A lobby as living room the hotel
Last Thursday 2 October the flagship hotel of Mercure reopend, the Mercure Amsterdam City. The entire lobby, restaurant, the flexible workplaces and the lounge are merged in order to meet the changing needs of their guests: “People are travelling more than ever, they are aware of what they want and strive to achieve this. The call for comfort and authenticity is great. At the fully refurbished Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City we offer the high international standards that can be expected from an international hotel and at the same time we let guests get acquainted with local elements that give the hotel its own personal touch” according to Caro Eekelen, COO Accor Hotel Services Benelux.
Erwin van der Graaf, area manager of the Mercure Hotels Netherlands, calls the new concept the ‘living room’ of the hotel. The boundaries have faded: the restaurant, bar and public areas can be used in a multifunctional way and are not isolated from each other.
The concept is inspired on the Dutch landscape and climate. It is equipped with robust wooden furniture, soft sheepskins and drop-shaped lamps. Most food and drinks served in the bar and restaurant have a local character. A large part of the beers and liqueurs are locally produced in Amsterdam.
Van der Graaf: “In many countries the restaurants and lounges of hotels are ‘the place to be’. The Dutch associate these places often as aloof. Because our RestaurantLounge Floor has a strong local character, we expect that this appeals to people in the neighborhood as well. For an inspiring flexible workspace, a small meeting or business lunch or a drink after work, they don’t have to travel far anymore.”
ACCOR The Netherlands has been busy this year: last weekend the new concept of Novotel opened in The Hague, the Suite Novotel. This hotel only offers suites with a minimum size of 30m2 and aims for ‘longstayers’. All suites are equipped with kitchenettes for these guests that stay for a longer period of time. Ibis opens a new hotel as well: in the ‘Wijnhaven’ area of Rotterdam the Ibis Rotterdam City Centre will officially open at 15 October. Within a short period of time Mercure will announce the opening of a brand new hotel which will be situated near the city centre of Amsterdam.
Bram Kosterink consultant at Van Spronsen & Partners hospitality consultancy
Website: Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City
