Business & Leisure

Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand

“The Legend”

Born out of two convents in the 15th century, it was later converted into a prestigious boarding house for Princes & Lords. Queen Beatrix was wed as a princess to Claus von Amsberg in 1966 in its Council Chamber when it stood as the Town Hall for 180 years, before emerging as Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand as it stands today.

Here, it is known simply as ‘The Grand’. Ask for it by only that name, and out of the half dozen hotels in Amsterdam that hold ‘The Grand’ within their title, you will be politely escorted into the grandiose courtyard of The Grand. A doorman immaculate in top hat and tailcoat will guide you through its revolving doors into a lobby full of marble and light. You have come home; and you have arrived.

The pleasure and history of this monument is unmatched. Today, there are classified fourteen five-star hotels in Amsterdam. The Grand is everyone’s competition. Undergoing a 40 million euro renovation, it intimidates the hotel industry in this city, and yet welcomes every guest as if it is your own.

The service unparalleled: ask the Les Clefs d’Or Concierge “Can you…?” and the reply will be simply “Of course”. And they can. From private candlelit catered encounters on a historic canal boat, to in-room massages, to lavish weddings any day of the week. Ask and ye shall receive.

But let us start at the beginning; at the birth of The Grand. In the early 1400s, these buildings stood as the convents of St. Katherine’s and St. Cecily’s. Convents and monasteries dominated the city in this time, and were easily identifiable by their enclosed courtyards, secluded gardens, and extreme privacy. These features are preserved and coveted still in The Grand today.

The Reformation of 1578 saw the convents converted into a prestigious hotel for ‘Princen en Groote Heeren’ (Princes and Gentlemen of Standing). Then, it was known only as Princenhof (Court of Princes). It was during this era that it served as temporary residence for William the Silent (1581) and French Queen Maria de Medici in 1632.

Today it stands as an icon for service and luxury. Flanked on two sides by canals, it surrounds you with serenity and pure luxury in the heart of Amsterdam. Renovations are slated to be complete in April 2010, and The Grand will offer 178 rooms including 53 suites, the interiors designed by French architect Sybille de Margerie.

The gourmet restaurant, led by French chef Aurélien Poirot, will open out upon the newly redesigned sunken garden within the inner courtyard. In November 2009 it was host to Stars, Food, & Art featuring no less than twelve Michelin Star chefs. During Sail 2010, it will also be host to the exclusive Captain’s Dinner.

Rounded out in services by seventeen conference rooms, a fitness area, a heated indoor pool, and steam and sauna rooms, The Grand is a perfect retreat from the bustling centre of Amsterdam. Adding to its acclaim, it holds titles in World’s Best Hotels by Luxury Travel Magazine, Tablet Hotels Selection Award, Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator, Best Champagne Menu by Sterrenwijn Champagne, and was selected by Fodor’s Choice, all in 2008.

When in Amsterdam, follow in the footsteps of many notables before you; visit The Grand and experience for yourself their driving motto in practice: ‘Life is Magnifique’.

Htel

“Our guests feel at home at Htel Serviced Apartments.”

Htel Serviced Apartments are the perfect choice for business visitors seeking accommodation with exceptional facilities and services. Htel has two suite-only properties, in Amstelveen and in Amsterdam, both within easy access of Schiphol Airport, top business centers, and Amsterdam’s key attractions, including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum.

Htel’s suites feature the style and services of a luxury hotel along with an atmosphere guaranteed to make guests feel comfortable. Corporate clients seeking staff accommodations are attracted by Htel’s cost savings and convenience, while guests appreciate having luxury hotel services in an apartment that feels like a home. Htel does not offer any restaurants, but their guests are pampered with their own in-suite kitchen, shopping service and welcome/breakfast packages. All services to make an extended stay as easy as possible.

Taking the suite concept to the next level
In its new Amsterdam property, Htel has taken the executive apartment concept to the next level. As Lucas Drewes, Director, points out, “We transformed 60 apartments to a very high standard, with extra space and exceptional touches and furnishings that you will never find in hotels.”

Htel Serviced Apartments has apartments from 45 sq m up to 150 sq m as well as a wealth of facilities and services, including a gym, sauna and swimming pool, a floor specifically for female guests, home offices, shopping services, massage services, and the 360° Sky Lounge (a penthouse lounge) that is open to residents or can be rented for events. The average stay at Htel Serviced Apartments is approximately three months, but many guests stay for a week while others stay even longer. Drewes concludes, “you can truly call it: ‘Your home abroad’.”

Amsterdam Marriott Hotel

Ronnie Maier, General Manager of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, has been driving the multi-million euro renovation which has transformed the face of the hotel over the last year. Located in the coveted Leidseplein, the Amsterdam Marriott puts you in the centre of activity. The hotel staff will treat you like an old friend, and yet provide the comfort one expects from a five-star Marriott. Maier runs the Amsterdam Marriott like a family business, imparting a warm welcome that is typically lacking in the major chains.

Quoy restaurant is also exactly what one would expect from a five-star dining experience, with USDA certified Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef cooked to perfection and 70 percent of their ingredients derived locally. Maier states, “Our location and our personal approach are what set us apart. Come, experience the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel for yourself.”

Eden Amsterdam American Hotel

The Eden Amsterdam American Hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city at one of the most popular squares: Leidseplein. From here you can easily access the city’s attractions while you reside amongst the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. Treat yourself to brunch in Café Americain, one of the most well-known in the city, or sit back in Bar Americain and have an award-winning bartender mix you a special invention of the house. Relax beside the gallery of pop art photography that hangs throughout the hotel, or walk down to Rembrandt Square and enjoy exquisite French cuisine in Flo brasserie. Eden Amsterdam American Hotel is truly an escape in the middle of it all. Live the Eden motto: ‘Love, city, life’.

Grand Hotel Amrath Amsterdam

This hidden gem only opened as a hotel in 2007, but the building itself betrays the youth of the hotel as one of the most recent additions to Amsterdam’s five-star listings. Originally, the building was constructed in the 1910s and ‘20s, to be used as one of the first multinational headquarters of six shipping companies, highlighting the emphasis the Dutch have always put on international trade.

Today, the gothic architecture surrounds you with intricate details of its colourful past, topped with soaring stained glass ceilings illustrating the globe and constellations used for celestial navigation. Marcel Bosman, General Manager, will soon open the rooftop patio in preparation for the hotel’s first starlit New Year’s Eve celebration. Bosman invites all who visit Amsterdam for business or leisure, ‘Come and experience a world of luxury and art’.

Memphis Hotel

For a good selection within the four-star category for travellers on a tighter budget, the Memphis Hotel in the fashionable centre of Amsterdam, just south of Museumplein. This updated and modern hotel recently underwent extensive renovations on the lobby, conference area, restaurant, lounge, and all guest rooms.

The Memphis is geared toward the corporate traveller, with hotel-wide wireless internet, breakfast to go, expedited check in and check out, and expanding conference facilities. Considering that many corporations are no longer authorizing stays in five-star hotels, Operations Manager Rein Scheidegger is aiming to cater to the five-star corporate travellers without the five-star ranking or price. “We aim to put our service on the same level as that of a five-star, and there’s no reason that we can’t achieve this. We consider the five-star hotels in Amsterdam to be our competition,” Scheidegger confidently states.

Lloyd Hotel

“Our hotel has a very good atmosphere for thinking outside the box.”

Lloyd Hotel is a focal point in Amsterdam’s up-and-coming harbor area, which is being redeveloped as a trendy residential and cultural center. The hotel, located in an historic building, was created with the input of a number of local artists and designers, and reflects Amsterdam’s long history as well as its vibrant modern culture.

Otto Nan, Managing Director, says, “We try to cater to the creative industry. For example, we have a soundproof room where bands can practice before a concert, and a room with very large tables because architects had asked for this.” To help attract creative types and visitors interested in culture, the hotel regularly organizes cultural events, like a recent show of Japanese art. Nan adds, “We are the hotel where people can stay as well as learn about Amsterdam’s cultural offerings. We reinvent ourselves all the time to serve people with a special interest in culture.”

The hotel offers accommodations at a wide range of prices in a unique ‘one to five stars’ system: inexpensive one-star rooms up to ultra-luxurious five-star suites are all in the same hotel. The hotel’s special style is another key draw; as Nan explains, “Our hotel has a very good atmosphere for thinking outside the box.”

Lloyd Hotel aims to open another property in Amsterdam geared to fashion. Nan says, “We are going to work with the Amsterdam Fashion Institute and a group of young fashion designers are going to design the hotel’s interior.” Lloyd Hotel eventually plans to open similar properties in other countries with the help of local artists and designers so that each property strongly reflects its location. “We are currently looking for partners and investors,” Nan points out. To potential travelers to Amsterdam, he adds, “Come stay at Lloyd Hotel. It is the gateway to Holland’s culture.”