A haven of peace with Nakuru at Parkhotel Kortrijk
Veronique Vandewalle is the enterprising owner of Parkhotel Kortrijk. She took charge of the family business in 2008 and has since propelled the hotel to new heights. She doubled the number of rooms and invested in modern facilities such as an underground garage, a spacious breakfast and meeting room and an opulent wellness. But amid this growing ambition, her main goal remains simple: she wants all Parkhotel guests to feel at home.
Business meets pleasure
“Most guests come here for business,” says Veronique, ”especially from Monday to Thursday, when other hotels tend to be quieter. Since many miss their families during their stay, we strive to create a homely atmosphere. That is why we have invested in extensive facilities such as a gym, wellness, bistro and bar. These are not only accessible to hotel guests, which creates a lively mix of visitors. Everyone is welcome; we want to remain very accessible.”
Good acoustics
Although the bistro and bar are the beating heart of Parkhotel, Veronique is convinced that a good night's sleep is essential for her guests. “A quality mattress and good acoustics are the basics,” she explains. “That's why we chose Nakuru Baboon & Nakuru Safari herringbone from Parquetvinyl. This is a sound-absorbing floor that consists of multiple layers that block different sound frequencies. Not only does the Nakuru collection improve room acoustics, it also reduces noise pollution to adjacent rooms. When we recently wanted to renovate 20 rooms, the choice for this floor was quickly made.”
Aesthetics vs. ease of maintenance
Now that the rooms are ready, Veronique discovered even more benefits to Parquetvinyl. “Running and maintaining a hotel is quite a job,” she says. “That's why we always look for materials that combine aesthetics and ease of maintenance. Parquet is beautiful but scratchy, carpet dampens sound but is difficult to keep clean. Parquet vinyl is a success story so far: water-resistant, scratch-resistant and soundproof. Moreover, it is easy to clean, very important for us.”
Veronique designs all the rooms herself, and her experience means she knows exactly what to look for. “It is also important that our own team can do the installation,” she adds. “At Parquetvinyl, that went very smoothly. Our men quickly mastered the simple click system. In addition, they could also install it alone or in pairs, which I always find more convenient than when a whole team has to be involved. The faster and more efficient everything goes, the better.”
Love of London
The owner of Parkhotel has a special connection to London, where she lived for several years. She is a Eurostar regular and visits the city regularly to get inspiration for new hotel trends. “Many hotels now have their own bar, but 15 years ago we were one of the first,” she says with pride. “I got that idea in London back then, of course!”
Weekend in Kortrijk
Although Kortrijk is not a metropolis, the charming city has many assets. “Its central location is ideal,” explains Veronique, ”and there is a lot of war and cycling tourism. Parkhotel has been the base for major cycling teams on several occasions during training weeks. Nowadays you can also do some nice shopping here. I would recommend shopping on Saturday morning and walking along the Lys in the afternoon. The towpath has recently been repaved and it is beautiful. In the evening, you can have extensive aperitifs at Jules Bar or dine at Billy Ray, our new Asian-Italian catering concept on the market.”
“I like the idea that our guests can come home to an oasis of calm after such a well-rounded day, because that's what our rooms really feel like,” Veronique concludes. Courtesy of the quietest floor on the market: the Nakuru collection by Parquetvinyl!