Dear Readers,
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! We surely did! The weather is turning around and we are starting to enjoy some real summer times over here. And you know what that means? Having dinner or lunch on our terrace. As you well know by now we are the only hotel in Liège with our own garden. And so we serve dinner and lunch in our garden.
This weekend wasn’t only special because of the weather but also because of Toots Tielemans. He played his harmonica like nobody else does. As he comes from Belgium, there’s an extra something special when he gives his show in our city.
I also was invited to come to a presentation of Liège Expo 2017. In October of this year we will know if Liège is elected. Maybe I am too optimistic but I think the city is making a good chance. Not only are they are going to renovate again a large part of the city but they are also planning to build a super modern and ecologic tram. This will link the main station up to the Expo 2017 and will cross through the city centre. And guess what? It will stop in front of the hotel.
Have a look and find out yourself what is going on the next couple of weeks on the site of liege.be. Next week we will have world’s biggest restaurant, one of the largest parks of Liège will be transformed in to one big large gourmet place. That will surely be fun!
Now don’t forget to reserve a room because you do not want to happen to you what happened last week to three of my guests. Have a look at the picture and you can see them standing in front of a camper has the hotel was completely full.
I will write to you soon,
Yours
Louis Sohl
General Manager.
P.S. I forgot to tell you, we are in the middle of the asparagus season and Chef Michel tells me that they are particular delicious this year.
Dear Readers,
Have I got a surprise for you!!!
As all cycling fans know, this is an important week. First of all we had the Amstel Gold Race last Sunday, on Wednesday it is the ‘Fleche Wallone’ and next Sunday we will have the race of Liège Bastogne Liège. The Italian team of Astana is staying in our hotel and had their first victory last Sunday. As you all know by now Enrico Gasparotto won this race. I, of course congratulated him with this magnificent win.
Astana team is feeling very comfortable in the hotel. In between the races they train a lot. Not only that, but my chef Michel prepares their food so that they stay in top condition. You can understand that my team and I are very anxious to see them win also the next two races. I have to send to all Enrico’s fan his warm greetings!
Enclosed some pictures:
I will keep you all informed!
Louis Sohl
General Manager
Dear Readers,
Spring is in the air!
Everybody has seen it! We are enjoying one the sunniest springs since I can remember and that is a very long time!
First of all I would like to thank all my readers who have replied to my blog of last month. I found the amount of people reacting very interesting. It is, as I said in my last mail, the guest, who decides which way the hotel will go. So keep on discussing matters of the future of the hotel with me. It could be anything, breakfast, dinner or improvements in our bedrooms.
Many of you are also sending their comments or ideas straight through to our own site or to TripAdvisor. Everything is welcome as long I and my team can improve the hotel and it services for you!
The Easter Bunny Visited Liege
Not only spring is in the air but of course also Easter! And therefore the hotel organised a special afternoon for the children of our clients. It was indeed a big success! We had about eighty children searching the hotel gardens for hidden Easter eggs. Big time fun! See the pictures.
Speaking about pictures, did you know that the Ramada Plaza Liège is the only hotel in Liège with its private garden where you have you dinner, lunch, breakfast or just a drink? Of course I have enclosed a picture as well.
Easter Holiday Special Offers
And now the best! I have made a very, very attractive Easter hotel break package for you! You will find it here on our site. I have spoken with the Met. Office here in Liège and the chances of having a nice Easter is looking very good!
Do not forget to have a look on the liege.be site where you will find everything about Liège!
So book now and I am looking to welcome you to my hotel in Liège!
Louis Sohl
General Manager
Dear readers,
The last couple of month I have spoken about the hotel and Liège, the city in Belgium where our hotel is located.
This time I would like to go in to a different direction. Normally I use my blog to interest you in all what happens in and around the hotel so that you can plan your trip. Something I actually could also do in the old fashion way by writing you a letter.
But now we are in the midst of digital communication we are able not only to send you a message but also get into a dialogue with you my clients or potential guests.
Many of you have already stayed in the hotel but there are also still many who haven’t.
It is therefore that in my Blog I would really engage in a dialogue. Not only to hear what you like about the hotel or things that I should change but more what will you as guest expect from your hotel? Which are the elements you think are important and will be more important over the next couple of years?
Would you prefer to stay in a hotel which is friendlier to the environment or should we anticipate on rooms which only have showers? Would you prefer a digital check in and out system or would you prefer more staff to serve you? It is you, my guest, who should say where we will be going in the future. Again, any subject can be discussed of which you think it will be important for the hotel I am managing or even for the hotel industry in general.
As an idea which came directly from our guests was to have internet throughout the hotel, which we did three years ago. However due to the increase of iPads and tablets our guest not only asked for the internet but also for Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and garden!
You asked, we listened and I’m very pleased to confirm it was installed it last week is working extremely well.
These are ideas stemming from our guests and put in to place by us.
That is why I need the dialogue with you!
And of course we will see the results passing by here on my Blog or on Facebook. I am sure that you have linked your Facebook up with the Ramada Plaza Liège but if not it is the best way to keep informed of our hotel and city news or if you would like to post a message they come to me. If you prefer you can email me directly. However you prefer to contact me I will be very interested in hearing from you.
And keep an eye open for the new spring hotel breaks and Easter special offers we will be making, they are quite spectacular!
Louis Soh
General Manager
Dear Reader,
Now is the time to come to shop in Liège! Every shop has got rid of their old stocks and the collections for the summer are already on show in our city. The main part of that summer collection comes of course from Paris but the Liège is far closer to you!
For my English readers, did you realise that the trip from London by train takes you only four hours? And did you realise that is also far more comfortable than the plane? And if possible you should take your car – and you’re journey will be even shorter.
I did this last year but than the other way around. I had to visit my sister in just outside London. I drove from Liége in a couple of hours to Calais and took the train crossing the channel. It is the cheapest way to cross and when I came back my car was filled to the brim with all things I had bought. On that way buying too much is never a problem!
Try that trip to us!
Do not forget to look at the prices on my site this month as I am making some really spectacular Liege hotel deals!!
Another thing I would like to mention. Did you know that just outside Liège the Ardennes are waiting for you? The Ardennes are so clean and so refreshing that they are also called the lungs of Europe and perfect for a spring break! I went hiking last weekend with my wife and some friends. We had a wonderful afternoon. Which, to proper Belgium standards, ended in one of these magnificent pubs. They served us real local beer which tasted gorgeous.
Again I fall in my well known trap by keeping on going about Liège and its surroundings.
You simply have to come and enjoy it!
Of course when you have any questions you can always mail me, I will be only too glad to answer!!
Yours,
Louis Sohl
General Manager
Dear Readers
As you have all noticed, winter is late this year. We were enjoying a fabulous autumn all over but particular in Liège and the cities surroundings. Many of my guests have been making beautiful trips in the Ardennes surrounding Liège. The woods are colored fantastically but about now their trees are losing slowly their leaves.
But of course I have something new for you. The city is getting ready for the most beautiful part of the year: Christmas Season. As of this weekend the Christmas Market will open up in Liège. The Christmas Market in Liège is surely the most beautiful one of the Euregio. It has little bars, an ice-skating ring, and a food market where you can taste all sorts of Belgium specialities. So not only our one waffles but even oysters and pâtés. And our famous Belgium fries with mayonnaise. So you see, for everybody there something to eat and drink. Do not forget to taste our famous Belgium beers or one of our local Piquets! (Gin). And now, I even haven’t started to tell you how beautiful the shops are decorated or the city itself. It’s a real must! While writing this blog I realise how difficult it is to explain in words how the city is going to look like. Just now they are finishing the last Christmas decorations in the city centre. You know how they say that a picture says more than a thousand words? What will a video clip do? So I got my friend and cineaste Ward Schoonbrood to make a video impression of Liège. You will find our Liege Christmas video here on my hotel site. I know already that the clip will give you the festive feeling.
Still, I presume, you are wondering what the 55555 is doing on the top of my blog? Well that is your code number for your reservation on our site. Because when you book on our site it will give you some extras and to start off with I will give you free some of our world famous waffles!
I am really looking forward to welcome you in the Ramada Plaza Liège!
Louis Sohl
General Manager
Dear Readers,
As you have noticed the autumn has now really started. And for me it is one of the best times of the year to be in Liège.
Of course, as any other city, we are getting in to the Christmas atmosphere but before this is really taking off in our city we will have our ‘Foir de Liège‘. This, you could maybe compare with a fancy fair as we know it in Britain, however this one is very special. First of all it is big and long and stretches over two miles of length. It is located in the centre of town so at walking distance of the hotel. The thing I like the best about the Foir is not only the various sorts of rides but definitely the food. It is fantastic. You will find all sorts! You can eat waffles from Liège but also waffles from Brussels; you can eat snails in a garlic sauce but also the typical French fries. I do not know who called them French fries because they do come from Belgium. They are the sliced potatoes as we know them all over the world but fried twice in oil and you preferably eat them with mayonnaise!
And this Foir has just start now and will last until the beginning of November.
The weekend commencing Friday the 25th of November will be the opening of our traditional Christmas market. And again this is special. For me it stays the nicest Christmas market of the Euregio. Did you know that every year I have guest coming back to visit not only the Christmas market in Liège but also the one in Aachen, Cologne and Maastricht? Aachen and Maastricht are just a twenty minute drive per car (or train!) away and Cologne is maximum an hour away. What fantastic way to spend you autumn holidays!
And remember the Ramada Plaza is only a short walk from our city center away and that we are the only Liege city centre hotel who offers free parking during your entire stay.
And now I am speaking about offers do not forget to book directly on our own site with promo code 55555 so that we can give you an extra discount!
Have pleasant day and I hope to welcome you soon in my Ramada Plaza Liège!!
Louis Sohl
General Manager
Dear readers,
First of all we had a smashing weekend again. The F1 races in Belgium were fantastic with, as you know, Sebastian Vettel winning. What a shame that Lewis Hamilton crashed with Kamui Kobayashi. And of course the Ramada Plaza Liège was again for 100% occupied!
I would like to thank all of my loyal guests who are coming year after year back to Liège to visit this great race. Many of them have all ready reserved for next year! Just in case.
Myself, I restarted last Friday after my holiday which I enjoyed very much. But now it is back to business! I know that, weather wise, we did not have the most fantastic summer but the City of Liège laid on many different cultural festivals so that in the poor weather there was more than plenty to enjoy for everybody. You must visit their site and you will see that also for your autumn break or just for the weekend, there is a lot to do. ( www.liege.be ). Myself, I am looking forward seeing the Opera Wallonia in the month of September. See our site for reservation details.
Back to the more serious business of today. I have told you the hotel business is not only glamour. One of the things we do is organising regular fire trainings. And, as you will appreciate, we take this very seriously. It must be any manager’s nightmare to have a fire in his hotel. So a fire drill is very essential and very necessary. It is important that every member of staff is drilled so that we know what to do and how to handle it. It is also very important to realise the impact of a fire and to realise that this can happen at any place and at any time. Of course this is done for the safety of our guests and our staff. After a two hour session in a classroom we had a practical session of which I have enclosed some pictures. Again it shows you the impact but also the strength of a fire.
Coming back to the autumn, it is one of my favourite seasons of the year. The Ardennes which surround Liège are then at their best for long walks. The woods are beautiful now. Perhaps we might have an Indian summer! Who knows? I enjoy keeping you informed and soon I will let you know more!
Louis Sohl
General Manager
Dear Readers,
At last the good weather is back! It is summer again! And Liège is at its best!
I went for a stroll this morning in my beloved city and now in the sun she is looking even more beautiful than normal. I, of course took my camera with me to show you how the city looked this morning. Things are beautiful. Terraces are full, shops are showing their merchandise on the street and everywhere you see people enjoying themselves. So why don’t you come for a short break? On our site you will find some excellent deals, and before I forget, hurry, because the last rooms for the Grand Prix of Belgium are now up for sale!
But I here you thinking ‘What can you do in Liège in the summer?’
Well first of all Liège is the most cultural city of the Euregio. It has got countless museums and of course the Royal Opera Wallonia. Properly it has got the best Opera house in the region.
I have also seen that the city of Liège has started a brand new campaign to attract even more visitors to our city. You will have to visit their site!
But also the site of the Opera!
I know that when you are coming that you will stay at my hotel, The Ramada Plaza!
And if you arrive ask for me, I will be happy to tell you everything about the city!
Louis Sohl
General Manager.
Dear all,
Proud
By now, you will know that I always love to talk about Ramada Plaza and the way the hotel is going. You all so know that I love chatting about the guests visiting the hotel and that I even love giving you a recipe from Michel, my head chef.
This time I would like to talk to you about my staff!
No matter how beautiful your hotel is or how well you will try to run your ‘show’ your staff is, and will always remain, the most important ingredient in a successful hotel. And here at the Ramada Plaza Liège I am thankful to have a great team. The reason is that it is impossible for me to be seven days a week and twenty four hours a day in the hotel. So you depend very heavily on your staff. They welcome your guest, they serve your guest but they also clean the rooms do the dishes and clean the dirty toilets. It is not only glamorous work in a hotel! It is very hard work. Keep on smiling and work hard! Sure there is a lot of satisfaction when another happy guest leaves the hotel or even better when a happy guest returns to the hotel!
And that is their work and that is what I respect.
Therefore we had last week our ‘Celebrate Service Week’ .We celebrate our staff in that week. In the Ramada Plaza Liège I added a surprise garden lunch of which I have enclosed some pictures. You see, sometimes it is also ‘fun and games’.
On the serious side I have enclosed some pictures of the training about the philosophy of the Ramada chain. The training is called ‘I am’ and six of my members have achieved the certificate. Again something to be proud about!
Preparations are well under way for the Formula 1. This summer the Belgian F1 Gran Prix will be held in Liege on the weekend of 27 and 28th of August. We have very few rooms available for the F1 races weekend so I would encourage you to book soon to avoid disappointment!
Louis Sohl
General Manager