Housed in a stunning heritage building which was once the Admiralty (dating from the 17th century) and one-time City Hall (in the 1930s), Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam has strived and achieved the leading positioning among Amsterdam’s luxury hotels, proving exceptional consistency over time, both in terms of product and service. The property is branded under Sofitel Legend, the ultra-luxury tier of Sofitel Hotels.
The superb Art Deco former council chamber and wedding chamber (Queen Beatrix was married there) are still used for events, and the hotel not only has bicycles, but also its own salon boat and horse-drawn carriage for city sightseeing. The building is majestic in every sense, with an exquisite blend of aristocracy and contemporaneity. Despite the sheer size of the building, there is also a great sense of warmth and cozyness.
The relatively small scale of the buildings and the intimacy of the streets, canals and squares create an atmosphere that visitors find unique. The city has the highest museum density in the world and is home to cultural highlights, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Hermitage Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt’s world-famous Nightwatch. Other well-known places of interest in Amsterdam are the Palace on the Dam, the Artis Zoo, Jewish Historical Museum and the Rembrandt House.
Graciously extended, service is exceptional throughout all departments, at any given time of the day and in all venues. It is the effortless manner which will impress you, staff being attentive, predictive and most of all, genuine. You will feel respected and recognised and you will notice how sensibly staff are adapting to the service style and the approach is preferred by each guest, whether more casual and relaxed or more formal.
The fact that even through the pandemic, the property has retained long time loyal employees is truly impressive. The property is loved and cherished both by local guests but also by staff. Over the course of time, the hotel has proven and extended stability and continuity to all of its employees, earning their ultimate trust. It is probably how staff are able to extend such service in an manner that seems effortless.
You will notice how staff are exerting their pride for working at the property, for most of them being a second home. It is the way how staff are empowered and encouraged to evolve and progress in their careers. The confidence they exert in providing ultimate service levels is impressive for any type of guest, whether foreign travellers or local patrons who are regulars at the property whether for dining or an event.
Rarely have I seen in over 14 years of extensive travels such highly skilled luxury hospitality professionals, including butlers, a profession (métier). I was stunned by the level of attention and detail the team of butlers would gather about the preferences of each and every guest. From the smallest gestures to dining, butlers confidently take charge of almost your entire stay, coordinating with the rest of the team in each department. The impeccable manners, attire and grooming are so rare nowadays !
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