Golden Tulip prepares its return into the US market

Golden Tulip Hospitality currently ranks as the 18th largest hotel chain in Europe and 9th worldwide by number of countries represented. With more than 500 hotels and 47,000 guest rooms, Golden Tulip Hospitality exports its brands through real estate joint ventures, management contracts, lease agreements, and franchising in over 46 countries worldwide.

Hans Kennedie, President and CEO of Golden Tulip Hospitality comments: “Golden Tulip has embarked in 2006 into a large expansion phase entering several new markets through joint ventures and hotel management agreements. During the past year, Golden Tulip entered the Asian-Pacific region, the Asia Sub-Continent, North West Africa and now we are ready to enter North America. We strongly believe that the combination of the tools and services Golden Tulip provides, the recovery of the US lodging markets, and the introduction of a uniquely Golden Tulip approach to the branding relationship will help us and our partners realize the successful introduction, development, growth and expansion of the brand in North America.”

Golden Tulip currently franchises one hotel in The Unites States; the Golden Tulip Bethesda Court Hotel located near Washington in Bethesda, MD.

Patrick Culligan, President of The Hospitality Consulting Group, Inc. was retained by Golden Tulip to provide a better understanding of the US lodging market had this to say about the potential re-entry of the brand into the US: "Golden Tulip is easily one of the largest, fastest growing and most important global hotel companies that many people have never heard of in the US. Additionally, the US lodging market is primed for the introduction of the next generation of lodging experience that incorporates a global perspective in product, service, development, technology and operating culture. Golden Tulip is uniquely positioned to do this and is already being sought after for these attributes”. He went on to add, "I think I would be more surprised not to see them with a significant presence here near term"

History of Golden Tulip Hospitality Group

Established in 1962 by six independent Dutch hoteliers, Golden Tulip Hotels Holland started as a foundation with the common objective to be able to use joint promotions as means to attract better business. In no time Golden Tulip dominated the Netherlands and in 1975 Golden Tulip internationalized through the cooperation with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. During this period Golden Tulip started licensing the brands Golden Tulip and Tulip Inn. By 1983 Golden Tulip operated over 25 hotels in the United States located in prime cities such as New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco. During this period Hans Kennedie joined Golden Tulip as Sales & Marketing Manager in the Netherlands. By 1986, Hans Kennedie was relocated to the United States to assume the position of Director of Sales & Marketing for North America. In 1996 Golden Tulip unmerged from KLM to enter a co-operation with Utell International to manage the non-hotel management side of Golden Tulip. In the year 2000, Golden Tulip merged with the Spanish based hotel chain NH Hoteles and was bought by NH in 2001. In 2002, Hans Kennedie initiated the management buyout from NH Hoteles in order to pursue the development of the Golden Tulip brands. Subsequently, Golden Tulip allied with the German based Hotel consortium Top International.

Today Golden Tulip Hospitality Group is a multi-brand hospitality firm offering services in the two, three and four star categories: on the two star side Golden Tulip has an alliance with the French hotel brand B&B, the three star concept is the Tulip Inn for the limited service first class category, the four star is under the Golden Tulip brand for the Superior First Class business and resort hotels, and in the suites and apartments Golden Tulip offers the Pacific International brand. The Pacific International brand is owned by Golden Tulip’s strategic shareholders the Australian company Tourism, Hotels, and Leisure (THL). Golden Tulip furthermore offers services through its commercial alliance with TOP International, a German based hotel consortium.