AMSTERDAM – Olery, a provider of reputation management and guest feedback software for the leisure and hospitality industry, today announced that Yann Fruchart has joined Olery as the company's new Vice President of Sales. Fruchart will be responsible for developing and executing Olery's sales strategy and leading its sales team.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of Holiday Inn Express The Hague on Dec. 21, 2012, representing the first Holiday Inn Express to open in The Hague. The 123-room hotel, with a prime location next to the Dutch Parliament and the American Embassy, is the fifth hotel managed by Interstate to open in The Netherlands, and resulted from a partnership between Interstate and The Vincent Hotel Group (TVHG).
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. a major shareholder of Hotel Okura Amsterdam B.V. and the management company for Hotel Okura Amsterdam, has announced that Emmy Stoel has been appointed General Manager of the hotel starting January 1, 2013. Marcel P. van Aelst, former President and General Manager (who has been General Manager since 1994), will continue to hold the position of President and Statutory Director of the hotel.
Aedes Real Estate, Hyatt and Marcel Wanders announced today a donation to the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. The major financial gift by Aedes, Marcel Wanders, and a Hyatt affiliate is made on the occasion of the official opening of Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, the first Hyatt hotel in the Netherlands. The donation will be celebrated at a lunch hosted by Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan and Alderman Carolien Gehrels at the Mayor's residence on Friday, November 30, 2012.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announces the Park Inn by Radisson in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The property featuring 478 rooms is scheduled to welcome the first guests in Q4 2014 and is the biggest hotel in the Park Inn portfolio for meeting and conferences, offering a massive 4,000 sqm of meeting space including a ballroom of 900 sqm.
Today Hyatt Hotel Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht opens in the former public library of Amsterdam. A special cooperation between Paul Geertman of Aedes Real Estate, Marcel Wanders and Hyatt Hotels Corporation has resulted in a surprisingly multi functional hotel concept with an exciting combination of 'office suites' and studios for the international creative industry, and a permanent collection of video art for guests and visitors.
HelmsBriscoe, the global leader in independent site selection and RFP services for the expanding meeting business, announced the appointment of Kim Willems to the position of Manager Global Accounts. As Manager Global Accounts, Kim’s responsibilities include developing client relations in the Meuse-Rhine EU region, while being based in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Kim’s last position was with IBM as project leader Event Management and Travel Services. He has over 8 years of experience in the MICE industry working both in the Netherlands as well as further afield. This has given him a deep understanding of the diversity of cultures between countries and regions in the market. His earlier experiences as a developer and organizer of different events makes him able to translate a client’s needs into a successful cooperation.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of the 118-room Holiday Inn Express Utrecht Papendorp in the Netherlands. The hotel is the fourth to open of a nine-hotel portfolio being developed across the Netherlands. The portfolio is jointly owned by Interstate Hotels & Resorts and TVHG and operated by Interstate under long-term contracts. "By partnering with experienced local companies like TVHG, we are able to support our growth strategy in key markets where there is a demand for hotels from well-known international brands"
Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of a management agreement with CORPUS Hotel B.V. to open a Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) hotel in Leiden, The Netherlands. Expected to open mid-2012, HGI Leiden will be the mid-market brand's first and Hilton Worldwide's sixth hotel in the country, joining Hilton Amsterdam, Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Hilton The Hague, Hilton Rotterdam and Hilton Royal Parc Soestduinen.
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.
The hotel industry in the Benelux is still operating in the shadow of the economic crisis. The new HOSTA 2012 report from Horwath HTL shows that the occupancies and average room rates increased in 2011, but are still well below the results achieved before the crisis. The current economic downturn also has a negative effect on the outlook for 2012.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of the 80-room Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam-South effective June 1. The hotel is the third of a nine-hotel portfolio currently being developed across the Netherlands. As previously announced, the portfolio is jointly owned by Interstate and TVHG Budget Group Beheer BV (TVHG) and operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts under long-term contracts.
PPHE Hotel Group is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire the remaining 50% interests in, and related loans to, Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport, Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam, Park Plaza Utrecht and art'otel amsterdam project (together the "Hotels") which the Company does not currently own, from a subsidiary of Elbit Imaging Limited ("Elbit"), for a consideration of €26.5 million.
Hilton Worldwide and Schiphol Real Estate, Schiphol Group's real estate subsidiary, have today signed an agreement to introduce a new landmark 433 guest room Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, to be designed by prominent Dutch architects, Mecanoo. The new hotel will replace the current Hilton property and is expected to open in 2015, with construction scheduled to start later in 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."
The hotels in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg received more guests in 2012. Research by Horwath HTL shows that the average occupancies in the Benelux countries increased. Average room rates increased in The Netherlands as well, but decreased in Belgium. In Luxembourg, both occupancies and average room rates decreased. For 2012, a further recovery in the Benelux region is expected.
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.
At the end of 2011 the share of the Dutch hotel supply that is chain related is 61%: of all Dutch hotel rooms only 39% still is independent of hotel chains. This is the result of new research by Horwath HTL. The chain rate of 61% is considerably higher than the European average. Moreover, compared to the chain rate of 35% some 10 years ago it means an extraordinary fast advance of hotel chains. Of all hotel chains Van der Valk Hotels en Restaurants, the oldest Dutch hotel chain, has the largest market share by far. Also the international NH Hoteles takes a leading position in the Dutch hotel market.
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."