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Making visitors feel welcome at the Grand Hotel Karel V TEXT: CATHY VAN KLAVEREN | PHOTOS: GRAND HOTEL KAREL V
The Grand Departure of last year’s Tour de France in Utrecht’s charming centre put the city on the map as a sight you cannot miss out on. But the success of these kinds of events generally goes hand in hand with the facilities that make visitors feel welcome. Leo Hollman, manager of Grand Hotel Karel V, gives an introduction to this boutique hotel in the heart of Utrecht.
Karel V is one of the best kept secrets of Utrecht. This is thanks to the look and feel of the hotel, with its classic but modern twist and its paramount importance on the attention for, and interaction with, arriving guests. Hollman: “We want to make sure everyone feels welcome.” It is the service, among others aspects, that is well received, seeing as Karel V is the only five-star hotel in the city.
With a history dating back to its construction as a monastery in 1346, Karel V offers a luxury experience in a historic building. As well as its beautiful gardens in the city centre and delightful terraces, Karel V is only a stone’s throw away from Utrecht Centraal train station, major sights and entertainment venues.
The 121 individually decorated rooms blend history and modernity and the 13 conference and meeting rooms are each named with reference to important guests from the past. “Traces of the past can be found throughout the hotel in archaeological finds, exhibitions, archive photographs and historical drawings.”
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The hotel’s two restaurants have an historic ambience, both with a subtle wink to what it used to be. In Grand Restaurant Karel V you can enjoy a high standard of gastronomy with inventive flavour combinations by chef Vito Reekers and maître d’hôtel Johan Kragtwijk. And in the convivial monastery kitchen of Brasserie Goeie Louisa, guests can enjoy live cooking in a relaxed atmosphere. On top of all that, the hotel contributes to society by using local products. “That is not something we want to enforce on our guests, but it’s something for us to keep an eye on,” Hollman concludes. Book a room today via the website; Karel V is expecting you. www.karelv.nl