At the time of winning the Business Destinations award for Best Business Hotel, Netherlands in 2012, Bel Air Hotel had already partnered up with Worldhotels, one of the leading groups for independent hotels worldwide. As of January 2013 the partnership has intensified and the Bel Air Hotel became Worldhotel Bel Air. Now, in 2014, the newly rebranded hotel has reclaimed its title.
“Joining the Worldhotels brand will further enhance our partnership and help us to keep our competitive edge, while keeping our unique and independent identity,” says Stephan van der Meulen, General Manager. “We will be able to internationally benefit from such a creative and innovative brand.”
Continuous improvements
In line with the new name, and to adapt to the growing importance of e-commerce, a new website was launched. Currently available in English, Dutch, German, French and Chinese, more languages will follow, allowing the hotel to communicate with guests in their native language as much as possible.
This full [penthouse] suite will suit the needs of any global dignitary or high-powered CEO
“We are constantly in the process of improving our product and service,” says the GM. Prior to the launch of the new website an entire floor was dedicated to business guests, with every room being transformed into a business room. By adding facilities and services like a Nespresso coffee machine and a pillow menu, these rooms are now even more carefully tailored to the business traveller’s needs.
In addition, a new penthouse suite has just been completed. Situated nine floors up, on the top of the building, the penthouse suite overlooks The Hague’s prestigious Statenkwartier district, Scheveningen and the North Sea coastline.
Van der Meulen explains: “It is a luxurious design offering a sophisticated blend of state-of-the-art facilities, comfort and exclusivity. With the requirements of the international business guest in mind, the penthouse suite is a highly appropriate setting for VIP guests, CEOs and world leaders to feel truly welcome and at home.”
Future plans include constructing a wellness centre and a complete renovation of the hotel’s penthouse boardroom, eventually connecting it to the penthouse suite. This will result in a massive total area of over 300sq m, making it by far the largest suite in The Hague and surrounding areas. This full suite will suit the needs of any global dignitary or high-powered CEO, while the penthouse boardroom will be perfect for group meetings, as a private office space, or for intimate banquets, offering stunning views over the skyline of The Hague, and all without having to leave the secure environment of the suite.
“For international court cases at the Peace Palace and visiting political and trade delegations we even exclusively rent out the entire top floor, guaranteeing privacy and minimal fuss for delegates.”
Event destination
The Hague has high ambitions to serve as an important host of international conventions and events. For 2014 the cooperation between The Hague’s convention centre World Forum, local hotels and The Hague Marketing, resulted in two major events, which will further showcase the city as an interesting event destination.
In March, the Nuclear Security Summit will take over the so-called International Zone of The Hague, in which Worldhotel Bel Air is located. With 58 world leaders expected, including President Barack Obama, President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as 10,000 employees, delegates and journalists, the city will be taking all necessary security measures.
“Without the right accreditation no one will be able to come near us. But there will be plenty of accredited guests to welcome and serve,” said van der Meulen.
In June, all eyes will be on the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014. The top 12 men’s and women’s teams in the world will gather in The Hague to compete – that means more than 300 star field-hockey players in action. As the official tournament hotel, Worldhotel Bel Air will welcome many of them. In addition, the tournament involves 76 top-level matches and a host of other music, cultural and sports events, drawing in thousands of visitors in need of hotel rooms.
Creative conferences
But it is not just the city as a whole that is seen as a desirable destination. Worldhotel Bel Air is a conference destination in its own right. With its A1 conference and events hall, a meeting floor with 600sq m of divisible meeting space, and four boardrooms, the hotel has already hosted all kinds of conferences, galas and car launches, with guest numbers ranging from 10 to 500 people. With the addition of eight meeting suites the hotel has created more possibilities for breakout sessions, interviews or anything else guests might need.
“To serve our guests in the best way, we need to be creative and flexible – and we are! Our meeting suites have already been converted into massage rooms for athletes, offices for international law firms litigating at the Peace Palace, and meeting rooms for presentations or interviews”, says van der Meulen.
“If we need to move or change furniture in our meeting rooms, or even bedrooms, to meet our guests’ wishes, we will gladly do so and even the office staff will pitch in. We like to pleasantly surprise our guests. It is this creative and innovative service that makes our guests choose Worldhotel Bel Air.”
For more information, visit worldhotelbelair.com, email conference@worldhotelbelair.com or reservations@worldhotelbelair.com, or phone +31 70 3525354
