US boutique hotel chain expands into Europe
Boutique chain Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants is to open its first property outside the Americas in Amsterdam in the second quarter of next year.
Senior vice president sales Christine Lawson said the opening would build awareness of the Kimpton brand in the European market. "We are on a significant growth projection and the Amsterdam hotel is a great opportunity for the Kimpton brand," she said.
Kimpton will transform the Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre hotel in Amsterdam into a 270-room property with luxury boutique rooms and upscale dining outlets aimed at both the business and leisure markets.
It is one of 18 new hotels that Kimpton is planning to open over the next year or so.
"The Amsterdam hotel is a great location for our first hotel in Europe and it gives us another opportunity to educate people about the brand," added Lawson.
She said the 62-hotel chain was looking at a further 13 locations for new properties.
The UK is one of Kimpton’s largest overseas markets, but Lawson said the chain had not suffered any immediate impact following the vote late last month to leave the European Union and the subsequent devaluation of sterling.
"We have not seen any drop in bookings, our business continues to be very healthy, but it is too early to know what the impact of Brexit will be. We are keeping a very close eye on the market and if we have to make adjustments we will do that."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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