Giovanni van Eijl, founder of Amrâth Hôtels, passed away at the age of 81

Last Sunday evening, Giovanni van Eijl (December 9, 1943) passed away at the age of 81. Van Eijl was a prominent Dutch real estate investor, project developer, and founder of Amrâth Hôtels & Restaurants. He was known for his great love for monumental buildings, his characteristic down-to-earth attitude, and his persistent entrepreneurship.

Giovanni van Eijl was born in Tilburg and started his career in the advertising world. Until 1989, he was marketing director at McCann Erickson. In parallel, he began investing in real estate in the 1970s, with his interest quickly focusing on hospitality properties and monumental complexes. One of his first purchases was the Gooiland complex in Hilversum, which he acquired at a public auction in 1993. This formed the basis for a career in which he revitalized various iconic Dutch buildings.

In 1993, he founded the hotel group Amrâth Hôtels, named after his mother's French maiden name. The group grew into a national chain with hotels from Alkmaar to Maastricht, including Grand Hotel de l’Empereur in Maastricht, Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam in the monumental Scheepvaarthuis, and the Kurhaus in Scheveningen, which he added to the Amrâth portfolio in 2014.

Van Eijl considered the Scheepvaarthuis and the Kurhaus as the “jewels in his crown.” Recently, the book "The Scheepvaarthuis, first building of the Amsterdam School" was presented in Amsterdam, one of his most cherished projects, of which he was justifiably proud. His ability to restore neglected monuments and bring them back to life earned him wide recognition within the real estate and hospitality sector. He was seen as a passionate entrepreneur with a great love for architecture, culture, and heritage. In addition to his hotels, Van Eijl remained active as an investor and project developer, later together with his son Kaspar. Together, they realized several new construction and redevelopment projects.

In 2023, he withdrew from daily management. Since then, he remained involved as a commissioner within the company. In interviews, his optimism remained striking: despite physical setbacks, he remained interested, analytical, and grateful for the life he had built. Giovanni van Eijl leaves behind an impressive legacy: a hotel group that is one of the most characteristic in the Netherlands. He is remembered as an entrepreneur with perseverance and a great appreciation for historical beauty and hospitality.

His son, Kaspar van Eijl, currently a commissioner at Amrâth Hôtels, states that the company is being left in good hands with the current management and that the organization will continue in line with Giovanni van Eijl's philosophy.