Text: Maryam Afroozeh
we offer a reduced rate for the remaining six months for € 15.
Summer is coming closer and closer!
The cost for members to attend the hall meeting is € 2.50 for
And this summer it’s not only about warm weather and cocktails.
coffee, tea, cookies and juice.”
This summer the world will be looking at Brazil as it hosts the Soccer World Cup 2014!
“The group is growing rapidly. Four years ago there were 39 members and now there are around 100 members. If we keep
Big sporting events like this always have a huge impact on hotels,
growing like this we will have to make a plan for the future. But
hotel chains and their strategies. Hotels shoot out of the ground as
we do not have a long-term strategy because we are all here for
fast as mushrooms during autumn when a big sport event is held.
a short period of time. I should say that most of our members
For example, Sochi, where the winter Olympics are nearly kicking
are not coming to the meeting. Some members are working on
off, erected a mind-blowing 25.000 (!) new hotel rooms in the area!
Wednesday or otherwise engaged. We usually get around 25
In Brazil this will not be any different. Governments encourage
members in the hall on Wednesday. We have hall meetings twice
building hotels around big sporting events by offering cheap or
a month; we also have two evening events per month where we
even free building lots. For hotel chains it is also a moment to get
go for dinner or a workshop with mums and their husbands as
the needed permits and licenses a lot quicker than normal. And of
well.”
course (when opened in time) the event itself is a great financial boost for the hotels where normally at the start-up of a hotel a
Men can join the group
much longer period would be needed to get occupancy and
“Men are also welcome. We had male members a couple of years
revenues up to speed. But what happens when the event ends
ago who were ‘stay at home dads’ while their wives worked. We
and everything turns back to normal? An essential part of a healthy
have family events like a Christmas party and barbecue where
sport event bid is the aftercare. Governments and municipalities
the whole family; mums, dads and children, is welcome. In Janu-
have to push on city marketing and get new events to town.
ary we organized Chinese New Year with fireworks for the whole
Or even create new events and conferences just to keep the
family, because we have quite a lot of Chinese members. In
post-event cities lively and a good reputation. If they don’t: Athens
summer we organize a beach party and during Christmas Santa
2004. Costs 16 billion USD, yearly maintenance after event, 124
Claus visits and every child gets a present. We have some more
billion USD. If they do: Los Angeles 1984; estimated profits up to
events like, Speelparadijs, indoor play centre, Cupcake Swap,
126 billion USD after 4 years. So we can conclude hosting an event
High Tea and Craft Workshop, walk in the forest, Bouncy Houses,
as the Sochi Olympics and the Brazil World Cup Soccer is a tricky
Coffee Morning etc.”
business and is much more than just the event itself. It HAS to be teamwork between government and commerce. If it works out, it’s
Emma Samson is missing her country less and less every year
a match made in heaven.
Emma Samson misses her country less and less every year. “In the beginning you miss so much,” says Emma. But now it’s just
Anyway, this coming summer it’s all about Hup Holland Hup!
family and friends. I don’t even miss the food anymore. I just wish I could speak Dutch fluently.”
Shaun Broers is Hotel manager of Park Plaza Eindhoven. An
What she misses is small talk on the bus or talking to a stranger.
upscale four-star hotel in the heart of Eindhoven.
“Just for a little chat I need to concentrate and think about it.
www.parkplaza.com/eindhoven
And that’s not easy. So I really enjoy the meetings with the other mums. Amongst them I can fully express myself.” For more information you can always check their website: www. mumsandtoddlers.org or send an E-mail to mumsandtoddlers@ gmail.com Upcoming Wednesday morning playgroup meetings for members at the Hall (from 9:30am - 11:30am) (address: Buurtcentrum de Rondweg, Camphuysenstraat 1, Eindhoven, NL): February 19, 2014 March 5, 2014 17
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