Antwerp (Eurotoday): Antwerp now has 75 hotels with 5,823 rooms, up from 65 hotels in 2019. However, occupancy rates are below 70%. Didier Boehlen from the hotel association is concerned and wants to attract more conferences. The city plans to manage Airbnb and support new upscale hotels like Van der Valk and Botanic Sanctuary to increase tourism.
A few years ago, the Park Lane luxury care center in Antwerp lost its permit because of staff shortages and building issues. The building stayed empty until the Dutch hotel chain Van der Valk turned it into a luxury hotel, which has now opened. Another hotel is opening where the old Zillion nightclub was, and the Hilton Hotel is expanding. In 2019, Antwerp had 65 hotels with 4,946 rooms, but by May 2024, there are now 75 hotels with 5,823 rooms. Didier Boehlen from the Antwerp Hotel Association says there aren’t enough tourists to fill all these rooms, especially during the week.
How is Antwerp addressing low hotel occupancy rates?
Antwerp’s hotel federation is worried about low hotel earnings and usage rates below 70 percent. Didier Boehlen said they want to attract more conferences to bring in tourists. Ghent, which stopped new hotels, and Antwerp plans to control Airbnbs to prevent them from taking over. Boehlen believes this is important to keep tourism positive for residents.
Antwerp’s hotel federation thinks no new hotels should open for now, focusing instead on filling existing ones. Alderman Koen Kennis agrees but won’t rule out new projects if they meet market needs. Recently, hotels like Van der Valk and the five-star Botanic Sanctuary have added upscale rooms, which Kennis is happy about. This allows visitors, such as those attending concerts, to stay in Antwerp instead of traveling to Brussels. He believes there’s no oversupply in the high-end hotel market right now.
Comments
One response to “Antwerp Hotel Expansion: 75 New Properties, 5,823 Rooms, Didier Boehlen Voices Concerns”
-
Oh joy, 75 hotels and still not enough tourists to fill a single room on a Tuesday! Maybe we should start handing out free waffles at the door – that ought to do the trick! 😂🏨
Last News
New Louvre President Appointed Following Spectacular Heist
Controversial bill ignites debate among Quebec’s religious communities
Key provisions include banning public workers from wearing visible religious symbols like hijabs, turbans, kippahs, and large cros
Iran, Zölle, Europa: Trumps Rede zur Lage der Nation
Unlike von der Leyen, Alain Berset Appoints Envoy to Defend Europe’s Religious Minorities
Council of Europe move targets antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, and wider religious intolerance
As hate incidents and polarisation increase across borders, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has linked the protection of religious minorities to the organisation’s core post-war promise of “never again” and its ongoing work on anti-discrimination and democratic resilience. The approa
Trump Gets His Irish Ballroom — If He Can Save a Snail
Next month, Trump is expected to offer praise to Martin for the approval of the Irish ballroom.
Martin’s spokesperson welcomed the decision but emphasized it was a local issue for Clare co
Ukraine: $588 Billion Recovery Cost Projected Over Next 10 Years
As the Russian invasion enters its fifth year on February 24, direct damage has reached over $195 billion, up from $176 billion reported last February.
“This devastating war is a stain on our collective consciousness and remains a threat to
EU pledges €1B to rebuild Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructure
He mentioned that the €920 million would be allocated to “strengthen grids, restore damaged heat and power plants, improve physical protection, and enhance decentralized electricit
UN Human Rights Council Begins 2026 Session in Geneva
Global Human Rights Agenda Mapped at the 61st Regular Session
The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) is holding its sixty-first regular session in Geneva from 23 February to 31 March 2026. This session gathers ministers and senior officials during a high-level segment (23–25 February) and features weeks of country debates, expert dialogues, and mandate and resolution votes. Major discussi
South Sudan Conflict Displaces Nearly 280,000; UN Warns of ‘Perfect Storm’
The escalation of conflict is increasing risks for civilians and aid workers, with three humanitarian staff members killed between 7 and 16 February in Jonglei and Upper Nile states, as reported by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Access to some severely affected areas remains limited despite renewed promises from authorities to facilitate relief efforts.
Las
Russia Initiates Terror Investigation into Telegram Chief Pavel Durov
The investigation represents the latest episode in Moscow’s long-standing conflict with Durov. In 2018, Russia attempted to block Telegram after the company refused to provide encryption keys—a ban that ulti
Leave a Reply