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
Canada Observes Global Combat Air Programme in Fighter Jet Initiative
Ottawa, July 21 Eurotoday — Global Combat Air Programme expanded its international reach after Canada officially joined the UK, Italy and Japan-led sixth-generation fighter aircraft initiative as an observer. The decision was announced during the Farnborough International Airshow and gives Canada access to programme discussions while leaving open the possibility of deeper involvement in the futu
France Approaches Under-15 Social Media Ban
French legislators are nearing the final approval of legislation that would prohibit children under 15 from using social media. This follows a compromise between deputies and senators intended to take effect from the start of the 2026 school year, placing France at the forefront of Europe’s ongoing discus
Natural Gas Prices Soar Amid Renewed Middle East Violence
The latest price spikes have intensified fears that Middle East unrest will become a permanent aspec
Russian Embassy Staff Central to Moscow’s Diplomatic Protest Against Moldova
Moscow, July 21 Eurotoday Newspaper — Russian embassy staff became the focus of a diplomatic dispute after Russia summoned Moldova’s ambassador to protest what it described as actions taken against personnel at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the move was a formal response to measures affecting its diplomatic mission and called on Moldova to comply with internatio
AliExpress Refines EU Platform Regulations
Brussels’ record DSA penalty turns unsafe online goods into a wider accountability case
The European Commission has imposed a €550 million fine on AliExpress for violating the Digital Services Act, accusing the online marketplace of inadequate assessment and mitigation of risks posed by illegal, unsafe, and counterfeit products sold on its platform. This decision signifies Brussels’ intent to vi
Burnham Day 2: Post-Purge Indulgence
He pledged to give the nation some “breathing space” concerning the cost of living, but with prices still on the rise, will anyone truly feel a relief? And is it adequately funded?
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy analyze what this announcement reveals about Burnham&#
US AI Agency Chief Resigns Amid Ongoing National Focus on AI Testing Standards
Washington, D.C., July 20 Eurotoday Newspaper — AI testing standards are at the center of renewed attention after the director of the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), Chris Fall, resigned only three months after taking the role. The U.S. Commerce Department confirmed the departure and named National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Dr. Arvind Raman as act
Turkey Becomes the Fourth Most Visited Country
According to the latest “Most Visited Countries in 2026” report by World Population Review, based on UN Tourism data, Turkey has welc
GKV-Reform: Wer jetzt um Therapieplätze bangt
In a 200-second interview, Green health politician and doctor Paula Piechotta criticizes the cutbacks. She advocates addressing potential savings in
BT Group Shares Under Scrutiny After Major Shareholder Sells $224 Million Stake
London, July 20 Eurotoday Newspaper — BT Group shares were closely watched after a major shareholder sold approximately $224 million worth of stock in a secondary offering. The transaction reduced the investor’s ownership while increasing the number of shares available to institutional buyers. The sale involved existing shares, meaning BT Group did not receive new capital from the deal.
BT Group
Leave a Reply