Extensions take luxury hotel experience to next level

In June, Pulitzer Amsterdam unveiled its latest additions: the impressive Merchant Suite, the largest suite in the hotel, and the thematically designed Collector's Suites, inspired by flowers and porcelain. In addition, the hotel is entering the world of beauty and wellness for the first time with the launch of The Beauty House. Regional general manager Bart van de Brug of Lore Group explains why Pulitzer chose these additions and what impact they will have on the hotel's future.

"There is an increasing demand for more luxurious room types in Amsterdam. Because of the hotel's unique layout, with 25 connected canal houses, we looked for ways to make better use of the spaces. We saw potential in a less-used meeting room overlooking the canal and in merging smaller rooms into a grand suite. This allowed us to add new splendour to the special property and create a more attractive and versatile offering."

"Certainly, this helped us realise this project. We are listening to the changing needs of international travellers to improve the guest experience. Hotels today are no longer just a place to stay, but an essential part of the entire travel experience. This makes the stay an integral part of the trip to Amsterdam, allowing us to build a deeper connection with our guests. We create a complete experience that goes beyond customising room types, with attention to service, facilities, and extras, matching our brand: personal, homely, but luxurious and retaining the charm of the canal house."

"The Merchant Suite caters to families, composite families and the entertainment industry. With three separate bedrooms and bathrooms, this suite offers privacy and space, while the shared living room and seating area provides opportunities for togetherness."

"A challenging operation it certainly was, partly because of our location in the heart of UNESCO World Heritage Site and the construction of our hotel. We therefore started with a thorough feasibility study involving the right experts. My advice to others in a similar situation is to always make sure you have the right specialists around you, who also have the right contacts at bodies such as the municipality or the heritage committee. The work was combined with multi-year maintenance, which added to the challenge. We decided to do everything at once to minimise the impact. Through weekly internal updates and the commitment of our fantastically flexible team, we were able to accomplish this."

"This is really the final piece of the puzzle. That there was a demand for beauty and wellness treatments was clear; we were just looking for a way to combine this demand with an offer that fit the current Pulitzer. The result is an intimate three-storey canal house, specially designed for hair, nail, facial and body treatments. Before each treatment, a comprehensive personal intake is conducted to discuss preferences, any complaints and desired results. The menu, developed in collaboration with prestigious brands such as 111SKIN, Dutch Keune and Chāmpo, offers a mix of traditional and high-tech treatments."

"Currently, no large-scale renovations are planned - besides regular updates and annual touch-ups. By listening and analysing feedback, we continuously monitor our product to make improvements and adjustments where necessary." 

"With the addition of the Merchant Suite, Flower Collector's Suite and Porcelain Collector's Suite, we are taking the standards at Pulitzer Amsterdam to the next level. By focusing on innovation and catering to the needs of the modern hotel guest, we are marking a new phase for the hotel. Personal concierge services and tailor-made in-room amenities in the areas of sports, lifestyle and beauty are no longer exceptional, but are becoming the norm. These changes also demand a lot from our team: they have to adapt and think along with us. We therefore provide extensive training and organise, for example, 'experience stays' - overnight stays for employees - so that they always stay close to the product and can respond flexibly to changes."