Gozde Eren (Hyatt): "Protecting this heritage is everyone's responsibility".

With a strong appeal to tourists from all over the world, a powerful economic fabric to support business travel, and major events organised at the RAI congress centre, is Amsterdam a blessed destination for the hotel industry?

Gozde Eren - Being head of the Hyatt hotels in Amsterdam makes me a very special person. lucky person. The city is very popular with both business and leisure travellers. The occupancy rate of our three hotels flirts with 80% throughout the year. These hotels are also perfect examples of the promise of their respective brands. Representative of this new generation of establishments offering relaxed hospitality, our Hyatt Place enjoys an ideal location, close to Schiphol airport and surrounded by numerous businesses. This ensures that 70 % business travellers stay at this 330-room hotel, which also boasts highly functional meeting facilities. 

But isn't your group's main business hotel in Amsterdam the Hyatt Regency, closer to the historic centre, in the Plantage district?

G. E. - That's right. While taking over the façade of a former children's hospital that used to be on this site, this hotel is the result of a new build. So, from the outset, it was designed with business travel and MICE in mind, with all the facilities needed for meetings and fully up-to-date technology. But you don't have to no feeling of being in a large conference hotelThe hotel is located in the heart of a green environment, its décor inspired by its proximity to the botanical gardens. Extending this idea, the entire infrastructure of the hotel has been designed in an ecological manner, with everything focused on an idea of sustainability and circularity. For example, the uniforms are made from recycled materials, and the water glasses come from wine bottles that have been cut up and transformed. That's not to say that our other hotels don't take this approach, but this one is exemplary and offers proof of eco-responsibility to event organisers.

Since 2012, Amsterdam has been home to one of the first hotels under your Andaz brand. Tell us about this establishment, of which you are the general manager.

G. E. - Amsterdam has many hotels inspired by the Golden Age. But the Andaz stands out for its sense of lifestyle luxury. This is summed up by its motto " Dutch by design, unique by experience" . Initially designed by Marcel Wanders, the hotel was recently renovated by a talented designer, Karin Krautgartner, previously art director in the Marcel Wanders studio. The renovation concept has been designed to keep the hotel's DNA intact, while adding its own touch and a number of new features, such as the new Prins & Aap restaurant. AAP stands for Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, but also for 'monkey', app in Dutch: combining heritage and modernity, this iconoclastic, colourful restaurant truly represents the offering of this unique hotel.

Is this hotel suitable for business travel, or even MICE?

G. E. - While 65% of its clientele is leisure, the hotel derives 35% of its revenue from business clientele, both individuals and groups. At first glance, it doesn't seem to be really cut out for MICE, but in fact it has excellent event facilities. What's more, with its 75 rooms, it's the ideal size for events. privatisations. We organise them every year, particularly during the Amsterdam Dance Festival, a trade fair for all music producers in which Andaz is a partner.

Amsterdam has taken a number of initiatives to combat overtourism, including raising the tourist tax and limiting hotel development. As someone who has a front-row seat with a hotel right in the heart of the historic centre, how do you see this policy? Could it have an effect on the city's appeal as a MICE destination?

G. E. - I see this as a good thing, not as a limitation. The key word is 'regulate', to manage overtourism. I think it's up to us to responsibility for allAs citizens of the world, we need to protect this heritage, this UNESCO-listed canal district. So it's more a question of regulations aimed at improving the quality of life of the inhabitants, but also the comfort of travellers. As for MICE, a city that didn't want quality tourism and didn't want large-scale events would never embark on an initiative like Amsterdam 750. This year's celebration of the 750^e anniversary of the city's foundation, an event that includes all its citizens and businesses. Amsterdam has always been a city of diversity, freedom and tolerance.