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
EU Acts to Address Legal Loophole in Combating Online Abuse
New action has been taken by the EU to help protect children from online abuse.
This comes after EU member states gave the final green light to a regulation allowing online service providers to resume voluntary detection and removal of child sexual abuse material on their platforms.
The measure, albeit only temporary, aims to protect children while a long-term legislative framework is under nego
Trump Administration Criticizes Spain’s Sánchez Over Migrant ‘Invasion’ of Ceuta
Sánchez will hardly be surprised by the scathing American r
Contribute to the European Commission’s New Education Package
Basic skills: assisting schools in addressing declining performance in literacy, maths, science, digital skills, and citizenship.
Teachers and school leaders: an Agenda dedicated to enhancing w
How the EU Could Shape a "New Global Order"
common problems, but the unintended consequence is that they’re also talking the EU down.
Mood and morale can play as great a part in shaping politics as hard facts, so Brussels’ drive to genuinely complete the single market and catch up with the digital revolution needs to be matched by an upbeat approach.
Europe has been going through tough times, but that doesn’t mean Europeans must resign th
Brussels Maintains Suspension of US Tariffs
Announced in Brussels on Friday, this decision keeps the EU’s 2025 “rebalancing measures” inactive rather than implementing them next week. The Co
Spain Reports Most Ceuta Migrants Have Returned to Morocco
“Most of the people that came yesterday are now back in Morocco,” the official stated, who wished to remain anonymous, noting that the situation was “on the path back to normality.”
The influx may be linked to a Spanish court decisio
Kazakhstan’s Call for Ukraine War Freeze Revives Istanbul Peace Framework
Omsk, Russia, July 25 Eurotoday Newspaper — Istanbul peace framework discussions gained renewed attention after Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider freezing the war in Ukraine and returning to negotiations based on the diplomatic proposals first discussed in Istanbul. Speaking during a bilateral meeting in Omsk, Tokayev said the prolonged
Ceuta Crossings Strain Schengen Agreement
Italian Foreign Minister
Ceuta Crisis Puts Spain’s Sánchez Under Fire Over Migration Policies
India Election Updates: Gen Z Reshaping Campaigns Ahead of Key State Polls
New Delhi, July 25 Eurotoday Newspaper — India election updates are increasingly focused on the growing influence of Generation Z voters, with Instagram emerging as a major platform for political messaging ahead of key state elections. Political parties are expanding their digital campaigns to connect with younger voters who rely on social media for news, public debate and election-related conte
Leave a Reply