Omotenashi: the Japanese secret behind event venue Hotel Okura Amsterdam

Some event venues impress with size. Others with service. Hotel Okura Amsterdam has managed to combine the two remarkably well for decades. As a result, the hotel in Amsterdam South has grown into a regular venue for international gatherings, from discreet board meetings to large corporate events.

The fact that Hotel Okura Amsterdam has been a fixture in the international hotel segment since 1971 has much to do with the hotel's Japanese roots. The philosophy of Omotenashi, hospitality from the heart, still runs like a common thread through the building. Not in excessive formality, but rather in the attention to detail.

With over 2.700 square meters of event space, the hotel boasts one of the largest meeting facilities in the Benelux within the five-star segment. The twenty multifunctional spaces are used for everything from small-scale meetings to international conferences and gala dinners with hundreds of guests. Yet, it never feels massive.

What helps is that Hotel Okura Amsterdam clearly understands that business meetings nowadays require more than just a good meeting room. The logistics must be right, the technology must work effortlessly, and above all, guests don't want to have to worry about a thing. That is why a dedicated event team guides every event from start to finish behind the scenes.

Fine dining for large groups

Hotel Okura Amsterdam has also built up a solid culinary reputation. Restaurant Yamazato was the world's first kaiseki restaurant to receive a Michelin star, while Ciel Bleu has held two stars for years. This gastronomic signature is now also reflected in business events. With Ciel Bleu Events, the Grand Ballroom is transformed into a fine dining setting for groups of up to four hundred guests, fully catered by the team of Executive Chef Arjan Speelman. Not a standard corporate dinner, therefore, but an evening where gastronomy plays at least as significant a role as the program itself.

Curious about the event possibilities at Hotel Okura Amsterdam? Click here for more information about the various spaces, culinary concepts, and customization options.