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Antwerp Pride and Bollekesfeest don’t fill Antwerp hotels

Posted by Timothy on

The 17th edition of Antwerp Pride took place from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 August 2024. This year’s theme was ‘Many Voices. One Pride‘. The organising committee advocates a more militant pride, with a “we’re not going back in the closet” attitude in reaction to rising conservatism and conformism. But let’s face it: pride is also celebration. Antwerp Pride 2024 is done now, but lingers on as not all rainbows are gone. Also don’t forget Antwerp Queer Arts Festival from 3 to 31 August.

Hotels in Antwerp are far from full at the moment, the Antwerp Hotel Association says to local television network ATV. “We now the month of August does not contain big events which attract international visitors to Antwerp”, spokesperson Didier Boehlen says.

“Antwerp Pride and Bollekesfeest are mostly local events”, Boehlen says. “While these are well-received, there’s much enthusiasm regarding them and we do want this. We also pitch these events to our guests. But the truth of the matter is they don’t attract many international guests.”

Hotels in the city centre can count on an occupation percentage of seventy or seventy-five, while hotels around Antwerp-Central Railway Station or near the Ring report an occupancy of sixty to perhaps sixty-five percent. 

Rates

Obviously, this means room rates are lower in August. Top weekends like the two Tomorrowland weekends do fill hotels and then prices are higher.

“On a Tomorrowland weekend, you can count on an average room rate of 250 euros per night”, Boehlen says. For next weekend, the average room rate is 120 to 130 euros.

July was a good month so the hotel sector is not completely dissatisfied. But hoteliers hope last-minute bookers will fill their premises. The weather gods are favourable. 

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