Page 55 - Special Issue QTM 2021

Rudolf van Dijk (General Manager Amstel Hotel – Amsterdam)

“ The Amstel hotel is one of the leading hotels in Ams-
terdam and Katara really knows what guests want ”

Rudolf van Dijk, General Manager of the
Amstel Hotel, has worked in the internation-
al luxury hotel industry for the past 24 years. In
a Q & A on the sidelines of the Qatar Travel Mart
in its first edition, Al Bayan Magazine met with
Rudolf van Dijk and conducted the following
interview in which he evaluated the tourism sec-
tor in Netherlands during 2021 and gave us an
idea about their hotel. He further talked about
the importance of being under the umbrella of
Katara Hospitality. Below is the Q & A.

* How do you evaluate the tourism sector in really gorgeous terrace. It has 79 charming guest rooms
Netherlands during 2021? with various suites and a lot of private banquet space.
- Throughout 2021 with the ease of travel restrictions, we The hotel was built in 1866 so it is a traditional building,
see that the hotel guests are returning slowly specifically you can imagine what kind of stories there are to be told
when you look at Amsterdam as a destination, there used about the hotel. Currently, we are in the stage jointly with
to be Americans, Middle Eastern and Asian guests. The Katara Hospitality to really redefine luxury again for the
City was packed with visitors that were walking and Amstel Hotel. That means we will start a brand new
enjoying, now you don’t see that anymore but we can restaurant concept for which we attracted the internation-
clearly notice by the number of hotel bookings that the al French chef, Cyril Lignac.
number of international guests is slowly but gradually
coming back. Due to Covid-19, specific circumstances in * What is the importance of being under the umbrella
various countries all across the world and the difficult of Katara Hospitality?
requirements sometimes by government, people are still - Katara is looking at improving our business and sup-
a little bit of sceptic of traveling and hesitant to make
that step to travel but still they are getting porting ideas that help improve the business. They real-
accustomed to Covid-19 restrictions. ly know what guests want, it is about pro-
We all know that it is there and viding a level of service to guests
that there are good safety that they will come back to the
measures in place to cre- hotel and for that purpose we
ate a safe environment have an excellent partner
to stay and indulge in in Katara Hospitality,
our hotels and restau- because they know
rants. very well how to treat
guests from the region
* Can you give us an because that’s where
idea about your we get all the support.
hotel? Through Katara, we
- It is a very historical learn how we can cul-
building, it is one of the ture the differences, what
leading hotels in Amsterdam. we should do differently,
It is beautifully located right on how and where we can
the Amstel river, in summer it has a improve, so that guests would
feel they are really looked after.
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AL BAYAN ECONOMIC MAG - ISSUE 603 - FEBRUARY 2022