next are lively, comprising a variety of musical styles, with a focus on the contemporary.
Not that you can hear it in any of the 126 rooms and suites, though, most of which sport a view of the sea. Roomy and comfy, they come in different types that can be adapted to different types of customers.
Next is part of a select group of hotels in Madeira with their own access to the sea. The hotel occupies a building completely renovated by RH Aquitetos, who apparently privileged concrete. The interior design was done through a consortium with ISWORKROOM.
The tanning salon circles around a saltwater pool. That is where the Recharge Bar & Restaurant is located, where the day takes off with a breakfast service featuring light and healthy options, but also with plenty of eggs and bacon for the afficionados.
The restaurant takes its inspiration from the connection between Madeira and Hawaii, where thousands of Madeirans emigrated to in the late 19th century, creating a meeting between cultures, and gastronomies. Hence, the menu features Hawaiian dishes like Huli Huli Chicken or Poke Bowls.
But there are several Asian options and of course the traditional burgers, sandwiches, and salads of so-called international cuisine. The common thread is that the menu features delicacies which are fresh, balanced, and simple, made mostly with ingredients from Madeira. Dinner is Mediterranean-inspired.
Service at Next is young and relaxed. A great deal of attention is given to detail and customers' needs are top priority.
And, needless to say, healthy living also had to feature. There is the gym, and the Refresh Spa. And there are no plastics; the Italian Comfort Zone brand's products are all organic and most products on offer are detox, even the massages.
Treatments are created with those who keep busy routines in mind. Two examples include Ritual Tranquility, a treatment for people who suffer from anxiety, stress and depression, and the Salt Massage, which uses Himalayan pink salt and is a unique treatment in Portugal.
The Spa also features a sauna and Turkish bath.
The cherry on top of the cook is literally on the rooftop. The 11th floor is a solarium with a pool. But it is also where the Cloud Bar is, a curious name which combines technology, the internet, and the fact that it is the building's area closest to the clouds.
With a cocktail in hand, it is the perfect place to enjoy a late afternoon, or a weekend themed party, or simply to take in the view of Funchal and the sea. Live music is often available, sometimes with a DJ.
There is no shortage of details worth sharing on social media at the Cloud Bar. The same holds for the hotel as a whole, filled with nooks and crannies created to be snapped by visitors' shutters, capturing the moment, because life is meant to be enjoyed.