Hotel Kint: relaxing in a listed monastery

In September last year, Hotel Kint, located in the former Franciscan convent (1883) in Valkenburg, opened its doors. A monumental building in neo-Gothic style with a rich history, but above all with its own identity, which in the design of the hotel is clearly reflected.

Operations include the organisation of Landgoed Altenbroek; a 4-star superior hotel just across the border in 's Gravenvoeren, Belgium. Tessa Veenstra works as sales and marketing manager at both locations. She specially tells Hotelvak about the identity of both Hotel Kint and Bistro Francis, a restaurant also located in the former monastery. She also elaborates on the importance of Valkenburg, its guests, her career and her own vision of this location. 

Walking the path from the public road towards the entrance of the hotel and bistro, one gets the feeling of taking a trip through time. Back to the late nineteenth century. An era where a serene calm defines the atmosphere, there is time for relaxation and unwinding and where every guest is embraced by the rich history. A perfect combination of contemporary comfort and historical charm. Three floors accessible by lift and 32 rooms in five different styles. A jewel for the region.

"We really looked closely at the character of this listed building. Together with the architect, we used that style as a starting point. The brand for Hotel Kint was built around that. We incorporate many neo-Gothic details of the monastery in expressions to the outside world, such as the website and business cards. Here, we collaborated with design agency Reiters Wings. The monastery had been owned by the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul since 1961 and was temporarily given a socio-cultural function. A group of entrepreneurs from Valkenburg and the surrounding area, who bought this part of the monastery in 2019, planned to build a new and luxurious hotel in Valkenburg. They did not want to lose the splendour of the building and also fill a gap in the hospitality market in the area. We were later approached to take care of the operation because of our experience and approach at Landgoed Altenbroek. So the foundations had already been laid. From then on, we did start thinking about the choice and application of materials and colours."

"The interior of the rooms reflects the ochre yellow colour of the Valkenburg marl caves. In addition, the colours of the authentic tiles have been used in the brand's branding. In the business cards, on the website and the signs of the room numbers."

"Partly. Because Valkenburg and its surroundings are also fantastic to be active as a hotel. Tourists come here to walk, cycle and relax. The city has a number of special events. Think of the Amstel Gold Race, Tour de Femmes and of course the Christmas market; those are real attractions. We got to experience that for the first time last winter season. The whole city works towards that event. Then everything has to be in perfect order. The occupancy was extremely high almost continuously during this period. That was the first busy period when the operational team was put to the test, but they solved every challenge excellently and really put Hotel Kint on the map as professionals at that time. Those events and rustic signature surroundings are very important to us. But we were also working as an organisation to find an additional venue besides Landgoed Altenbroek that fit our vision."

"That's a nod to the town's history. Valkenburg has a long history when it comes to cycling races. Belgian Marcel Kint won the world title here in 1938. He was the longest reigning world champion in cycling in history. He was known for his perseverance, passion and successes. It is our aim to continue that line in the operation of this hotel."

"Actually, you have to separate the restaurant from the hotel function. We developed the two concepts separately. This is a conscious choice because experience shows that if a restaurant is part of a hotel, the threshold for external guests is high. Incidentally, at first it was not sure how to fill the space in which the restaurant is located. We then started looking at the total hospitality offer in Valkenburg and paid particular attention to what the city was missing. It had to be an accessible concept, but with a really high-quality menu, aimed at people from the immediate area. We really want to stand out with the dishes, to offer something different. I think we succeeded in that."

"Particularly positive. Especially guests from the immediate area expressed a real need for a concept that is not only aimed at tourists, but also at the local market. So our aim was to appeal to a local audience with this business. Here we absolutely succeeded."

"Definitely! At the bistro, the focus is mainly on the local guest and at the hotel, we try to focus mainly on people outside the province. We know that Limburg is hugely popular with many people outside the province. They come here to relax and unwind. South Limburg in particular has its own atmosphere, almost call it a French character. Where else can you find that in just a two-hour drive? But of course everyone is welcome."

The interior of the rooms reflects the ochre-yellow colour of the Valkenburg marl caves.

"Absolutely. I am proud to work here. These are two unique locations. It is very important for me personally to work for hotels that I fully support with my vision and approach. From the beginning, I have been able to make my mark here as sales and marketing manager."

'You won't get anywhere if you don't dare take bold decisions' 

Sales and marketing manager Tessa Veenstra has already developed a strong vision of her own for the hotel industry despite her young age (26). In some personal questions, she talks about how she has grown and gained experience in this sector.

"I was born and raised in Amsterdam. As a young girl, I was already hooked on how the hospitality industry developed in this city. Back then, the various concepts were already growing like mushrooms. For me, it was wonderful to discover that world. I jumped on my bike, went to a new hotel and then spent quite some time there to gain new impressions. All that was decisive in choosing this industry. Before I started my studies, I gained experience in a boutique hotel chain in Amsterdam and while studying in a 5-star hotel in London."

"Excellent. Of course, this is a completely different world, but I feel at home here. At Landgoed Altenbroek, I once started as front office manager, but I preferred to develop further in the commercial field. So now I work as sales and marketing manager for both locations. That offers plenty of nice challenges. I like being involved in analytical aspects. I mix the experience I gained in the big cities with the Burgundian,
classic style here in the south. However, worldliness and innovative aspects are, in my view, essential to keep evolving as a hotel. You won't get anywhere if you don't dare to take bold decisions. With my approach, I try to let both locations grow along with developments in big cities. Although I will always respect the individual character of this region."

"Just like I did as a young girl: visiting other hotels, but also reading professional literature. I still love to feast my eyes in hotels and discover new concepts. That's how you learn what you don't want, but also what suits
fit yourself."

"Absolutely. Working in hotels feels like being part of a family. We all work so intensively together towards common goals and do everything to satisfy the guests. Besides that human aspect, I find the whole logistics operation very fascinating. That dynamic appeals to me enormously."