If you associate Lexus purely with cars, here’s a curveball: the best airline lounge in Europe is designed by them — and it’s just won a major award for the seventh year in a row.
The Loft
, a premium airline lounge at Brussels Airport, has once again been named Europe’s Leading Airline Lounge at the World Travel Awards. What’s more impressive is that it’s won every single year since opening in 2018.
The lounge is run by Brussels Airlines, but the look, feel, and overall experience come straight from Lexus. The idea was to take the brand’s approach to comfort and attention to detail — something it’s known for in its cars — and apply it to a place where travellers usually just want a quiet seat and a decent coffee.
The result is a space that feels noticeably different from most airport lounges. Spread across more than 2,000 square metres, The Loft includes private shower rooms, quiet work areas, sleep rooms with starry ceilings, shiatsu massage chairs and even its own chocolatier. It’s less about flashy luxury and more about making everything feel easy and well thought through.
Lexus describes the approach as Omotenashi — a Japanese philosophy focused on anticipating people’s needs rather than reacting to them. In practical terms, that means a lounge where staff are attentive without hovering, and where the space feels calm even when the airport around it isn’t.
Seven straight wins suggest this isn’t just a novelty tie-up. For travellers passing through Brussels, The Loft has quietly become one of the best places in Europe to wait for a flight — and proof that Lexus’ idea of luxury stretches well beyond the car park.
One thing to note if you’re planning a trip through Brussels: The Loft will close from 5 January 2026 for a major refurbishment. It’s set to reopen in summer 2026, promising an even more upmarket version of a lounge that’s already been winning awards year after year.
He is the founder of Huff Media, publisher of Professional Pickup, Professional Van, Average Janes, Average Joes, and CALIBRE. His work focuses primarily on light commercial vehicles, pickups, and real-world vehicle use, with much of his time spent on manufacturer launches, industry events, and long-term vehicle testing.
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