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."
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.
Hilton Amsterdam has announced the replacement of its current digital TV system with Swisscom's award-winning Connected Hotel TV technology beginning of 2012. Along with its new IPTV system, Swisscom will roll out a comprehensive network management plan, which will further improve the user experience on all connected devices on the hotel's network. Swisscom has been Hilton Amsterdam's long term partner for broadband services since 2003 and will continue providing High-Speed Internet Access (HSIA), Conference network services and its Business centre solution to the hotel.
"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.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the United States' largest independent hotel management company, today announced that the company has entered into a joint venture with TVHG Budget Group Beheer BV ("TVHG"), through its subsidiary TVHG Budget Group Netherlands trading under the name Dutch Hotel Partners, to invest in a portfolio of nine hotels located across the Netherlands. Of the nine hotels, one was recently opened, the 112-room Holiday Inn Express Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, and the remaining eight, anticipated to be open by the end of 2012, will be converted from existing buildings to Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn brands. All nine hotels, comprising approximately 1,800 rooms, will be managed under long-term contracts by Interstate.
The hotel industry in the Netherlands showed a mixed year-to-date performance, according to STR Global, the leading provider of market data to the world’s hotel industry. Market information compiled by STR Global for the year to 30 June 2011 highlights the impact of trade fairs and events as well as the change in the supply of rooms on the results of major Dutch destinations.
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."
Global President Neil Pompan CMP, (President of Pompan Hospitality Global, Inc.) announced the formation of a new chapter of The International Association of Conference Centers to be called IACC Europe. The new chapter consists of 100 existing IACC members in Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, The United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Belgium. This is consistent with the global association’s restructuring that led to the establishment of IACC Americas last year along with a third chapter, IACC Australia, which began in 1997. The new chapter has a “Representative Board of Directors” with each nation in the chapter having at least one active member on the board. The officers of this board include: Chair, Jeu Bressers (Conference Center Kapellerput, The Netherlands) , Vice Chair, Philippe Attia (Dolce Hotels and Resorts, France), Secretary, Mark Cooper (The Sundial Group, England) , Treasurer, Lotta Boman (Sigtunahöjden Hotel & Conference, Sweden)
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.
Today it was announced by HEAL & Partners, that a new “mid-scale” hotel brand was unveiled, called Spirit Inn & Suites. The concept of Spirit Inn & Suites is all about the guests “living” their hotel during their stay. They can freely move within the hotel, from the privacy of their room or extended stay suite, to the Spirit Café – Restaurant & Lounge, where they can have an espresso or a Latte Macchiato from the Spirit Barristo or a session in the business lounge.
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.