Amsterdam's Marriott is about to undergo extensive refurbishment in a bid to regain its five-star status. When this 392-room business property opened 30 years ago it brought a breath of fresh air to the city's staid hotel scene.
But time doesn't do anyone a favour. Having stayed at this particular Marriott on several occasions over the past 25 years (most recently last August) I can report the hotel is now overdue for a refurbishment.
"We've set ourselves an ambitious timescale for this refurbishment," the hotel's GM Vera Duehring told Business Traveller. "We plan to start the work in November and complete it by March next year."
Vera Duehring declined to reveal the exact cost of the work but she says: "It will include a full re-do of the hotel including the restaurants, rooms, bathrooms and corridors. The executive lounge will be included and here we'll be adding a work station [guests currently use a desk by the entrance door]. By next January we hope to have completed enough of the work to re-apply for our former five-star grading."
But two of the Marriott's 30 year old features won't change. The low-ceilinged lobby (think Heathrow T2's check-in area) and the slow elevators will stay the same.
The Amsterdam Marriott is located at Stadhouderskade 12 in the Leidseplein area.
Tel: + 31 20 6075555
For more information go to marriott.com
Report by Alex McWhirter
