The Park Inn by Radisson Amsterdam City West opened in 2018 and is a purpose-built contemporary, design led, 4-star business hotel.

General Positioning:

The hotel sits within the VEN multi-purpose complex which is located in an industrial and commercial area to the North West of the city centre. Sloterdijk station is a 5-minute walk away and links the hotel by ‘sprinter’ train to Amsterdam Schiphol airport in 15 minutes - a taxi will take a similar time. Amsterdam’s central station can also be reached by direct train from Sloterdijk in 6 minutes.

The city centre of Amsterdam and the surrounding area offers visitors culture, entertainment and historical attractions however, the distractions of the city are avoided due to the venue’s location.

The hotel has a total of 476 bedrooms and has standard and superior rooms, and also includes 35 Junior Suites and Suites. Standard rooms are typically those appropriate for allocation to HCPs but, in our opinion, with superior rooms 3m2 larger than standard rooms with no additional amenities, some healthcare bookers may also consider these as appropriate.

The hotel meeting space is provided on two floors with four distinct areas allowing for the potential for more than one healthcare companies’ meetings to be hosted at the same time. On the ground floor is the largest room, the Pearl Ballroom that can accommodate 570 in a theatre style with an additional 138 seats on the first-floor balcony. The first floor is dedicated to meeting space and provides 19 rooms which can be used for meetings from 8 boardroom to 118 in theatre when rooms are combined.

Since opening the hotel has gained experience in hosting numerous healthcare meetings that involve HCPs including advisory boards and investigator meetings.

Sales and Marketing:

The hotels main website reflects the overall proposition of a venue aligned to meetings and events and is its core proposition.

As a renowned designer was used in the development of the hotel, the word ‘designer’ is used in sales language, but the reality is that there are no luxurious touches or facilities to suggest the hotel is not one appropriate for holding business meetings or those from the healthcare sector that include healthcare professionals.

As part of the Park Inn by Radisson brand, the understated website provides a simple design, which reflects the overall contemporary style of the venue. The home page images include an external shot of the entire building, a bathroom and one of a dinner organised on the meeting floor, and this imagery is unlikely to create an impression of a luxury hotel.

Google accurately reflects the hotels 4-star rating and hosts external travel site links which references the hotels conference facilities and location and position within the multi-purpose VEN complex.

The hotel does not have its own Twitter account but does manage a Facebook page that naturally carries posts of more leisure-based activities held at the hotel. There is no hotel LinkedIn page but there is a corporate Park Inn by Radisson page that focusses on the whole group portfolio that is aimed to attract both business and leisure guests.

Location and Setting:
 
The Park Inn by Radisson Amsterdam City West is located to the North West of Amsterdam city centre and away from the undoubted distractions of the city centre.

Sloterdijk station is a 5-minute walk away and links the hotel by ‘sprinter’ train to Amsterdam Schiphol airport in 15 minutes - a taxi will take a similar time. Amsterdam’s central station can also be reached by direct train from Sloterdijk in 6 minutes. The physical setting of the hotel provides panoramic city views from higher floors but from a business complex environment.


Fit for Purpose:

The layout of the venue allows for multiple groups to meet in self-contained meeting areas in a location that avoids the distractions of the city whilst having the infrastructure of Amsterdam on its doorstep. The Park Inn by Radisson Amsterdam City West positions itself as a venue for meetings and events. Extensive meeting space includes 19 smaller meeting rooms on the first floor plus the large Pearl suite on the ground floor. With no leisure facilities located within the hotel, it supports the description of an authentic conference hotel.

The architecture of the hotel provides a modern glass exterior and an interior that uses vibrant colours and natural daylight to present a bright and positive setting to hold meetings. The hotel has been selected to be part of a number of corporate preferred venue programmes for meetings including the EMA, the European Medicines Association who moved to Amsterdam in 2019.

The hotel’s Den bar is located on the ground floor, is modest in size and décor with the Den restaurant located on the same floor, and can accommodate up to 300 people in one group. It is the location for guest breakfast, lunch and dinners and areas can be privatised for group lunches however, it cannot be made 100% private as it is open plan.

Meetings:

The hotel meeting space is located on two floors, ground and first. They are all named after colours which reflect the overall vibrant theme of the hotel and each room includes decoration relevant to their name. The general décor is modern and bright due to all rooms, except the Pearl Ballroom, benefitting from natural daylight. Leading from the lobby and pre-function area on the ground floor is the privatised foyer area for the Pearl Ballroom which can accommodate 570 in a theatre style with an additional 138 fixed seats on the first-floor balcony. The room can be split into three even-sized rooms of 189 with an additional balcony seating for 46, but the room is ideal when used as a conference plenary with the first-floor meeting rooms as breakouts/workshop rooms. The first floor is dedicated to meeting space with Foyer 2 providing a central focal / separation point for 12 meeting rooms on one side and 5 on the other and 2 to the rear. These areas allow for the privatisation of meeting rooms in defined areas, ideal for healthcare companies looking for security and confidentiality solutions. These 19 various-sized rooms provide ideal space to hold small advisory boards for 8, like the Azure, Topaz, Turquoise and Violet. Larger meeting types can be accommodated when meeting rooms are combined such as the Carmine and Charcoal and can seat 118 in theatre style.

Bedrooms:

The hotel has a total of 476 bedrooms across 8 floors accessed by central lifts and has standard, superior, and Junior Suites and Suites. Standard rooms are typically those appropriate for allocation to HCPs but, in our opinion, as superior rooms are 3m2 larger than standard rooms, some healthcare bookers may consider these also appropriate. Some rooms in all categories come with city views but these are located on the 9th floor so the standard rooms on this floor might be considered inappropriate for allocation to HCPs. All bedrooms have highly modern styling with bright colours and business focussed amenities such as a work desk, laptop safe and complimentary high speed wi-fi.

Fitness Facilities:  

The VEN multi-purpose complex includes the house of wellness members' fitness gym with separate spa. Residential guests are offered complimentary access to the gym via an internal walkway or external entrance as it is not located within the hotel which ensures that meeting delegates are not distracted.

Service:

The hotel does not provide a dedicated concierge service, but guest support is provided by all reception staff. The service levels are consistent with a venue suitable for healthcare meetings and events. There is no sign that the venue attempts to use service and a guest-to-staff ratio to leverage luxury impressions.

The venue uses words such as designer to describe aspects of the hotel that are contemporary and modern. 

Within the VEN multi-purpose complex is a café, a fitness gym that provides chargeable spa treatments, a poké bowl restaurant,  but these are independent businesses and not part of the hotel. Residential guests are offered complimentary access to the house of wellness members' gym, with fitness machines and free weights however, as they are not located within the hotel, guests can gain access via an internal walkway or from a street-level doorway, 100 meters from the main hotel entrance.

Within the VEN building is also a casino however, contrary to the sign that appears on the exterior of the building, it is not part of the hotel and has a separate entrance at the front. From within the hotel, there are no views or references to the existence of the casino. From the road, the entrance walkway is shared however, is then separated into individual business entrances.