EUROPE – The City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam RAI have announced the winner of the tender for the RAI’s new hotel project – nhow presented by NH Hotel Group.
The hotel will be developed by COD and designed by OMA, founded by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The construction of the 91-metre high hotel is due to be completed for mid-2016.
Eleven entries were submitted, but the winning concept of OMA, COD and NH Hotel Group stood out, according to the RAI, because of facilities including a television studio, gallery, sculpture garden, spa, restaurant and bar.
Director of COD Gert-Wim Bos said: “We are proud that the City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam RAI chose our plan. The spectacular concept nhow Amsterdam RAI and the iconic design of OMA will be of value for the city and the Amsterdam RAI area and will also enrich the skyline of Zuidas.”
The hotel is located in the triangle of the Europa Boulevard, the highway A10 and the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre.
OMA partner Reinier de Graaf: “Since the rise of Zuidas, Amsterdam RAI needed a ‘new’ urban look. The prominent advertising pillar ‘the Signaal’ provided inspiration for the new nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel and context for the extension of Amsterdam RAI itself.”
With 650 rooms, nhow Amsterdam RAI will become the biggest hotel in the Benelux.
A theme ‘On Air’ has been chosen because of the focus on connectivity, innovation and media and Maarten Markus, MD of NH Hotel Group, sees the arrival of nhow Amsterdam RAI as a huge asset to the more than 375 hotels constituent portfolio of the chain: “Together with our business partners we strive to enrich the Amsterdam skyline with 650 rooms, 25 floors and a 91m high multimedia studio.
“After nhow Milan, nhow Berlin and nhow Rotterdam, the iconic nhow Amsterdam RAI will be a hotspot for both business as leisure guests to enjoy excellent hospitality and gastronomic surprises ‘On Air’ day and night.”
The hotel will help the City of Amsterdam diversify its pallet of hotels and RAI general director Hans Bakker said: “RAI hotel fulfils the ambition to realise a headquarter hotel on the grounds of Amsterdam RAI.
“This hotel will be the centre for event planners, exhibitors and visitors of large, multi-day international events.” He added that it would strengthen the RAI’s competitiveness in the international fairs and convention market.
The Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam organises 500 events each year, including exhibitions, conferences, corporate events and other events, which welcome around 1.5m visitors.
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