This way of thinking has formed the foundation of Foruminvest for almost forty years. What began with the development of complex inner-city residential, retail and mixed-use projects has evolved into an international portfolio of high-quality hospitality developments. For us, the transition from retail to hotels was not a change of direction, but a natural evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For many people, the step from retail real estate to hotels seems like a major shift. For us, it felt completely natural. In retail, everything revolves around the visitor: why do they come here, how do they move through the building, and what makes them want to return? Those are exactly the same questions we ask ourselves when developing hotels.”<\/em> \u2013 Aerjen Koeneman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our experience in retail has taught us that successful buildings are designed around the end user. Today, we apply that same philosophy to hospitality. We do not see ourselves as a developer that simply builds hotels, but as a partner who understands how a hotel operates. From the very first site analysis, we continuously evaluate which decisions will improve operational efficiency, enhance the guest experience and create a future-proof investment. This way of thinking is the common thread running through every project we deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “International hotel brands have clear standards, but no two locations are the same. It is precisely the combination of a strong global brand and a locally relevant concept that makes a hotel stand out.”<\/em> \u2013 Aerjen Koeneman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This vision is reflected in our fully integrated approach. Foruminvest manages the entire development process: from site identification and acquisition, concept development, feasibility studies, permits and financing, through design, construction, fit-out and turnkey delivery. FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) and OS&E (Operating Supplies & Equipment) are fully integrated into our services. This enables us to maintain control over quality, planning, investment levels and operational performance throughout every phase of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A key part of this approach is the specialist hospitality expertise within our own team. Brian King, Director Design & Technical Services<\/strong>, plays a central role in this process. Acting as the link between architecture, hotel operations and construction, he translates the requirements of international hotel brands into technically feasible and commercially viable solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brian has an in-depth knowledge of the brand standards and technical specifications of the world’s leading international hotel chains. This expertise enables him to engage with hotel brands, operators, architects and contractors at a very early stage of the development process. It is during this phase that many of the optimisations are identified that improve hotel operations, increase operational efficiency and at the same time keep investment costs under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “A hotel is not simply a real estate asset. It is a business that must perform from day one. That is why, as developers, we always think from an operational perspective.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because design, engineering, construction, FF&E and OS&E are all managed in an integrated way within Foruminvest, the quality envisioned at the start of the project is maintained throughout the execution phase. This combination of project development, technical expertise and in-depth operational hospitality knowledge makes Foruminvest a distinctive partner for international hotel brands, hotel operators and investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our approach has resulted in a growing international portfolio of hospitality developments. Completed and ongoing projects include Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam, ibis Styles Rotterdam Ahoy, TRIBE Milano Malpensa, Ruby Hotel Rotterdam Glashaven<\/strong>, as well as several new hospitality developments across the Netherlands and Italy. While every project has its own identity and target audience, they all share the same philosophy: a hotel should be attractive to guests, operate efficiently for hotel operators and create long-term value for investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For us, sustainability is not an ambition for the future but a measurable design decision from the very first sketch. In every development, we seek solutions that reduce operating costs, minimise the building’s carbon footprint and ensure that it continues to meet market expectations twenty or thirty years from now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong example is the redevelopment of a distinctive 1950s office building in Rotterdam into a sustainable four-star hotel. A building with Energy Label G is being completely transformed into a hotel that meets both BREEAM Excellent <\/strong>and Paris Proof<\/strong> standards. In doing so, not only is an iconic building given a new purpose, but a hotel is created that is ready for the next generation of hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hospitality sector continues to evolve. Hotels are renovated, repositioned or rebranded. Office buildings and other real estate are transformed into hotels. New concepts require new locations. These are exactly the types of complex challenges in which Foruminvest excels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are a hotel operator, investor or owner of a promising location looking for a partner for a new development, redevelopment, repositioning or joint investment, we would be pleased to meet you. We believe that the best projects are created when expertise in real estate, hospitality and entrepreneurship comes together from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Published in Hospitality Management, July 2026. A successful hotel is not created on the drawing board. It starts with a location, a market opportunity, and above all, a deep understanding of how the hotel will operate on a day-to-day basis. From the guest’s perspective. From the hotel operator’s perspective. From an operational perspective. This way […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8203,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.foruminvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-2-1024x494.png\")
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