Mainland China
Building the world’s biggest LEGOLAND® resort with Merlin Entertainments
Contact
Sogol Azarbad
Head of Urban Development
Project overview
How do you modernise a busy city‑centre hotel without closing its doors?
The client’s ambition was to reposition DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central for the future. The project set out to upgrade all 557 guest rooms, three food and beverage outlets and the hotel lobby, while introducing a bold new rooftop destination. Just as important was delivering the work in a live environment, keeping the hotel fully operational throughout.
The first phase focused on transforming the SkyLounge into LuminAir, a new rooftop bar designed to become one of Amsterdam’s standout destinations. Alongside this, 54 guest rooms were refurbished, with layouts and technical solutions tested before rolling out across the rest of the hotel. Following the success of this phase, AXA commissioned the team to refurbish the remaining 503 rooms, corridors and lift lobbies.
In total, seven room designs were delivered across 40 different layouts. The refurbishment of the remaining 503 guest rooms and additional spaces ompleted within a 10 month-period while the hotel remained operational. The final stage brought the transformation down to ground level, with two food and beverage outlets and the lobby redesigned to create a stronger connection between the hotel and the city.
project story
Balancing quality, cost and continuity
We provided end-to-end cost and commercial management and project management, working closely with Hilton’s management team, designers and contractors. Together, we challenged design and construction approaches to balance quality, programme and operational needs.
Phased delivery was key, as by carefully sequencing works and starting from the top of the building, we minimised disruption to guests and staff while keeping costs under control. We also supported the client in future-proofing guest rooms, including infrastructure that allows smart technology to be added at a later date.
Building long-term value through refurbishment
Upgrading an existing hotel rather than building new helped reduce material use and extended the life of the asset. Guest rooms were designed with flexibility in mind, supporting future upgrades as standards and guest expectations continue to evolve. Materials were also selected with responsible sourcing considerations in mind.
The successful reopening in January 2025 marked more than a physical transformation. The investment has driven increased bookings, higher revenues and positive guest feedback, strengthening DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central’s position in a competitive hospitality market. The project also builds on our long‑standing relationship with Hilton and our local experience delivering complex refurbishments in live environments across Amsterdam.
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