The Frankfurt-based Steigenberger Hotel Group will be adding Amsterdam to its list of locations. At the beginning of September 2012 the company takes over a Four Star Superior Hotel boasting 440 rooms at Schiphol International Airport. Steigenberger is just about to check in at Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam.
Andaz hotels announces the appointment of Jeffrey Miller to the position of General Manager at Andaz Wall Street; while former General Manager, Toni Hinterstoisser, will lead the highly anticipated opening of Andaz Amsterdam in late Summer 2012. Toni Hinterstoisser will bring the Andaz ethos of personal service and innovation in hospitality to the newest property in the collection when Andaz Amsterdam opens in late Summer 2012.
"One of the pillars of success of our global management model is the Company's long and strong relationships with top international hotel brands," said Jim Abrahamson, Interstate's chief executive officer. "The Holiday Inn Express at Sloterdijk Station is now one of the newest hotels in the market and, with its convenient location at this major transportation hub and high value offering, will quickly become a magnet for business and leisure travelers."
Amsterdam's hotel sector has demonstrated enviable resilience to the downturn, with business and conference travellers increasingly attracted to the city and a large number of tourists staying for extended weekends. A new report by hotel consultancy HVS London says that the success of Amsterdam's hotel sector, while other markets in Europe have suffered more acutely, is due to its easy access, conference infrastructure and numerous cultural and tourist attractions.
Simon Vincent, area president Europe, Hilton Worldwide, said, "The dynamic European growth of DoubleTree by Hilton, with more than 25 hotels opened since 2008 and 25 additional hotels under development across the region, indicates remarkable promise for the brand as we enter 2012. With more than 220 hotels open and 110 hotel development projects currently underway in Europe, the potential for travelling consumers and hotel developers alike to enjoy and explore the Hilton Worldwide portfolio has never been greater. We are delighted to welcome the first of these eight exciting hotels to our portfolio."
The Leading Hotels of the World recently hosted its Annual Convention, the most important global gathering on the company's calendar, at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, from November 17 to 20. The theme of this year's meeting was 'Collaborative Innovation.' Attendees comprised an impressive group of proprietors, managing directors, general managers, and sales and marketing executives from the world's finest hotels, resorts and spas. Event participants were welcomed by Mr. Andrea Kracht, Chairman of Leading Hotels and owner of the Baur au Lac in Zurich, Switzerland. The attendees were collectively hosted at two Leading Hotels: Hotel Okura Amsterdam and De L'Europe.
"Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is experiencing great growth momentum in Europe and Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam will be an exceptional addition to our luxury portfolio. We are particularly pleased to see growth in Amsterdam, which is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations."
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Amsterdam Schiphol. The 150 rooms-property is scheduled to open in Q3 2012, and will be Rezidor's very first Park Inn by Radisson hotel in the Netherlands. Park Inn by Radisson is a young, fresh and dynamic mid-market brand offering a reliable and personalized stay, and great value for money.
The Priceline Group announces the planned transition of Kees Koolen from Chief Executive Officer to Chairman of Netherlands-based Booking.com. The Company has initiated a search for Mr. Koolen's successor and the transition will take place once the search is completed. Mr. Koolen was a founder of Booking.com B.V. and has been its Chief Executive Officer since September 2008. "Under Kees Koolen's leadership, Booking.com has grown from startup to Europe's largest online hotel reservation service," said Mr. Jeffery H. Boyd, Priceline Group's President and CEO . "Kees has assembled a high quality team focused on providing superior value for customers and hotel partners. His strategic leadership has enabled Booking.com to simultaneously build market share in its core Western European markets and successfully expand into new markets around the globe. We thank Kees for his many contributions to our business and look forward to his continued guidance in his upcoming role as Chairman."
The newly opening Conservatorium Hotel announces an addition to its Executive team. The former Director of Sales and Marketing of the Amstel Hotel, Jeroen Sirag, is switching his workplace for the new gain of Amsterdam at the Van Bearlestraat. Sirag (39), worked three years at the Amsterdam Amstel Hotel and is delightful to be a member of the new design hotel to give the hotel a prominent name.
NBTA Europe, the largest European buyer-led business travel and meetings network, has announced the location, dates and new elements to its anticipated annual conference. The event for 400 delegates, entitled The 3rd Dimension, will take place 19th - 21st September at the Grand Hotel Huis Ter Duin in Noordwijk near Amsterdam.
A graduate from the Hotel School The Hague in the Netherlands with a degree in Sales and Marketing, Madelon brings over 25 years of experience in the hospitality and leisure industry to the Conservatorium Hotel, Amsterdam. Madelon began her career more than 25 years ago with Hyatt International Corporation where she earned a solid reputation in project management, pre-opening support, rooms operations and technology in positions across Europe, Africa, and Asia. At the age of 27, she was appointed the group’s first female General Manager at one of its London properties. Following her 14-year tenure with Hyatt, Madelon joined the global consultancy firm Accenture where she was instrumental in supporting rapid expansion and operational efforts for Accenture India. More recently, Madelon has returned to the sector following her pre-opening role in the award-winning Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem.
The Albus, a four star hotel in Amsterdam has taken the step to move beyond offering just pay TV to its guests by installing Quadriga's guest communications portal Sensiq, and using the TV as a vehicle to improve guest communications and provide potential new revenue streams.
Park Plaza Hotels is pleased to announce that it has successfully acquired one of the largest Conference Hotels in the Netherlands, located near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The property, currently operating as the ‘Holiday Inn Amsterdam Schiphol’, opened in 2007 and offers 342 contemporary guestrooms. The hotel’s main attraction however is the wealth of Meeting & Events facilities on offer and the spacious and tranquil setting in which it is located.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt subsidiary, Aedes Real Estate and Marcel Wanders signed agreements for Andaz Amsterdam. Planned for opening in 2012, the 122-room Andaz Amsterdam will be located on the site of the former Public Library on Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht and within close walking distance from the city’s major attractions. The lifestyle hotel will become part of the rich cultural character of the Jordaan district, home to the city’s main modern art galleries. The hotel will be developed by Aedes Real Estate and Marcel Wanders will be responsible for the interior design.
For the longest time our eyes and ears were considered the prime avenue to evoke a brand image and deliver product information into a potential customer’s mind. However, science tells us that what we smell is processed in the Limbic System of our brain – which coincidentally processes our emotions and dominates our decision-making. That’s something every marketer should be interested in.
VingCard, a leading hospitality security provider and part of the ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Group, recently completed the installation of its Signature RFID contactless electronic door locks with NFC cell phone compatibility at Hotel Okura Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The 301-room property boasts of an executive health club with a gym, swimming pool, massages and Turkish steam rooms as well as a shopping arcade directly below the property.
In March 1975, Marriott International opened its first hotel in Europe, the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel. Since that first venture in Europe, the Marriott portfolio has now grown to over 3,400 properties in 68 countries around the world with 174 hotels across 24 countries in Europe.
United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) John Kester is scheduled to provide a tourism and travel update during the Closing Session of the 2010 European Hospitality Technology Educational Conference (EHTEC). As head of the Market Trends and Competitiveness Section of the World Tourism Organization — located in Madrid, Spain — Kester monitors short-term and long-term trends in tourism; marketing and promotional techniques; and competiveness as formulated in the General Programme of Work of UNWTO. EHTEC 2010, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), is February 14-16 at the Amsterdam Hilton in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Delegates representing at least 27 countries are expected to gather soon at the 2010 European Hospitality Technology Educational Conference (EHTEC). The conference, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), offers two full days of focused technology education and various networking opportunities with peers and vendors. It is February 14-16 at the Amsterdam Hilton in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Attendees must register by January 29 to receive the lowest registration rates available.