Iconic hotel nhow Amsterdam RAI will enrich the skyline of Zuidas Amsterdam

The City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam RAI have announced the winner of the tender for the RAI Hotel. The winner is the innovative concept nhow presented by NH Hotel Group. The hotel is being developed by COD and designed by OMA, founded by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

In June 2014 City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam RAI opened the tendering procedure for the development, realisation and exploitation of a headquarter hotel RAI. Eleven high quality entries were submitted, but the winning concept of OMA, COD and NH Hotel Group stood out because of the additional special facilities such as a television studio, gallery, sculpture garden, spa, restaurant and bar. Above all, the iconic design of the building was decisive.

Director of COD Gert-Wim Bos: “As COD and development partner Being Development, we are proud and honoured that the City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam RAI chose our plan. The spectacular concept nhow Amsterdam RAI and the iconic design of OMA will be of value for the city and the Amsterdam RAI area and will also enrich the skyline of Zuidas.”

The construction of this 91-meter high hotel is planned for mid-2016. The hotel is located in the triangle of the Europa Boulevard, the highway A10 and the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre.

OMA has created a design that integrates seamlessly with the current RAI complex and offers a new, modern look as well. OMA partner Reinier de Graaf: “Since the rise of Zuidas, Amsterdam RAI needed a ‘new’ urban look. The prominent advertising pillar 'the Signaal' provided inspiration for the new nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel and context for the extension of Amsterdam RAI itself.”

With its 650 rooms nhow Amsterdam RAI will become the biggest hotel in the Benelux. The innovative design, state-of-the-art facilities and distinctive programming make a stay at nhow a unique experience. The theme “On Air” is chosen because of the focus on connectivity, innovation and media in every sense of the word. 

Maarten Markus, Managing Director of NH Hotel Group, sees the arrival of nhow Amsterdam RAI as a huge asset to the more than 375 hotels constituent portfolio of the chain: “Together with our business partners we strive to enrich the Amsterdam skyline with 650 rooms, 25 floors and a 91-meter high multimedia studio.

After nhow Milan, nhow Berlin and nhow Rotterdam, the iconic nhow Amsterdam RAI will be a hotspot for both business and leisure guests to enjoy excellent hospitality and gastronomic surprises “On Air” day and night.

The City of Amsterdam aims to have a greater and diversified pallet of hotels spread across the city. It’s of great value for the city to develop a hotel with these facilities at this location in Zuidas.

General Director Hans Bakker: “RAI hotel fulfils the ambition to realise a headquarter hotel on the grounds of Amsterdam RAI. This hotel will be the centre for event planners, exhibitors and visitors of large, multi-day international events. Thanks to the iconic design of OMA and the 24-hour experience, the nhow RAI creates greater value to the RAI complex and makes the location Amsterdam RAI more attractive. Therefore we are able to strengthen our competitiveness in the international fairs and convention market.

Amsterdam RAI is an international exhibition and conference organiser for events in the Netherlands and abroad, and operator of the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam. It organises some 500 events each year, including exhibitions, conferences, corporate events and other events, which welcome around 1.5 million visitors.

More information: www.rai.nl and www.zuidas.nl