Bilderberg announces changes in General Management

Bilderberg announces some changes within the general management of its hotels. Erik de Wit bids farewell to the Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam. He will be succeeded by Frans van de Laak. In addition, Harro Menkhorst has been appointed Cluster General Manager of Bilderberg Grand Hotel Wientjes in Zwolle and Bilderberg Hotel De Keizerskroon in Apeldoorn.

Farewell to Erik de Wit after more than 30 years at Bilderberg

After more than 30 years of working at Bilderberg, Erik de Wit is stepping down. Since June 2014, he was General Manager of the Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam. In the years before, he held various managerial positions within and outside the group, including that of General Manager of the Bilderberg Garden Hotel.

Throughout his long career, Erik has made a significant contribution to the development of authentic Bilderberg hospitality. He is known as an involved and inspiring leader, with an eye for both guests and staff. Many hospitality professionals took their first steps at Bilderberg under his guidance and developed further within and outside the organisation.

Bilderberg is very grateful to Erik for his years of dedication, his contribution to the success and reputation of the Parkhotel in Rotterdam and his commitment to developing people and hospitality across the group.

“I have had the privilege of working for years with passionate colleagues to create hospitality that truly comes from the heart,” says Erik de Wit. “Many people I have seen grow in this profession, and that perhaps makes me most proud. I hand over the Parkhotel with peace of mind and continue to look back on my time at Bilderberg with warm feelings.”

Frans van de Laak new general manager Bilderberg Parkhotel

Frans van de Laak will succeed Erik de Wit as General Manager of the Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam from 1 July 2026. Frans currently manages Bilderberg Hotel De Keizerskroon in Apeldoorn, where he has been responsible for the renovation and repositioning of the hotel for the past six years.

Before that, he worked as General Manager within Accor for over 20 years. Frans is known as an enthusiastic hotelier with a great love for the hospitality profession. As a wine lover and host, he combines professionalism with personal attention. He values building and maintaining networks, developing talents and creating valuable guest experiences every day. With his arrival, the Bilderberg Parkhotel gains an experienced and people-oriented General Manager at the helm.

Harro Menkhorst appointed Cluster general manager

Harro Menkhorst has been appointed Cluster General Manager as of the same date. In addition to his role as General Manager of Bilderberg Grand Hotel Wientjes in Zwolle, he will also assume responsibility for Bilderberg Hotel De Keizerskroon in Apeldoorn. In this role, Harro will focus on further strengthening quality, guest experience and team development within the cluster.

About Bilderberg

Bilderberg is a hotel collection of 11 hotels in the Netherlands and one hotel in Germany. The origins of the brand are in the Netherlands, where over the years Bilderberg has built a strong reputation for authentic hospitality in historic and characterful locations. The hotels are ideally suited for both private stays and meetings & events, thanks to their location, extensive facilities and high-quality restaurants. Bilderberg is part of Event Hotels, a hotel management organisation with 55 hotels in Europe.