La Réserve Resort: The First Five-Star Superior Hotel on the Belgian Coast

A year after its opening, Tourism Flanders awarded the La Réserve Resort in Knokke the five-star superior label, making it the fourth in Flanders and the first on the Belgian coast. “For guests, this is a guarantee that we strive for absolute top quality, both in terms of comfort and service,” says general manager Yannick Bouts.

Owners Marc Coucke and Bart Versluys never hid their ambition: hotel La Réserve, one of the most iconic hotels in Belgium in the last century, had to regain its former grandeur. To achieve this goal, they brought in a lot of expertise. For the supervision of restaurant La Rigue, they enlisted Peter Goossens, longtime chef of the three-star restaurant Hof van Cleve. The design of the lobby, private salons, signature room, wine cellars, sanitary facilities, rooms, wellness, restaurant, and bar was entrusted to architect Glenn Sestig. Yannick Bouts was hired as general manager, bringing his extensive experience in the hotel industry to Knokke. “Over the past year, we have made great e􀆯orts to fine-tune the team and meet the conditions for the five-star superior label,” he emphasizes.

Valet Service

“To obtain this label, you must meet an extensive list of objective criteria,” explains Peter De Wilde, CEO of Tourism Flanders. “Besides the available facilities, this highest hotel classification focuses mainly on personal service and services, such as baggage, shuttle, and valet parking services, a concierge, a restaurant open six days a week, a 24-hour open and sta􀆯ed reception, wellness treatments, and a laundry and ironing service. Since 2017, Tourism Flanders has been using the standards of the Hotel Stars Union to award hotel stars.” “Since a large part of European countries uses this star classification, tourists and international visitors receive a transparent and comparable comfort classification. That La Réserve achieved this result just a year after its opening is the result of an intensive journey of the hotel management and close cooperation between general manager Yannick Bouts and the accommodation advisors of Tourism Flanders. We are particularly pleased that the Flemish hotel top is expanding with this new five-star superior hotel.”

Reward

“It is remarkable that La Réserve has achieved the five-star superior label in such a short time,” says the Flemish Minister of Tourism. “It is a testament to hard work and quality. The awarding of the label further highlights our Flemish coast as a tourist attraction. This recognition is not only an individual reward for the adjustments and the many investments made in the building and the site in recent years but also supports the general high-quality image of the entire accommodation sector in Flanders.”

Wellness

Bart Versluys emphasizes his pride in the teamwork that led to the distinction. “This is undoubtedly a collective achievement. From day one, we pulled out all the stops. We invested in sustainable materials, hospitality, comfort… In short, in everything that can make the hotel and restaurant guests’ stay a top experience. This week, we are also opening a high-end wellness center with six massage tables, a swimming pool, hammam, sauna, and fitness room equipped with Technogym equipment. The view of the Zegemeer, the casino, and the North Sea, combined with high-end acoustics,

makes La Réserve an even more exquisite location.” Marc Coucke is also extremely satisfied with the five-star superior label. “From the first design drawing, we set the bar high, but that doesn’t mean you will succeed. I am therefore particularly happy that La Réserve is the first five-star superior hotel on the Belgian coast. Some people tell me they feel like they are in Miami when they walk in. A fantastic infrastructure is, of course, one thing, but without service and hospitality, guests quickly leave. From that perspective, I say hats o􀆯 to Yannick Bouts and his team.”

La Rigue

Restaurant La Rigue and the signature of Peter Goossens also set the high standard that La Réserve Resort aims for. “I have a lot of respect for Bart Versluys and Marc Coucke, entrepreneurs of the highest order,” says the top chef. “Thanks to them, we can work in a beautiful setting. I hear guests say that La Réserve has the allure of top hotels in London, Paris, or New York. We only hear praise about the kitchen. We try to o􀆯er dishes that are accessible to everyone but at the same time of high quality.” “We also set the bar high for breakfast. More than a hundred rooms mean a top-quality breakfast for every guest every day – seven days a week. I dare say without hesitation that you do not find the same quality everywhere. We o􀆯er everything fresh. Sandwiches, viennoiseries, pastries, you name it. For lunch and dinner, we maintain the same quality standards, also in the service. And all this in an incredible setting, with a view of the Zegemeer. On the terrace, you get a summer experience that I dare to describe as unique. And if you want to continue your dinner in a stylish atmosphere, you can visit one of the most beautiful bars in the country.”

Impressive Score

Yannick Bouts is proud of the result. “It is clearly an impressive score (800 points). We scored twice as high as a four-star hotel (410 points) and well above the expectations of five-star superior (710 points).”