City Inn, the privately owned UK hotel company, has agreed terms for a brand new, flagship hotel in the prime location of Amsterdam's Oosterdokseiland ('ODE'). The hotel will be built on Plot 1 of ODE, immediately adjacent to Centraal Station, and will benefit from stunning views over the IJ river to the north and across the historic center of Amsterdam to the South.
Designed by leading British Architect Rab Bennetts, the hotel, which is due to open in 2010, will have 550 rooms, lounge and cocktail bars together with its highly acclaimed restaurant 'City Café', which will offer leading edge, modern, international cuisine in spaces that make the most of the fabulous waterside location. In addition to the bars and restaurants there will be bespoke private dining facilities, meeting rooms and conference areas. The top (11th) floor of the hotel will feature an exceptional sky lounge which will house a combination of superior meeting rooms and a stylish bar and terrace, offering unparalleled views over the water to the city.
Artist impression of the Oosterdokseiland
One of the biggest urban development projects in Europe, the 200,000 m² ODE development will comprise the 30,000 m² City Inn Hotel, together with 80,000 m² of office space, 12,500 m² of retail space, 7,500 m² of entertainment/leisure attractions, over 345 residential apartments and 1,600 parking places on an exceptional location in the heart of the City of Amsterdam.
Straddling the IJ river and the historical Old City of Amsterdam, which is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Oosterdokseiland site also boasts excellent communication links in one of Europe's leading hotel markets and incorporates some of the city's key civic attractions such as the Central Library of Amsterdam and the new academy of music.
The total investment in the ODE project is estimated to be €710 million and it is anticipated that the development of this area will be complete in 2011.
City Inn will be investing over €150 million in the hotel project which it is developing in partnership with Bouwfonds MAB, the largest Dutch commercial property developer and will create approximately 300 new jobs within the hotel and a wealth of construction-related roles and significant wider economic benefits to the city.
Sandy Orr, Executive Chairman of City Inn, commented: "This is a momentous occasion for our private British company as it is our first international development and it is in one of the most important locations in one of Europe's most historic and modern cities. We are privileged to be working closely with the City of Amsterdam and in partnership with Bouwfonds MAB to create an exceptional landmark hotel which is going to be one of the most prominent buildings in the city. We look forward to working together with our partners to deliver this project and we believe that it will be the first step in our company's strategy to develop exceptional landmark hotels in the major European cities."
David Orr, Chief Executive of City Inn, commented: "We fully appreciate the responsibility that goes with delivering an outstanding design for our new hotel which we believe will be a building that the city, its citizens and visitors will be proud of. Our brand is award winning, contemporary and stylish and is founded on a fundamental commitment to exceptional customer service. We are confident that our hotel, with its bars, restaurants and panoramic meeting spaces will be a very welcome addition to Amsterdam's already vibrant business and cultural life."
Isaäc Kalisvaart, CEO of Bouwfonds MAB Development, commented: "City Inn's appointment is of particular significance for Amsterdam. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome City Inn as our partners. This project constitutes a textbook example of the perfect mixed use development and will provide an extension to the City centre which is going to be an integral part of Amsterdam with its own identity. The City Inn hotel will convert this area to a new dynamic environment."
