While cafes and restaurants have to close to curb the second wave, hotels are promoting their food and drink offerings to still attract some visitors. “You can have lunch and dinner with us.”
According to the Outbreak Management Team, the cabinet’s main advisory team, keeping restaurants open would have been an option, provided health regulations were followed. In order to avoid disputes about the details of the rules, the cabinet opted for a complete closure of cafés and restaurants, with the exception of the hotels.
“Restaurants and bars are open. Alcohol may also be served after 8 p.m. “At Fletcher Hotels, they like to use the exceptional position that applies to hotels in a message on their site.
By reminding people that their food and beverage outlets are open to hotel guests – as opposed to cafes and restaurants – they are trying to generate additional revenue. Officially, the hotel chain is not doing anything wrong. After all, hotels are allowed to remain open and that includes facilities such as a café and restaurant.
Guests can spend the night in the hotel for 25 euros per person, but according to director Rob Hermans, that low price has nothing to do with the exceptional position of the hotels. “We do this 25-euro promotion every year in October and November,” says director Rob Hermans.
More than 200 euros discount
At Hard Rock Hotel Amsterdam American on the Leidsekade they also try to seduce guests with the text: “With us you can have lunch and dinner”. For direct neighbors of the hotel, there is a special rate of 99 euros until November 15, the provisional end date of the tightened corona measures. The costs for an overnight stay normally start at around 180 euros.
“We only sent that discount to our immediate neighbors, about 60 people. It is a helping hand to them. They are often elderly and live in an apartment in the heart of Amsterdam, ”says manager Claire van Campen.
And at Albus Hotel in Center they promote the more than 200 euro discount for their lunch package on Friday, of course with overnight stay and breakfast. “Otherwise no one will come,” says director Taco van der Meer. “We’ve had this promotion since June and sometimes we ask for extra attention. That way we make a little less loss. ”
As during the first lockdown, what the hotels are doing is not in violation of the stricter corona rules. Hotel Joelia searched for loopholes in the emergency ordinance to the limit on Thursday evening. For only 10 euros, visitors were registered as hotel guests at the adjacent Hilton Hotel, so that the restaurant could simply receive those people.
After negative media attention, Joelia has decided, in consultation with the municipality, to discontinue the hotel dinner arrangement. According to Minister Grapperhaus (Justice & Security), such an action is not the intention.
