‘Guest should have ‘wow’ feeling on entry’

Thirty-year collaboration leads to iconic hotel renovations

Anyone entering Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam - located in the monumental Scheepvaarthuis on Prins Hendrikkade - enters a world of gilded details, Art Nouveau stained glass and magnificent marble. That this rich history has been restored to its full glory is largely thanks to the close cooperation between Leonard Roelofsen, real estate project coordinator at Amrâth, and Jan Pleijsier of Pleijsier Hotelrenovatie from Genemuiden. A cooperation that has lasted for more than 30 years and stands as a house.

Leonard Roelofsen remembers it well. “We got to know each other during the renovation of Hotel Die Port van Cleve in Amsterdam some 30 years ago. At that time still under the name Palet Schilderwerken, from which Pleijsier Hotelrenovatie later emerged.” 

Since then, Roelofsen and Pleijsier have realised numerous iconic hotel projects, often under the banner of Amrâth Hôtels. From Gooiland in Hilversum and DuCasque in Maastricht to the iconic Kurhaus in Scheveningen. Time and again, Pleijsier and his team lived up to the trust: “When I tackle a project, it is often with Pleijsier present. You only have to say it once and it will be taken care of. That's worth a lot in our industry.”

Dream project

One project stands out unchallenged for both of them: the transformation of the Scheepvaarthuis into a five-star Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam. A three-year project, between 2005 and 2007, in which monumental heritage and modern hotel facilities had to be brought together. “It was a monument in deplorable condition,” says Roelofsen. “System ceilings, clogged ornaments, boarded-up walls - it was almost irreverent how it had been handled.”

For Pleijsier, it was a dream project. “We got to tackle everything: cleaning stained glass, stripping and repainting window frames, gilding, painting marble imitations, wallpapering - the whole ‘Palette’ of the painting trade was covered.” 

The trade recognised that achievement: in 2008, Palet Schilderwerken, now called Palet Vastgoedonderhoud, was nominated for the SchildersVakprijs. Roelofsen: “It was the biggest project we did together. And without the close cooperation with all parties involved - Pleijsier in particular - we would never have realised it within planning, budget and quality.”

The project also brought with it memorable moments, as Roelofsen tastefully recounts: “During the construction meetings, the discussions sometimes ran a bit stiff. Then Jan and I would look at each other and know: just stretch your legs. We would walk together to the fishmonger's on the Zeedijk - get a bite of herring, take a break. On the way, we discussed the bottlenecks, and on the way back we had the solution. That worked better than any project meeting!”

Discreet working method

According to Roelofsen, what makes Pleijsier such a strong partner for hotel renovation? “First of all: reliability. At this company, ‘a deal is a deal’ is not an empty slogan, it still really means something. If Jan says ‘yes’, it happens. Full stop!”

Roelofsen also praises the unconcerned way of working: “Pleijsier simply takes care of it. Whether it's just painting or a complete renovation - I know it will be done professionally. And if something is broken or needs adjusting, they are there in no time.” Another important plus: the discreet way of working. “Hotels run on during renovations. You don't want to inconvenience guests. Pleijsier's people move through the hotel almost invisibly. Everything is done neatly, professionally and quietly. That's crucial in this industry.”

Trust

According to Roelofsen, hotel renovation revolves around three pillars: quality, planning and budget. “A hotel room has to be renovated within one or two days, so it can be rented out again quickly. At the same time, the end result must be perfect - the guest must have that ‘wow’ feeling when entering. Not a line forgotten, not an edge half - just 99.9 per centperfect. And that's only possible with a partner you can trust. And of course it has to fit within the client's budget. Managing that field of tension is my job, and I need partners like Pleijsier for that.”

Roelofsen concludes: “Over the past 30 years, we have become friends, but the foundation is professional: mutual respect, trust and craftsmanship. Pleijsier Hotel Renovation simply delivers quality. And that's what it's all about in the end.”