WELCOME TO VAN DE BUNT PARTNERS - HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT

ABOUT US
Hotel consulting, development, and investment.
VAN DE BUNT PARTNERS is an international advisory firm that provides specialized development and investment services for hotel real estate, spanning from the budget, select-service to the luxury segment. As the know-how partner of institutional investors, operators, developers or family offices our integrated advisory services cover the entire value chain of hotel investment. Our services range from the initial definition of highest and best-use concepts, feasibility studies, design advisory, owner's representation, operator selection to investment transaction services.

As a premium advisory firm for hotel development and investment, we never compromise on the quality of our services. Providing highest professional standards and delivering customized professional services that add maximum value to our clients' business are at the core of our work. Our traditional values are an eminent part of this business philosophy: proficiency, flexibility, and partnership. Welcome to VAN DE BUNT PARTNERS.
- Introduction
- Market and Feasibility Studies
  Leading to results.
  At the centre of our consulting services is the Market and Feasibility Study, which evaluates hotel investment potential from both a market and financial perspective. They provide our clients with the critical information for assessing the economic feasibility of a proposed project, making "Go/No Go" decisions or defining strategic issues to be considered in the development of a successful hotel project.
  
  Our feasibility studies already include a detailed space programme for the proposed hotel concept, which does not only support the design briefing but already provides a great level of detail for cost estimates and financial projections.
  
  A Market and Feasibility Study typically consists of the following research and analysis:
  
  Market area review
  Hotel site evaluation (VDBP-Scoring Model)
  Hotel supply and demand analysis
  Market segment analysis
  Competitive positioning
  Concept creation
  Preparation of hotel space programmes
  Profit & loss projections
  Development cost estimates
  Investment analysis and development strategy advisory
- Hotel Design Advisory and Management
  Technical services designed to add value.
  During the pre-construction stages, we provide hotel-specific assistance in the design process to reposition, revitalize or create a technically and economically optimal property for its market segment. We focus on maximising the potential of the investment already at the design stage by directing the architects on space allocation, functionality, quality standards and building efficiencies in order to achieve both, the defined investment targets and hotel standards.
  
  Our hotel design advisory services consist of the following:
  
  Hotel-specific design briefing
  Design advisory, plan and design reviews
  Coordination of technical services rendered by hotel operators
  Regular due diligence updates throughout the design phases
  Project cost estimating
  Integration of brand standards
- Project Coordination and Owner's Representative Services
  Protecting our client's interests.
  The owner's representative manages responsibilities typically associated with the owner of a hotel project, which include technical services and design approvals, feasibility monitoring, and to manage the day-to-day professional relationships with municipality and regulatory authorities, master planners, consultants, financiers and hoteliers, just to name a few.
  
  As the "link" between the owner and all entities involved, we bring the critical knowledge in hotel design, development, hotel operating financials, and provide you with professional, hotel-specific advice at every step in the process, to protect and enhance your interests throughout the course of your hotel project.
  
  Our services include the following:
  
  Hotel-specific design briefing
  Hotel operator agreement negotiation and administration
  Design advisory, plan and design reviews
  Formal review & approval of design submittals
  Approval of mock-up rooms, specifications and samples
  Approval of (sub-)consultants
  Cost management and change control
  Monitoring project feasibility
  Alternative dispute resolution (with operators)
  Advisory on financing and development strategy
  Monitoring the implementation of pre-opening services
  Acceptance & approval of property hand-over
  Monthly reporting
- Hotel Operating Agreements
  Choosing the "right" operator and agreement.
  As an income-generating real estate asset, the market value of a hotel is determined by the operator's capability to generate operating profits. Choosing the "right" hotel operator and operating agreement is hence elementary for any successful hotel development or investment. The "calibre" of operator and type of operating agreement, its commercial terms and legal framework significantly affect development risks, financing, marketability of the project, and the long-term asset value. In order to close a successful deal, it is important to understand the interests of the contractual parties, investment requirements and the asset's operating fundamentals.
  
  Our services typically include the following:
  
  Preparation of financial basis for negotiations
  Prior to entering into negotiations with hotel operators, we first carry out a detailed profit & loss forecast and investment analysis in order to pre-determine realistic commercial terms maximising asset value and long-term investment performance. Based on our client's requirements and local market conditions we define the realistic target business terms for the operating agreement.
  
  Hotel operator evaluation and selection
  We identify and qualify appropriate operators based on pre-determined criteria such as strength of brand positioning, regional experience, feeder markets, distribution & reservations systems, fee structure and operational skills. Requests for Proposals (RFP), including a detailed memorandum are send to pre-selected operators in order to receive competitive bids before entering into negotiations.
  
  Negotiation of operating agreement and
  technical service agreement (TSA)
  Based on a detailed investment analysis we advise our clients on the appropriate commercial terms of the operating and TSA agreements. In conjunction with the owner's legal advisor, we negotiate the agreements to protect our clients' commercial and legal interests.
- Trainings and Interim Management
  Employees are the main asset of a business.
  Employees are the main asset of a business. Owners should invest in them thoughtfully and strategically. That is why we offer intensive training courses in real estate development with a special focus on hotels and resort projects. The trainings provide the participants with a comprehensive insight into best practices in developing hotel properties helping to develop specialised competencies within your company and optimising your team's profile.
  
  In times where businesses rationalise there development activities, we provide the company management with a professional assessment of the development team and its performance. Our appraisals are neutral, free of organisational baggage and always include a detailed evaluation of the hotel projects and individual assessments of team members. We advise on suitable corrective measures in order to increase the project teams' or companies' profitability. If required, our specialists may stay as interim managers on the project until the project is on stable footing. They bring the necessary professional expertise and authority to evaluate projects and to turn around underperforming business.
DEVELOPMENT
Developing hotels is our passion.
In selected premier hotel projects, VAN DE BUNT PARTNERS acts as the developer or joint-venture partner in development phase investments. Our development approach is to combine premium architectural standards with a maximum profitability of the investment. Respect for the primacy of the site and local culture is an integral part of this approach. Our projects range from single new constructions, repositioning/turn-around developments, hotel portfolio developments, or brand roll-out strategies.

Our strength is our experts' profound understanding of the hotel industry, hotel design, operating financials and project coordination, which is prerequisite to complete the hotel according to budget, time and quality standards. Our investment model preconditions a clearly defined exit strategy and margin ratios. As within our advisory services, our guiding principle in real estate development is to never compromise on the properties' quality and to create truly sustainable investments. Properties developed by VAN DE BUNT PARTNERS are designed to maximise their potential, respect local culture and deliver superior risk-adjusted returns to our investors.
INVESTMENT
Value from hotel expertise.
Whether you are considering the sale or acquisition of a hotel asset or raw land zoned for development, our hotel investment professionals bring value-added, hotel-specific know-how and experience to each and every deal. Complex real estate assets such as hotels require a deep understanding of the asset's economic framework, operating performance, changing market environment, and quality of the underlying hotel operating agreements. Our professionals bring the necessary professional expertise and knowledge to create investment strategies to achieve the optimum price, speedy transaction and certainty of closing.

If you consider the acquisition or disposal of developable land, our development professionals perform a detailed investment evaluation and highest & best use analysis in order to determine the optimum price that can be paid for the land. We help to identify suitable land for hotel development by applying a sophisticated scoring model for hotel site evaluation, analysing the physical, legal, social, technical, and financial characteristics. Based on our comprehensive due diligence reports, our clients are enabled to make an informed and risk-adjusted investment decision.

Our guiding principle is to deliver investment advisory services beyond plain brokerage. We typically assign a personal hotel expert to each client, advising him professionally and discrete at every step of the transaction process. Our international perspective and network combine our local know-how with seamless cross-border solutions.
- Introduction
- Hotel & Office Mixed-Use Development - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  Project description:
  Mixed-use development comprising a 4-star hotel of 252-keys and an upscale office component of 13,800 GFA. Located in Tecom free zone area and close to main demand generators for hotel accommodation, the property is ideally located for a mid-scale hotel. The total Gross Floor Area (excluding basement parking) is 26,032 sqm.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Investment due diligence
  Market and feasibility study
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
  Operator selection and contract closing
  Owner's representation
- Hotel, Office & Retail Mixed-Use Development - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  Project description:
  Mixed-use development comprising a 4-star hotel of 276-keys, office and retail comprising a total of 67,976 sqm GFA. The project is located in the marina district of the masterplanned community "Shams Abu Dhabi", which can be translated into English as 'The Sun of Abu Dhabi'. The property has been meticulously conceptualized and positioned within the mid-market segment to provide it with a competitive advantage and to generate sustainable yields above market average.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Investment due diligence
  Market and feasibility study
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
  Operator selection and contract closing
  Owner's representation
- 4-Star Plus Hotel - Erbil, Iraq
  Project description:
  The hotel project is located between Erbil International Airport and downtown area. From the investment and operational perspective, the exclusiveness of the site and lack of alternative sites of equal quality is clearly a competitive advantage. The hotel is the core part of a self-sustainable, gated community targeting a growing local and expatriate community. The hotel is positioned in the 4-Star Plus market segment, comprising 300 guestrooms, 1,500 sqm of meeting and ballroom facilities, and 4 food & beverage outlets.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
  Development cost estimate and feasibility
- Multi-branded Hotels & 5-Star Serviced Residences - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  Project description:
  The hotel complex is an integral component of the landmark mixed-use development Reem Mall & Residences. The program for the hotel project comprises three innovative hotel concepts and comprises a total of 495 keys bringing a completely new guest experience to Abu Dhabi.
  
  Three different concepts were integrated into one "building envelope" in order to diversify the target markets and to attract different guest profiles ranging from business travellers, to leisure guests and long-staying serviced apartment guests. In order to maximise the building efficiency of this "3 in 1" hotel tower, back-of-house, administration and leisure areas are shared between the components while each hotel component has a separate porte-cochere, entrance lobby, and guest elevators in order to architecturally pronounce the different brand identities.
  
  The total Gross Floor Area (GFA) of the entire hotel component is approximately 40,000 sqm.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Market research and hotel conceptualisation
  Development feasibility
  Design advisory
  Owner representation (concept & schematic design stage)
  Operator selection and contract closing
- Boutique Resort Hotel Clos Des Cheminots - Djibouti
  Project description:
  The plot of land is located at "Plateau Du Serpent" in the elite residential neighbourhood of Djibouti, sitting directly at the seafront. The premium site has a good accessibility and the natural beachfront provides a rare vantage position. The hotel comprises 200 keys with a large lobby, fitness area and outdoor swimming pool, 2 restaurants, 1 club ("Club Des Cheminots"), and meeting facilities. The area programme also includes 120 serviced residences ranging from Studio Apartments to Three Bed Room Residences with a total leasable area of approximately 8,320 sqm.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
  Land evaluation
  Land investment transaction advisory
- 5-Star Schlosshotel Dresden - Dresden, Germany
  Project description:
  The project is located in the heart of the historic centre of Dresden (Germany), and provides one of the rare opportunities to develop a hotel within a truly unique cultural and historic setting. The hotel will be an ideal start for explorations on foot - shopping, cafes, accommodation and the city's major cultural attractions. The architecture of the 216-key hotel resembles the historic buildings that were destroyed in the bombing of Dresden on 13th and 14th of February 1945. Revived as a 5-star hotel, the building will complement the rebuilding of Dresden's historic centre.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Market and feasibility study
  Design advisory
  Operator selection and contract closing
- Mid-market Hotel - Berlin, Germany
  Project description:
  The "3-star plus" hotel project comprises of 201 guestrooms and is located at the waterfront of the river Spree, Berlin, Germany. Based on the analysis of the Berlin hotel market and specific location characteristics, the developer aimed to create an innovative, internationally branded product positioned in the mid-market quality segment. The hotel's waterfront location, design and brand shall clearly separate the product from its competitors.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Market and feasibility study
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
- 4-Star Hotel and Office - Amman, Jordan
  Project description:
  Three plots of land located at Zahran Street, Amman's prime hotel location, were purchased by the client. As the Owner's Representative, VAN DE BUNT PARTNERS also headed the project team in negotiations with Greater Amman Municipality and successfully negotiated the rezoning and consolidation of the plots, which substantially enhanced the land value. The project comprises a 176-key hotel and 7,900 sqm GLA of boutique office space, with a total GFA of 24,500 sqm.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Market and feasibility study
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
  Operator selection and contract closing
  Owner's representation
- 4-Star Hotel - Beirut, Lebanon
  Project description:
  The hotel project is located at Pasteur Street in the booming and stylish Gemayzeh district in the centre of Beirut. The hotel is positioned in the 3-star plus segment featuring an attractive, contemporary design adding value to guest perception. Arranged in a double-loaded layout and offering a single, trendy restaurant and only limited meeting facilities the goal was to maximize profitability at the design stage.
  
  Services delivered:
  
  Market and feasibility study
  Hotel conceptualisation
  Design advisory
  Operator selection and contract closing
  Owner's representation
- Investment Transactions
  Description:
  Since 2006, our investment professionals have delivered added-value advisory services to our clients covering purchases or divestments of raw land zoned for hotel development, off-plan hotel projects and hotel properties under operation, totalling a property value of more than USD 278 million. Geographically we have been active in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East as our home base.
  
  In order to learn more about how we can deliver value to your investment, our experts will be delighted to talk with you. We look forward to talking with you.
  
  Dr. Peter van de Bunt
  Managing Director
  
  T +971 4 313 2026
  p.vandebunt@vdbpartners.com