Hospitality beyond the venue

Come with a vision - Become supported at every step

Organising an international event in Amsterdam involves more than choosing the right venue. Behind every successful congress or trade show is a network of hotels, partners and people working together to make your visitors feel welcome from the moment they arrive. At Amsterdam RAI, that process starts long before the first attendee walks through the doors. Through RAI Hotel Services, organisers gain access to a hospitality network designed to take the complexity out of accommodation management and integrates it into the overall event experience.

More than hotel bookings

RAI Amsterdam Hospitality beyond the venue

For Lennart Maas, Manager RAI Hotel Services, the human side of hospitality has always been central to his work. “Creating experiences and seeing people leave with good memories, that’s what hospitality means to me.” Hotel accommodation may seem like a practical detail within event planning, but for international organisers it quickly becomes one of the biggest logistical challenges. Whether it's an international congress or a large trade show like PLMA, organisers need confidence that they can focus on the event itself rather than the logistics around it.

From securing rooms during busy event periods to coordinating large group bookings, accommodation plays a major role in how visitors experience both the event and the surrounding city. “We give organisers back their time,” Lennart explains. “Finding 100 rooms in Amsterdam during a busy event period can be an enormous amount of work. That’s the work we do every day.”

Rather than leaving organisers to navigate hotel availability themselves, the team works closely with hotels across Amsterdam to coordinate room allocations, negotiate rates and help visitors stay close to the venue.

A connected city

A successful event experience extends beyond the venue itself. In Amsterdam, the close connection between the city, hotels and the RAI allow visitors to focus less on logistics and more on the event.

“Within 30 minutes of arriving at Schiphol, you can be at your hotel, in the city centre or at the RAI,” says Lennart. “Amsterdam is an international city, but it still feels compact and connected.”

The close collaboration between venue and hotels helps extend the event experience beyond the exhibition floor. A hotel like nhow Amsterdam RAI, located directly beside the venue, becomes more than a place to stay, it becomes a place where conversations continue after the event day ends. “People meet each other again at breakfast or in in the lobby” Lennart says. “That creates a valuable layer of connection.”

Lennart Maas Hospitality beyond the venue

“Creating experiences and seeing people leave with good memories, that’s what hospitality means to me. ”

Lennart Maas, Manager RAI Hotel Services

Hospitality with a human touch 

Sustainability also plays a growing role in how organisers choose accommodation partners. According to Lennart, requests for sustainable hotel options have become standard rather than an exception. Through its network, RAI Hotel Services works with hotels that actively invest in recognised sustainability certifications and initiatives. For some events, visitors also receive useful information before arriving in Amsterdam, including public transport options and hotels that offer bicycles.

“Being able to cycle from your hotel to the RAI is something many international visitors genuinely enjoy. It immediately gives them a different connection to the city.”

While technology continues to shape hospitality, Lennart believes the human side of service remains essential. “Hospitality will always remain a people business. The real memories are created through human connection.”

Beyond the event itself

As RAI celebrates its 75th anniversary and RAI Hotel Services marks 50 years, collaboration between the city, the venue and hotels continue to shape how Amsterdam embraces international events.

Come with a vision - Become supported at every step.

RAI succes story Lennart Maas cocteleria