The residents of the quiet and remote town of Heeg (Friesland) are probably not used to having such a popular, fully booked hotel in the middle of their town. Guests from all corners of the country come to the hotel. For a brief moment, the luxurious three-star hotel La Dolce Vita is run by circa one hundred Tio students.
From a modest hostel to a bustling hotel
As soon as they walk through the door, guests feel like movie stars. As they walk across the red carpet, the doorman holds the door for them and they are greeted by the hotel staff. For fifty-one weeks out of the year, this location is a modest Stayokay hostel. Now, during the Hotel and Event Week, hotel school students run the place and turn it into a successful, bustling hotel with ringing cash registers and excited staff members.
Satisfied guests
“We are fully booked this week,” general manager Bas says with pride. “It is busy here and everyone has to work hard. Things are going well, though, and our staff is doing great. We receive a lot of excellent feedback from our guests.”
Robbert, a guest who came all the way from Tilburg to spend the night here, confirms his words. “I feel truly valued as a guest. I am impressed by the fact that the hotel is run entirely by students. They managed to create an excellent atmosphere here. Everything looks wonderful and the staff are exceptionally hospitable.”
Italian spirit
With a theme like La Dolce Vita, guests are guaranteed to have their every need catered to. All ingredients of the sweet life are accounted for: Italian dishes and snacks that will make your mouth water, stylish spaces with an Italian décor, typical Mediterranean activities such as a wine tasting and an Italian course and, to top it all off, a masked ball. The theme has been incorporated throughout the hotel, down to the smallest details such as romantic candles, red roses and little chocolates soqni d’oro on guests’ pillows.
Linda Foundation
The profits that the students earn with their hotel this week are donated to the Linda Foundation, which supports (single) parents with financial troubles. “We chose this charity,” general manager Bas explains, “because it is important to us to help children. We hope to raise a lot of money!”