Antwerp Hotel Expansion: 75 New Properties, 5,823 Rooms, Didier Boehlen Voices Concerns

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”

  1. london fox Avatar
    london fox

    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! 😂🏨

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Aldi Recalls Zucchinis Due to Pesticide Levels in Belgium

Aldi Recalls Zucchinis Due to Pesticide Levels in Belgium

Brussels, 24 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) – Aldi Belgium has recalled a batch of courgettes sold in its stores after excessive levels of the pesticide heptachlor were identified, with customers being told not to eat the affected vegetables. The Aldi courgette recall covers two-piece packs sold between 10 and 22 August 2026.
The recall is being carried out by Aldi Belgium on behalf of supplier Fr

Read More

Saudi Arabia to invest €6B in massive French theme park site

Saudi Arabia to invest €6B in massive French theme park site

Saudi Arabia will invest €6 billion to construct a large entertainment complex with three theme parks near Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced. Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed an agreement at the Elysée Palace on Monday, formalizing the deal for what Macron described as “a new global destination.” The project is anticipated to generate 22,000 jobs

Read More

65-Year-Old Motorcyclist Injured in Hasselt Collision Sunday Evening

65-Year-Old Motorcyclist Injured in Hasselt Collision Sunday Evening

Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 65 year old man from Hasselt sustained injury on a Sunday evening due to an accident involving a passenger car and a motorcycle in the city of Hasselt, situated in the Limburg province in Belgium. 
This occurred within the police district of Limburg Regio Hoofdstad (LRH) that includes the Hasselt city and nearby municipalities. Based on reports by the loc

Read More

Rising Threats Confront Mediterranean Rescue Ships

Rising Threats Confront Mediterranean Rescue Ships

SOS Méditerranée highlights increasing intimidation by vessels linked to Libya as UN data reveal a deadlier Central Mediterranean despite fewer crossings.
A humanitarian group warns of growing threats against migrants and rescue ships in the Central Mediterranean, including high-speed chases and violent interceptions by Libyan-linked vessels. SOS Méditerranée raises this concern as new Internati

Read More

Spain’s Sánchez Calls National Security Meeting 26 Days Into Ceuta Migration Crisis

Spain’s Sánchez Calls National Security Meeting 26 Days Into Ceuta Migration Crisis

The Ceuta crisis began at the end of July, when a large number of people entered the coastal semi-exclave in North Africa within 24 hours, prompting Spain to call in the army after border forces were overwhelmed. Sánchez traveled to Ceuta, labeling the crossings an “attack” and a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity. Most migrants eventually returned to Morocco, but thousands stayed.
Madrid

Read More

Colette Sauvage Reflects on 70 Turbulent Years of Marriage to Philippe Bouvard

Colette Sauvage Reflects on 70 Turbulent Years of Marriage to Philippe Bouvard

Cannes, France, 24 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) – Colette Sauvage’s seven-decade marriage to French broadcaster Philippe Bouvard endured fame, long absences and serious marital strains, with his wife once revealing that she had even put his suitcases outside the door during difficult periods in their relationship.
The couple married in 1953 and remained together for more than 70 years, until Bou

Read More

Six EU Countries Aim to Tax Oil Windfall Profits

Six EU Countries Aim to Tax Oil Windfall Profits

Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, and Austria are advocating for the EU to reconsider a crisis-era levy amid rising fuel prices, reigniting the debate over the costs of geopolitical disruptions. These countries are pushing for a unified EU mechanism to tax the extraordinary profits gained by oil companies during the current energy crisis. They have requested the Irish EU presidency to incl

Read More

Star News Anchor Resigns as Partner Enters French Presidential Race

Star News Anchor Resigns as Partner Enters French Presidential Race

Glucksmann discussed the implications of his potential presidential candidacy on his personal life, stating that he and Salamé, his partner of over ten years, had in-depth discussions about its impact. Despite France’s history of journalists involved with politicians, Salamé indicated at a parliamentary hearing in February that she would step aside if Glucksmann pursued the presidency. Previ

Read More

Arsenal Injury Update: Tzolis Shines and Odegaard Regains Form in London

Arsenal Injury Update: Tzolis Shines and Odegaard Regains Form in London

London, 22 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Arsenal have received an encouraging Arsenal injury update on Bruno Guimaraes after the midfielder missed their 3-0 Premier League victory over Coventry City, while Christos Tzolis and Martin Odegaard provided Mikel Arteta with plenty of encouragement at the other end of the pitch.
The champions made a confident start to their title defence at the

Read More

How Ukraine Can Endure Another Winter

How Ukraine Can Endure Another Winter

We have returned, and so have Ukraine’s important supporters. On Ukraine’s 35th independence anniversary from the Soviet Union, leaders gather in Kyiv this Monday to discuss new support commitments for the country.
In the podcast, Zoya Sheftalovich and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Nick Vinocur explore the support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aims to obtain from the Coalitio

Read More