By Aldo Rodriguez.
Situated in the heart of The Hague’s Embassy District, the Carlton Ambassador has long enjoyed visits from a variety of dignitaries, such as guests of the Royal Palace, members of the diplomatic community, heads of state, and Hollywood royalty, like Catherine Zeta-Jones. The property sits on the picturesque, chestnut-treelined Sophialaan, in the city centre and is where the royal horse-drawn carriages have departed from with many Ambassadors on their way to meet H.E. King Willem Alexander upon offering their credentials. It has also served as host to the celebration of numerous National Days and other official events in partnership with its neighboring Embassies. In close cooperation with Diplomat Magazine it also hosts the successful monthly Diplomats Meet&Greet events, which offer an informal venue for members of the diplomatic corps to engage with one another and other attendees. The Diplomatic Card will be the proud sponsor of these events in the coming year.
The elegant boutique hotel is managed by Arwin Paulides, in entrepreneur-style, as the Carlton Hotel Collection does not have a head office, so they operate autonomously with the individual guest in mind, which sets them apart from chain hotels. Mr. Paulides has been with the Collection for about 15 years, six of which have been as General Manager of this property, and he previously also served as General Manager of the Banks Mansion Amsterdam. In true successful entrepreneur spirit he rose through the ranks and now enjoys managing a highly diverse team of 60 staff members, who offer multi-lingual support to their guests, when needed. His background in food & beverage is evident in the culinary excellence of the hotel’s restaurants and its superb service.
Picture by M. van Nieuwkerk
The Carlton Ambassador aspires to be a “local hero” and is known for its classic charm and character, perfectly balanced with modern day convenience and personalized service. The property’s recently renovated Signature Rooms are now being complemented by an additional eight gorgeously spacious Ambassador Residences & Suites, for which a meticulous expansion is now underway. With the development of these residential suites the boutique hotel will be 88-rooms strong by the end of the year. They are perfect for diplomats in need of interim housing &/or the business traveler expecting a longer stay in the City of Peace and Justice. The contemporary Ambassador Residences & Suites, in an adjoining monumental building, are a graceful addition to the mansion-like boutique hotel, as they offer a private entrance, private parking, private meeting/dinning space, and are decorated in rich Dutch-style and color – preserving the historic charm of the rooms, while accentuating them with modern technology features and luxurious bathrooms.
The World Luxury Hotel Award’s (WLHA), known to be the pinnacle of achievement for Luxury Hotels worldwide, once again bestowed one of its prestigious awards to the Carlton Ambassador in Johannesburg last year. While the WLHA nominates the hotels in 14 different categories, the winners are determined by guests’ votes – a true testament to their achievement in service excellence. In 2013 the Carlton Ambassador set the benchmark by winning the WLHA’s Continent Awards for Europe’s Best Luxury Hotel category. Mr. Paulides and his team genuinely thank all the readers and guests for their votes and support.
