Safari Meeting Centre

What Safari Meeting Centre does

Safari Meeting Centre is the conference and events division of Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo B.V., a privately held family-owned Dutch company founded in 1913 and currently in its fourth generation of Van Hooff family stewardship. The venue is physically embedded within the 450,000 m² Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, offering event spaces with views over the African savanna and tropical rainforest habitats, and access via a 10-minute walk through the park. Core spaces include the 500-seat Auditorium, the 550-person Foyer with the iconic giraffe-neck-shaped Longneck Bar, four themed Lodges (Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Canopy, Tree Tops) seating 40-100, and the 750-capacity Safari Restaurant. Supporting infrastructure includes 1,800 parking spaces, 12 EV charging stations for 24 vehicles powered partly by 750 rooftop solar panels, modern audiovisual equipment, livestreaming capability, WiFi, and accessibility by public transport from Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The business operates a horizontal, multi-segment go-to-market targeting corporate enterprises, B2B relationship events (client and customer days), personnel and team events, educational institutions, and meeting/training groups. Revenue is generated primarily through per-person event packages (e.g., 4-hour and 8-hour meeting arrangements at €56.50 and €65 per person respectively, congress arrangements at €53 and €61.50), à la carte catering (Safari Lunch buffet at €22.75, African Braai at €38.50, Reception arrangement at €47.95), and differentiated activity offerings (Early Bird Birdwatching at €54.87 per guide, 75-minute bio-inspiration themed walks, workshops, and teambuilding). Distribution is direct via a five-person Sales & Events team and an indirect channel through a regional hotel partner network spanning 10+ properties for multi-day events. The venue was ranked 2nd in Category XL (up to 500 guests) in Meeting Magazine's 2024 Best Location awards out of 1,406 venues, and holds Gold-level Green Key and Duurzaam Gastvrij sustainability certifications continuously since 2004.

Safari Meeting Centre is not a standalone entity; it is a division within Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo, which employed 275 people in 2024 (projected 297 in 2025), drew 1,074,594 visitors in 2024 and 1,110,999 in 2025, and in June 2025 expanded by acquiring GaiaZOO in Kerkrade. The company is undertaking a major renovation of the Desert eco-display (started November 2025, mid-2026 completion) that will refresh the experiential product offering supporting event packages. No external funding, public listing, or institutional investors are involved; ownership remains entirely within the Van Hooff family.

Name

Safari Meeting Centre

Legal name

Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo B.V.

Website

https://safarimeetingcentre.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Safari Meeting Centre is the conference and events division of Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, offering 500-seat plenary halls, lodges, catering, and nature-immersive experiences to corporate, educational, and B2B relationship-event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conference and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards (THAHAMAD), Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA)

Keywords

• Conference venue services
• Corporate event facilities
• Bio-inspiration workshops
• Team building programs
• Event catering packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: Rental of meeting spaces including Auditorium, Foyer, Lodges, and Safari Restaurant for corporate events, congresses, meetings, and celebrations
2. Catering Services: High-quality on-site catering including lunch, dinner, breakfast, and custom themed menus prepared with fresh, sustainable, local ingredients
3. Event Packages: Pre-designed meeting arrangements (4-hour and 8-hour packages) combining venue, catering, and services; also special arrangements like African Braai and Ocean Bubbel receptions
4. Activities and Entertainment: Bio-inspiration lectures, workshops, guided tours, team building activities, and early bird birdwatching experiences

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Safari Meeting Centre operates a professional conference and event venue inside Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, the Netherlands, providing meeting spaces such as a 500-seat Auditorium, a 550-guest Foyer, Lodges, and the Safari Restaurant, paired with catering and bio-inspiration activities including themed tours, workshops, and team-building programs aimed at corporate and group clients.

Product overview

Safari Meeting Centre is a professional conference and event venue located within Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, The Netherlands. The facility offers a platform of interconnected venues and services including the Auditorium (500-seat conference hall), Foyer (550-guest reception space with iconic Longneck Bar), four themed Lodges (Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Canopy, and Tree Tops), and Safari Restaurant. These core venues are complemented by modular service packages including Safari Lunch Buffet, 4-hour and 8-hour Meeting Arrangements, African Braai dining experience, Receptie Arrangement, and a diverse activities portfolio featuring guided tours (Themawandeling Bio-inspiratie, Vroege Vogelwandeling), Workshops (Apemanagement, Percussie), Lectures, and Teambuilding Activities. The venue distinguishes itself through unique nature-based experiences and bio-inspiration programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auditorium A 500-seat meeting and event space within the Safari Meeting Centre, equipped with microphones, large screens, climate control, WiFi, and livestreaming capabilities, designed to host corporate plenary sessions, conferences, presentations, and large group events.
• Foyer A reception and networking space with capacity for 550 guests, used for breakouts, receptions, and pre- or post-session gatherings as part of corporate event programs.
• Lodges Breakout meeting rooms situated alongside animal enclosures, offering participants views into the zoo habitats while they work or network, intended for smaller group sessions, workshops, and informal meetings.
• Safari Restaurant The on-site restaurant at Safari Meeting Centre serving as the primary catering venue for buffet-style meals, plated dinners, and barista-served coffee during events.
• 4-Hour Meeting Arrangement A half-day meeting package with a 10-person minimum, providing venue space together with catering (lunch or dinner) and standard meeting amenities, suitable for shorter corporate meetings and team sessions.
• 8-Hour Meeting Arrangement A full-day meeting package, offered per-person with breakfast, lunch, and barista coffee included together with venue access and standard meeting amenities, designed for full-day corporate conferences and workshops.
• Early Bird Walk A guided walking experience offered before the zoo opens, allowing participants to observe animals during their most active period, typically combined with breakfast.
• Bio-inspiration Themed Tour An educational guided tour through the zoo focused on how nature-inspired design principles can inform innovation and business challenges, designed for corporate and group audiences, with a 15-person minimum requirement.
• Safari Lunch Buffet A buffet-style lunch catering option incorporating African and international dishes, offered as part of meeting arrangements and standalone event catering.
• African Braai A South African-style barbecue catering option served as part of evening or themed event programs, available with beverage arrangements.
• Reception Arrangement A reception-style catering package with assorted hot and cold snacks plus beverages, designed to be hosted in the Foyer or Lodge areas as part of corporate receptions and informal networking events.
• Nature & Sustainability Workshops Facilitated programs drawing on the zoo's nature and bio-inspiration expertise (e.g., climate and ecosystems workshops), designed for school groups and corporate audiences to explore sustainability and ecological themes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2nd place Best Location for Meetings and Events 2024 (Meeting Magazine)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GaiaZOOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo became the new owner of GaiaZOO in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. Both parks share similar philosophy, values, and ethics regarding nature conservation, education, and animal welfare. GaiaZOO celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 1, 2025 when the acquisition was completed.
• MarketResponseminorOthersResearch partner for customer satisfaction surveys. MarketResponse conducted the largest independent customer friendliness research in the Netherlands, surveying 50,799 observations across 369 companies in 9 categories to determine Burgers' Zoo as the most customer-friendly leisure company.
• International Tropical Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner for nature conservation efforts in Belize. Burgers' Zoo has been protecting a nature reserve in Belize for nearly 30 years, now covering approximately 400 square kilometers through donations to this fund.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Kasteel de Haar: Dutch castle estate offering unique corporate event venues and meetings in a distinctive heritage setting. Comparable in offering differentiated 'experiential' venues to corporate clients rather than competing on standard hotel-style meetings.

Direct peers

• Postillion Hotels: Largest Dutch conference hotel chain with multiple dedicated meeting venues across the Netherlands. Directly competes for the same mid-to-large corporate meeting and congress segment.
• Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen: Large Dutch zoo in Emmen with themed eco-displays and on-site hospitality facilities for corporate groups, competing for the same nature-anchored corporate event demand in the Netherlands.
• Beekse Bergen: Safaripark in Hilvarenbeek offering corporate event packages, group outings, and team-building activities within a wildlife setting — structurally analogous to Safari Meeting Centre's zoo + meetings proposition.
• Artis Zoo Amsterdam: Historic Amsterdam zoo that rents venue spaces for corporate events and meetings, located in a major Dutch city. Comparable in operating model though with an urban rather than safari positioning.
• Avifauna: Dutch bird park in Alphen aan den Rijn offering corporate meeting packages and team-building activities in a nature setting; smaller scale but directly comparable leisure-anchored event model.
• NBC Congrescentrum: Large Dutch conference center in Nieuwegein hosting congresses and corporate events at similar scale. Pure-play meeting venue competitor without the zoo differentiator.
• Ouwehands Zoo: Dutch zoo (Rhenen) operating a comparable zoo-integrated event and meeting venue model with overnight accommodations (Hotel & Safari Lodge). Direct functional competitor for nature-anchored corporate events in the Netherlands.

Broad incumbents

• Efteling: Major Dutch theme park (Kaatsheuvel) with corporate event and group hospitality offerings; broader entertainment portfolio but overlaps on the leisure-anchored B2B events space.
• Walibi Holland: Dutch amusement park (Biddinghuizen) that hosts corporate events, group arrangements, and team-building days; broader leisure brand competing for corporate group outings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BurgersZoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0_gjSXEk53dhHUNOapIamw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BurgersZoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/burgers%27-zoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/burgerszoo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Safari Meeting Centre