In Amsterdam’s port, hoteliers are growing disillusioned. The dreams that haunt them unfortunately lie outside the great Dutch city. In recent years business-men had supported the strong growth of the city. Thanks to an advantageous fiscal policy, Amsterdam now hosts the European headquarters of many American, British and Japanese companies. Today, American and British clientele –both strategic– are taking increasing precautions before crossing the Atlantic or the North Sea.3 – Diversify the tourist markets: The goal is to escape dependence on the British and Americans. Amsterdam Metropolis will make it possible to promote new offers such as seaside resort tourism among German and Belgian tourist populations. The ATCB will launch targeted marketing campaigns targeting our traditional markets, but also those that have great potential for development (Spain, Italy and France) as well as in China and Russia.Travel budget restrictions at large companies are impacting the Dutch city full force. And yet, until mid-June all was well. “Business was fabulous. We were well ahead of our budget. But since September, we have felt a distinct slowdown. Despite that, we beat our one-year sales record,” explains Marcel van Aelst, general manager of the hotel Okura. The luxury hotel made gastronomy one of its comparative advantages and its restaurants (a 2* Michelin with French cuisine and a Japanese 1*) generated very high activity.After a slump in occupancy since the beginning of the year 2008, the average daily rate slid into the red this summer, drawing the city into a negative spin. August, which kicked off a third quarter that is still strong, departed from tradition. And 2009 risks being even more difficult. The concerns of players in tourism are very great at a time when the global economy falters. “We must not hide our heads in the sand: things will not improve before...