AMSTERDAM HOTELS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO FELLOW CITY DWELLERS
On 12 January 2013, Amsterdam residents will have the chance to enjoy an overnight hotel stay in their own hometown. A selection of 45 exceptional hotels will be offering rooms and suites at significantly discounted rates. Hotels will also be organising cultural, creative and culinary events over the course of the weekend that will also be open to individuals who just want to purchase a (passe-partout) ticket. That way, Amsterdam inhabitants can sample the character of a variety of different hotels.
From boutique hostel to luxury hotel
A range of various hotels are all participating in the Amsterdam Hotel Night. From the luxury hotel Seven One Seven to the largest hotel in the Benelux countries, Novotel, from the cultural Lloyd Hotel to fancy five star hotels like the InterContinental Amstel Hotel, from citizenM to the Hilton, Casa 400 to several special newcomers such as DoubleTree, Andaz and Sir Albert. The participating hotels are spread out throughout the entire city. The NH hotel chain will open the doors of no less than 11 of its hotels, including the famous Krasnapolsky and Barbizon Palace.
Cultural, creative and culinary events
From Saturday to Sunday afternoon, hotels throughout the city are organising a variety of creative, cultural and culinary events. These include skating on the highest ice rink in Amsterdam at the DoubleTree by Hilton, a comedy diner at the American Hotel, dancing in the historic Olofskapel at the NH Barbizon Palace, a Rooftop Winter BBQ organised by the Albus Hotel, an organic night market at the Conscious Hotel Vondelpark, a pop-up fashion sale at the WestCord Fashion Hotel, Herman Brood Action Painting at the WestCord Art Hotel, a literary salon with Jan Siebelink at the Ambassade Hotel, the St. Matthew Passion at Moevenpick, a Mad-Hatter´s brunch at the Andaz Hotel and the ‘Sound of Tunes’ event organised by the Conservatorium Hotel. Arnon Grünberg will interview the Fokkens sisters and Xaviera Hollander at the Cocomama Hostel, which is also organising a prostitution workshop. The Lloyd Hotel will be telling international ‘llove stories’ and Casa 400 will present hotel theatre in partnership with the Over het IJ Festival. There are also afternoon teas, cocktail-parties, diners and various other parties. With a passe-partout ticket, visitors who have not booked a room may also attend the various events on offer.
A hometown holiday
The idea for the Amsterdam Hotel Night came about after Vincent van Dijk spent a year sleeping in all the hotels in Amsterdam. “I discovered that Amsterdam has a lot to offer in the way of hotel bars, restaurants, and lobbies, but that most residents of the city see these locations as rather unapproachable and do not often step inside,” says Vincent van Dijk of HBMEO, the agency organising the event. “However, you really only experience a hotel´s true hospitality if you stay the night. I can state from experience that there is nothing more pleasant than enjoying a hometown holiday.”
Rooms & tickets
Amsterdam residents can book a room via the website: www.amsterdamsehotelnacht.nl. Each booking includes two tickets for the various events. These tickets can also be purchased separately.
Provisional program
In the spirit of the celebrations surrounding the 400th anniversary of the Amsterdam canals, the Blue Boat Company will organise special canal tours that pass by the historic canal hotels. In addition, the hotels are organising diverse small and large-scale events. The (provisional) program will be announced in mid-October. Below is a brief outline of the events; more detailed information can be found on the website:
The highest ice rink in Amsterdam on the roof terrace of the DoubleTree by Hilton
Afternoon tea kick-off party & Hotel Night dinner at La Rive in the InterContinental Amstel Hotel
Stand-up comedy dinner presented by Greg Shapiro at the American Hotel Hampshire Eden (in partnership with Brasserie Flo, Enoteca, and Café Americain)
Arnon Grünberg interviews the Fokkens sisters and Xaviera Hollander in the former brothel, Cocomama
Winter-BBQ party on the roof terrace of the Albus Hotel
Organic night market at the Conscious Hotel Vondelpark
Dancing in the historic Olofskapel at the NH Barbizon Palace
Mövenpick Hotel presents the St. Matthew Passion by Tarenskeen in the Muziekgebouw aan het IJ/Bimhuis
A pop-up gallery on Saturday evening and a mad hatter´s brunch on Sunday at the Andaz Hotel
Literary salon with Jan Siebelink (among others) at the Ambassade Hotel
Afternoon tea with musical stars Jasper Taconis and Joke de Kruijff at Hotel Seven One Seven
Taste with a View Cocktail Party at Floor17 in the Ramada Apollo
Pop-up fashion sale at the WestCord Fashion Hotel
Tasty workshops at Hotel La Bohème
Historic Hotel Night dinner at Thijs restaurant in the Dikker & Thijs Fenice Hotel
Theatre in partnership with Over het IJ at Hotel Casa 400
Herman Brood Action Painting & Music and a reading by Koos van Dijk at the WestCord Art Hotel
The Sound of Tunes in the Conservatorium Hotel
Pillow Fight at NH Hotels
Fashion & beauty market in The Living Room at the Park Hotel
Jazz in the College Hotel
Hotel Stories with Llove in the Lloyd Hotel
High tea & music at the Wyndham Apollo
Hangover brunch at Hotel Arena
Albert Cuyp Tour organised by Sir Albert