The Westin Rotterdam

Location
The Westin Rotterdam can, without any doubt, refer to itself as the highest but even more as most modern and luxurious hotel in Rotterdam. It is located opposite the Rotterdam Central Station, which these days, including the square, get rebuilt - this further means that you've to struggle through a chaos as it's pretty difficult to find your way through all this noisy, dusty building site and roadwork. Once the construction work is done, which is said to be in 2007, I'm sure this place will get a hot-spot for every architecture enthusiast. Apart from that, the HIS (High-Speed-Lane) will provide a faster and direct connection to Amsterdam, which will be set some when around 2008.

The Westin thus lies in the middle of the financial and business district of Rotterdam, from which the centres and the most important points in Rotterdam can be reached in short time by foot.

Hotel
I've been staying at a lot of different hotels so far, and I really mean it when I admit: WOW.
The Westin Rotterdam, a modern design five star hotel, is situated in the impressive 31 floors Millennium Tower, from which it occupies 14 floors. The tower itself contributes to the appearance of Rotterdam by lending its character.

The whole hotel has a very open and casual character which you'll encounter the first time when you enter the lobby. It features, in my view, an excellent combination of creativity, clear and simple lines as well as of few but carefully selected decorations which outline the simplicity of ideas upon which the Westin interior is based. Throughout the hotel, a well thought out lightning is used - spots create reflections on the walls, which are held in warm and still colours, and emphasize the shapes which results in a shimmering play of light and glass.

It truly stands to be a pleasant design hotel at it's best. It gives you a lot of privacy which spoiled guests expect and appreciate during their stay.
The Westin Rotterdam is mainly used by business travellers, particularly since they come to 80% of the hotel’s occupation which, further long, is really down at the weekends. To counteract this trend and to make it more attractive for leisure travellers, the Westin tries to promote the weekends with special packages.
Apart from that, the hotel also offers special arrangements to the international scene, such as the artists from the famous “Cirque de Soleil”, for example. The whole staff stayed in not fewer than 60 rooms over two months long. Guests could book a special VIP ticket, which also included a stay at the Westin.

Room 1108
The Westin Rotterdam has 231 rooms (also non-smoking floors), divided on 12 floors, from which the rooms in the upper level provide a stunning view on the sparkling city of Rotterdam. When you step out of the elevator and enter the level, you'll see replicas of Van Gogh and Vermeer on the walls. Enlarged pieces of the big pictures can be found all over the corridors, which are held in deep purple colours.
This is done, much to my astonishment, on purpose, as it's based on the idea that when you enter your room, you'll walk into an oasis of light. With hindsight, this seems just brilliant to me, but without knowing, I would rather consider this as a daring idea.

I stayed in one of the Executive Rooms on the 11th floor, which are situated in the upper levels and are also available for the SPG’s (Starwood Preferred Guests), who receive a free upgrade in such a room. The small, but spacious and tidy room has a simple, modern but cosy and luxurious elegance. Among other things, two different kinds of wood, bright wallpapers and precious designer furniture are used. Little, carefully placed spots create a relaxing and warm atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a relaxation chair, a well fitted, marbled bathroom with a separate shower and bath, a draught-free, smoothly running air conditioning and a lot of special amenities and services are what you can expect from the Westin Rotterdam.

All Executive Rooms and Suites also have free ADSL and WLAN internet access, additionally offer two daily free refilled bottles of water, newspaper service and include an extensive breakfast, which is served in the Lighthouse restaurant.

All rooms of the Westin Rotterdam also feature specially designed "heavenly beds". The bed, developed by Westin, is comprised of no less than ten layers, to assure that you'll find the best heavenly sleep you've ever had. And I have to admit - I've never slept so deep and well! The hotel can rightly be proud of it.

To guarantee the guest's privacy, peace and quiet, all rooms are sound proofed and even have special view-protection glasses, which prevents others from the outside to spot in your room.

Junior Suite 715
All Junior Suites are located at the corners of the hotel. They are bigger and additionally offer a large seating area as well as a printer and fax at the working desk.

Presidential Suite
The Westin Rotterdam has two presidential suites, where such popular and famous people as Kylie Minogue, Greenday, Alanis Morissette and Anastacia have already stayed at. In 2004, the popular top hotel “Amstel Amsterdam” was closed for one week due to hygiene problems (legionella bacteria) which, as if being punished by a low repute wouldn’t be enough, let famous artists, such as Robbie Williams, move to the Westin. As I was told, nine out of ten times, these people prefer to stay at the Westin Rotterdam, not only because it is the best and leading hotel in this city, but also offers what especially such guests require - privacy. The one-Bedroom Presidential Suite has a big living room, with seating areas and a large meeting desk, as well as a walk-in cupboard, a corner sleeping room and a luxurious marbled bathroom.

The Suite is held in warm and friendly colours, and features a modern, but not overdone design, just perfect to relax and to meet up people while being spoiled by a special VIP treatment.

RATES for single occupancy:
Superior Room - 310 EUR, Executive Room - 360 EUR, Junior Suite - 500 EUR, Executive Suite - 750 EUR, Presidential Suite 1-Bedroom - 950 EUR, 2-Bedrooms - 1300 EUR. All rates including 6% VAT, excluding 5.5% City Tax.

Service
As already outlined, privacy is one of the most important things at the Westin Rotterdam. You get fine and not foisted luxury, but you're somehow left alone with it. You won't find a welcome card or a fruit cocktail with pastries in your room upon arrival, which accordingly would make it more personal, but at the same time too obtrusive. If you don’t want to renounce it, you can book it as a “VIP service”, which SPG’s receive automatically. Whatever you wish, just ask, and it will be granted. The Westin is not aimed at service, but sees and handles it as a standard – “guests just like to be treated like that.”
The staff is very polite, experienced, charming and friendly, but not importunate - they seem to work in the background to let in the foreground what matters most in this hotel - the guest. At my check-in, which just took me a few minutes, the kind receptionist asked politely only the most necessary, not to disturb me with any unnecessary things.

Facilities
The Westin Rotterdam offers amazing meeting facilities – five 55sqm, very spacious board rooms for 14 people as well as four function rooms, which feature a size from 59 up to 134sqm (when combined) and host up to 140 people. The rooms are all fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and are tastefully appointed. Due to the modern, warm design and the first-class service, this hotel is as ideal as it can get for holding meetings.

For additional banqueting and meeting facilities, a covered air-bridge leads you from the hotel to the stylish congress and concert centre “De Doelen”, where for instance the famous Film Festival takes place at. As seen as an extensive meeting space, the Westin Rotterdam as a result is able to offer spaces from four up to 1850 guests.

In addition, the hotel offers a fitness centre which can be used from the guests on their own risk, as there’s no instructor. It’s a pity that this Westin, from such a high category, doesn’t have a wellness & spa centre with a swimming pool, ‘cause from my point of view, that’s what the hotel still misses for a full relaxation program.

Restaurants
The main restaurant is called “The Lighthouse” which invites you to come and explore a delicious international cuisine for lunch and dinner in a stylish atmosphere. The design of the “Lighthouse Bar”, which is located right next to the restaurant and boasts an extensive selection of whiskies and cocktails, is set upon the theme “harbour”. The bar, for instance, is built in the shape of a ship.
The extensive breakfast buffet (22 EUR per person) is served in the “Lighthouse restaurant”. The design is again very remarkable – you sit along the panorama windows which give you a great view on the bustling train station while you take your breakfast with relish.

The intercontinental buffet offers, among other titbits, really fresh, tasty fruits (not much though), crunchy corns, a special selection of freshly-pressed juices, excellent pastries and even a little fish buffet. The cappuccino I drank was the best I’ve ever had.
The atmosphere is really comfortable and relaxing. The staff is very kind and provides a very attentive, great service.

Panorama view of the "Lighthouse restaurant" in the morning

Overall
To put it in a nutshell: the Westin Rotterdam is the most stylish and luxurious design hotel in and all around Rotterdam which guarantees absolute privacy combined with detailed service.
The Executive Room was, without any doubt, the best room I've ever stayed at – you’ll appreciate the luxurious, but at the same time simple and modern design as well as the amenities and of course the "heavenly bed". The Westin Rotterdam is what I would call a “hideaway.”

Rating:
Hotel: 5/5
Location: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Facilities: 4/5
Room: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Text and pictures by MW, July 2005