Rotterdam hotels are opening their doors to the local community on Neighbours’ Day: co-tourism in action

On Saturday 26 September, hotels in Rotterdam will be transformed into community meeting places. On this day, participating hotels, through Buurthotel and in partnership with Rotterdam City Council and Rotterdam Partners, will invite residents of Rotterdam to attend a barista workshop, an Italian cookery workshop or neighbourhood get-togethers. The aim: to bring residents and hotels together. This is taking place as part of Neighbours’ Day, the national initiative organised by Douwe Egberts and the Oranje Fonds. With this initiative, Buurthotel is introducing ‘co-tourism’ to Rotterdam: a model in which tourist facilities create local value for both visitors and residents. You can register via buurthotel.nl/burendag.

Hotels right in the heart of the neighbourhood, but still uncharted territory

Hotels are literally situated in the heart of Rotterdam’s neighbourhoods and welcome guests from all over the world every day. Yet they are still often seen by local residents and business owners as closed-off places that are there primarily for visitors to the city.

The community initiative Buurthotel is changing this through ‘co-tourism’: a model in which tourist facilities create local value for both visitors and residents. In this way, Buurthotel acts as a unifying force between hotels, local residents and the City of Rotterdam, transforming isolated tourist strongholds into vibrant meeting places.

Opening the door to the neighbourhood

During Neighbours’ Day on Saturday 26 September – a nationwide initiative organised by Douwe Egberts and the Oranje Fonds – the participating hotels will each organise neighbourhood get-togethers in their own way. Residents will have the chance to take a look inside the hotel round the corner (often for the first time) and take part in activities.

Local residents can take part in a range of workshops, including:

• Learn the tricks of the barista’s trade at The Usual Rotterdam (City Centre)
• Discover Italian cuisine during a cookery workshop at Ibis Styles Rotterdam Ahoy (Zuidpark)
• Drinks with the neighbourhood at The Social Hub Rotterdam (Kralingen)
• Come and have a coffee at various hotels, including Thon Hotel Rotterdam (City Centre), Leonardo Hotel Rotterdam Savoy (City Centre) and Stayokay Rotterdam (City Centre)

“A hotel is often seen primarily as a place for tourists and business travellers, whilst at the same time being situated right in the heart of a Rotterdam neighbourhood,” says Laura Viaene, founder of Buurthotel. “With Buurthotel, we want to open those doors even wider, especially for the people who live just round the corner. Neighbours” Day is a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another better and to discover what a hotel can mean for its neighbourhood – and vice versa.”

Local authority supports the social role of hotels

The City of Rotterdam, too, embraces the idea that hotels are more than just a place to stay the night.

Tim Versnel, Councillor for the Port, the Economy and Small Towns: “Hotels are of great value to Rotterdam. They provide jobs, foster entrepreneurship and attract visitors from home and abroad. At the same time, they are right at the heart of our neighbourhoods. If hotels and local residents can find common ground, wonderful things can come of it. That fits in with a city where people enjoy living, working and visiting. A city of the good life.”

For Buurthotel, Neighbours’ Day marks the start of a lasting connection. The aim is for hotels to collaborate more frequently with local businesses on a regular basis and to provide a platform for neighbourhood initiatives.

Viaene: “I want residents to stop thinking, after Neighbours‘ Day, ’that hotel is for tourists‘, and instead think, ’that’s a place in my neighbourhood too”. Once hotels and residents get to know one another, new ideas and sustainable partnerships will naturally emerge.”

Fancy taking part in an activity?

Rotterdam residents who are keen to find out which hotels in their neighbourhood are taking part and what activities are planned can view the full programme at buurthotel.nl/burendag. Places are limited.