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Luxembourg's accession festivities for Grand Duke Guillaume are expected to bring international attention and visitors, though hoteliers say bookings remain below expectations, while restaurants anticipate stronger business.
On Friday morning, Luxembourg will launch the festivities marking the abdication of Grand Duke Henri and the accession of Grand Duke Guillaume. The country will welcome three days of ceremonies, performances and celebrations, an event of significance not only for the monarchy, but also for the hospitality sector. Large-scale occasions of this kind attract visitors to the country, a welcome boost for hotels and restaurants. However, industry representatives note that, so far, most establishments are not yet fully booked and there is still room for growth.
A change of monarch always draws considerable attention, with many people eager to be present and take part in the various ceremonies and events. Such occasions also attract tourists, and the images of the accession will be broadcast internationally, far beyond Luxembourg's borders.
According to Alain Rix, president of Horesca, the hospitality sector of Luxembourg, this represents excellent publicity for the country. He explained that while high-end hotels are hosting official delegations, they are not completely full. They may have gained in quality of guests, but not necessarily in quantity, whereas smaller hotels have reported an increase in bookings compared with previous years, Rix said.
Rex Nijhof, director of the new Marriott Hotel Alfa at Luxembourg's central station, has already experienced a royal succession during his career in the Netherlands. There, he recalled, bookings rose significantly in the days leading up to the event. In his view, Luxembourg should have promoted itself more actively beforehand.
He observed that, in principle, such occasions should lead to more weekend reservations, but this has not been the case. In fact, he suggested the opposite may have happened, as German visitors had a public holiday on 3 October and chose to travel elsewhere for a long weekend rather than come to Luxembourg.
Carlo Cravat, another hotel director, reported a similar situation. Some of his regular clients, who usually visit at this time of year, postponed their stay because they feared road closures and large crowds, he said, adding that others even admitted they were unaware that a succession was taking place. Cravat argued that Luxembourg had not planned or promoted the event far enough in advance, noting that while it may have been publicised in the Greater Region, in many neighbouring countries, and even within Luxembourg itself, people had little idea such an important moment was approaching.
For restaurants, however, expectations are more optimistic. Rix predicted that eateries, particularly those around the Glacis, Place d'Armes, and Place Guillaume II, would benefit from the influx of visitors. Celebrations will also be held outside the capital, including in Grevenmacher, Steinfort, Wiltz, and Dudelange.
From Friday morning at 9.30am, RTL will broadcast live from its special studio in front of the Grand Ducal Palace, with dedicated coverage across television and radio throughout the three days of ceremonies.
