Category Archives: Reviews

Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts

A unique European hotel chain with individual flavor

by Don Heimburger

Are you headed for Germany soon?

Ready to order your airline tickets for this Western Europe’s most populous country?

“I want to see Germany in 2008,” says one traveler, “but I’m looking for a better-than-average place to stay, and I want something different and dependable.”

Let’s say you are flying into Frankfurt, then heading by train or automobile to Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden, and down to Nuremberg before heading back to Frankfurt.

You’ve scanned the websites of several hotels on your next trip to Germany (estimates are that 50% of guests now book on-line) and read a few guidebooks, but you find the smaller hotels or pensions aren’t rated, and the larger chain hotels all look the same, and it’s hard to distinguish one chain from another.

The four Steigenbergers, proprietors of Europe’s largest family-owned hotel chain.

ANY ZIMMER WON’T DO
You don’t want just any Zimmer (room), because a few bad nights could ruin your trip. And you like hotels with some charm and some history.

The 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Study of European Hotel Guest Satisfaction (12,090 guests surveyed) found that nearly 70% of hotel guests in Europe prefer a smoke-free environment that exceeds the boundaries of their room.

And among 37 different possible amenities and services, complimentary breakfast (Fruhstuck) was the single most important amenity for hotel guests in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Sweden. Only in the United Kingdom did complimentary breakfast follow coffee/tea as the most important amenity.

In the upper upscale segment of the European hotel market, the smallish family-owned, Frankfurt-based Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts group (81 hotels, mostly in Germany), received top 2006 J.D. Power survey ratings from guests in all seven key factors of guest satisfaction. The categories included reservations, check-in/check-out, guest rooms, food and beverages, hotel services, hotel facilities, and costs and fees. Steigenberger received 795 points on a 1,000-point scale, with Sheraton second and Hilton third.

In addition, Business Traveller magazine voted the firm in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005 as the Best Hotel Group in Germany.

TWO CLASSES OF HOTELS
Today, the chain of European hotels (53 four- and five-star hotels in the upper category, and 28 InterCity Hotels in the mid-range and business category which are located near key transportation hubs such as railway stations and airports), is owned by Anne-Marie Steigenberger and her daughters, Christine, Claudia and Bettina. Together, they own 99.6% of the company’s shares, with the remaining shares owned by others.

The firm’s shares aren’t listed on the stock exchange, so other hotel chains or investment firms can’t purchase controlling interest, and the Steigenbergers can run the hotels according to their distinct management philosophy.

(left to right) Albert Steigenberger; Egon Steigenberger

FAMILY ACTIVE IN COMPANY
The third generation of the Steigenberger family is active in the management of the firm, and together they assure patrons of their loyalty to the hotels they own and continuing growth and stability of the company. “For more than 75 years the name Steigenberger has stood for the very best in the European hotel industry, for tradition and innovation,” says company spokeswoman Mrs. Angelika Heyer.

The firm is the largest European hotel company still in family ownership. Three of the four female Steigenbergers live in Frankfurt, and one resides in Vienna.

The Steigenberger family of four women have very specific ideas of what their hotels should do for customers. “For many years, our hotels have symbolized top-class European hotels providing incomparable hospitality and perfect services,” explains Karl Schattmaier, chief executive officer. “Our current offerings mirror the wishes and demands of our guests.”

In 2006, the chain had its most successful year, with a 10.6% increase in gross revenues to 475.4 million euros ($636.5 million dollars) from 429.8 million euros ($575.5 million dollars), while operating profit rose by 31.4% to 11.3 million euros ($15.13 million dollars).

The firm attributes the increase to a good economic climate, an exceptional Football World Cup and pairing down of its corporate structure.

With majority interest in the firm, the four Steigenbergers can direct the hotel’s growth, customer and business affairs. “We offer every convenience and service that guests expect from modern luxury hotels,” says Heyer.

INDIVIDUALITY OF EACH HOTEL
The Steigenbergers don’t consider their Hotel and Resort grouping as a hotel chain per se. The individuality of each hotel is retained by the management, and there are substantial differences in the interior and exterior appearances of the structures themselves.

Even the personal service from the hotel staff is by special design; it starts at its own Steigenberger Academy in Bad Reichenhall, Germany. The hotel company is the only European group with its own private training academy and state-approved vocational hotel college.

The academy programs include training in restaurants and hotels, and business administration with one-, two- and three-year programs. About 250 students are enrolled at any one time, and the Steigenberger Hotel group often recruits its own staff from the academy. “We offer them training positions as well as permanent positions in the hotels,” explains Heyer.

Despite its small size, the firm has big plans, and last year augmented its hotels by six more: Hotel de Saxe in the center of Dresden, a 178-room four-star facility with seven suites and 10 conference rooms; the 121-room Strandhotel Zingst on the Baltic peninsula, a first-class hotel built in the classical spa style; and the four-star, 135-room golf hotel Treudelberg in Hamburg features an 18-hole championship golf course.

HOTEL DE SAXE, DRESDEN
The Hotel de Saxe in the center of Dresden, across from the Frauenkirche on the Neumarkt, was constructed following the style of the first Hotel de saxe built in 1756, which was one of the best hotels in the Saxon metropolis.

“I stayed here in August 2006,” said a visitor from London who was quoted on http://www.TripAdvisor.com. “The hotel had just opened; even the carpets had that fresh smell. My room was of a good size, impeccably clean, good bed and bathroom.”

Another said, “The location couldn’t have been better—right across from the main part of town, (within) walking distance to everything in Dresden. The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful.”

BALTIC SEA RESORT: STRANDHOTEL ZINGST
At the Strandhotel Zingst, located on the sandy beach and the Baltic Sea north of Hamburg, rates for a two-night stay in September were quoted at between 82 Euros for a room type assigned when you arrive and 186 Euros for a deluxe room. A highlight of the hotel is a very large Spa Pavilion in the hotel garden with inside and outside pools, and many spa-like amenities and facilities.

At the Hotel Treudelberg in Hamburg, 30 minutes from downtown Hamburg, a visitor said the hotel would rate between a 4- and 5- star experience with comfortable beds and a good breakfast buffet. In 2008 the hotel is expected to add another 95 rooms and extend the golf course to 27 holes.

At Trivago.com, the hotel is rated overall 95 points out of 100, with Rooms rated at 100, Amenities at 98, Food & Beverage at 98 and Location and Surroundings at 92. Not all travelers are going to find Steigenberger or other hotels to their liking, naturally.

The other three new hotels the firm added recently were in Italy and Egypt. Their InterCity Hotel division plans on building three new hotels in Essen, Dresden and Mainz, Germany in 2008, and a luxury four-star hotel in Vienna Old Town (Austria) is also slated by the company.

BACKGROUND: FROM WASH HOUSE TO FIRST-CLASS RESORT
The first Steigenberger Hotel was once the municipal washhouse for Baden-Baden, where townswomen of Medieval times went to do their washing.

In the mid 19th century, when Baden-Baden, located in the Black Forest, began to flourish as a spa, the site was taken over by the Hotel Europaischer Hof. Heads of state stayed at the hotel, and its location across from the pump rooms and assembly rooms attracted good business and an international reputation.

When a world economic crisis arose, the hotel borrowed heavily from a businessman in Lower Bavaria by the name of Albert Steigenberger. As business remained poor, the hotel was auctioned, and Steigenberger became a hotel owner.

In determining how the hotel had done poorly, Steigenberger did something unusual: he tried out every room in his hotel and decided to invest in modern comfort and convenience.

BUYS FRANKFURTER HOF
Later, in 1950, he acquired the rundown Frankfurter Hof in Frankfurt am Main, which is today’s flagship five-star hotel and now lavishly refurbished (in 2006). The hotel was selected as one of the top 50 hotels in the world for its standards and services in 2005 and has won other recent awards, as well.

The next hotel acquired was the Vier Jahreszeiten in Wiesbaden. And then the Monopol-Metropol at Frankfurt’s main train station. Many more acquisitions followed in Baden-Baden, Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Stuttgart.

In 1958 Albert’s son, Egon, took over the business, and in 1963 the firm purchased their first hotel outside of Germany. In 1972, the Hotel Training College was added to the fold, and in 1985 the firm was made a joint stock ownership company.

Last year the company employed 5,580 staff. The firm runs the Hotels & Resorts Group which preserves classical elegance in the style of the great European hotel tradition, and the InterCity Hotel group which provides business class comfort in a strategically located hub near airports and train stations. InterCity Hotel guests are offered tickets for local public transportation gratis.

During the next few years, l50 million euros will be invested in the hotel’s operations via extensive rebuilding and modernization, with emphasis on the restaurants and spa areas. Resort hotels will focus on spa/wellness, golf, sports or leisure activities or families.

As an example, if the hotel caters to golfers, a special concierge with knowledge of the local golf facilities will be made available to guests, says Steigenberger.

Overall, Steigenberger properties seem to be a good deal, with above-average visitor reviews, and more capital investment expeditures coming through 2008 to their hotels and resorts.

European Traveler reporter Steve Ramsey visited Steigenberger’s Frankfurt Airport Hotel and filed this report:

EUROPEAN TRAVELER’S ON-THE-SPOT VISIT

During a recent visit to Frankfurt, I stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel, located just minutes from Frankfurt’s International Airport. From the courteous greeting at the reception desk upon arriving to an efficient checkout the following day, I appreciated the Steigenberger’s modern style and comforts.

Don’t let the plain exterior of the building fool you: the contemporary interior is very appealing. A relaxing lounge sits directly across from the vibrant reception desk as you enter the hotel. The three-winged building has long, blue, carpeted hallways, which house more than 550 rooms on eight floors. Quiet music, only played during the day, and a chic lighting system illuminated the hallways as I made my way to my room.

The room was very well kept and was furnished with two comfortable twin beds. A desk and leather chair sat beneath two large windows, which overlooked nearby surrounding forest. Located in the wing facing away from the airport, I did not hear any airplanes, even with the window open. The bathroom really makes a statement and sets the hotel apart from its competition. It contained a cylindrical shower with a curved sliding glass door. An overhead rain-shower faucet was adorned with small blue starlights embedded in the ceiling. A raised bowl sink and green marble floors provided additional nice touches.

A quick note to inexperienced travelers–if you have trouble turning any of the room lights on, put your keycard in the slot next to the door as you walk into the room!

The breakfast buffet, which is not included in the room price, had a lot to offer. Included were several different types of breads, juices, omelets, cereals, meats and fruits… everything was fresh, and they were well prepared to satisfy international guests. While it may seem pricey by American standards, 23 euros is pretty standard for hotels in the area. As a cheaper alternative, try one of the shops in the train
station.

I enjoyed my brief visit at the Steigenberger, and I would recommend it to anyone staying near the airport. The staff was professional, yet personable, and quick to offer their help. There is a free shuttle that runs every 15 minutes to and from the airport, and the downtown area was about a 10-minute car ride from the hotel, so be sure to visit the city center, even if you are in town just for the night!

IF YOU GO…

Location
Next to the forest, Frankfurt airport 0.9 km, A3/A5 motorways 1 km., airport railway station 1.8 km, city center 10 km, Frankfurt main train station 10 km, fair and exhibition center 12 km

Accommodation
553 rooms and 20 suites, air-conditioning, sound proofed, telephone with voicemail, modem link, high speed Internet access, non-smoking floors, special room for the disabled

Restaurants and Bars
4 restaurants including 1 gourmet restaurant, 1 lobby-bistro-bar (24-hr.), 3 terraces

Category: Deluxe

Steigenberger Airport Hotel
Unterschweinstiege 16 – 60549 Frankfurt/Main – Germany
Telephone +49 69 6975-0   Telefax +49 69 6975-2505
airporthotel@steigenberger.de
www.airporthotel.steigenberger.de 
General Manager: Alfred Kupper

Travel to Europe Like a Pro

Whether it’s your first time to Europe, a romantic vacation for two to Paris or a family trip to London, international travel can seem a little daunting. With proper planning, you can kick off your vacation on the right foot.

1. Educate yourself on the culture: It is important to be mindful of other cultures when travelling internationally. Be sure to study up on any common cultural mistakes that travelers make when entering the country you are visiting. This will safeguard you from making the same embarrassing and offensive mistakes.

2. Review rules on air travel and luggage: Save time (and stress) at the airport by checking the TSA website’s list of prohibited items. No one wants to start a trip having to repack their luggage at the airport or getting stuck in customs.

3. Make copies of important papers: most people know that proper documentation is needed for international travel, but how many people think to bring copies with them? Take the time before you leave to keep a copy of all your documentation in your email, just in case something happens. Have an unlocked mobile phone? Be sure to keep a copy on there too. (If you don’t, think about purchasing one.)

4. Check out the local forecast: in order to know what to pack, it is important to know the typical weather where you are going in the time frame you are going. You should also check the local weather a few days before you leave.

5. Purchase an unlocked cell phone: Stay connected with those at home by purchasing an unlocked mobile phone. Purchasing an unlocked GSM phone will allow you to access pay-as-you-go plans internationally, saving on roaming fees. This kind of connectivity can give you piece of mind in knowing, wherever you are, you are always connected.

Courtesy of Ahmed Khattak and GSM Nation

Spend St. Valentine’s Day in Dublin

If a short break is on your agenda for St. Valentine’s Day, perhaps you need a push from the man himself — St. Valentine. Wouldn’t you know it? The Irish actually have relics (some of the remains) of the patron saint of lovers.

You need to head to Dublin for this. The St. Valentine’s Shrine is in Whitefriar Carmelite Church, Aungier Street, a few minutes walk from Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green and the famous Temple Bar, the center of Dublin’s shopping, culture and craic in the Irish capital.

If you can, visit St. Valentine’s Shrine on February 14 itself—the saint’s actual feast day, and the origin of the annual celebration of love, although it’s still a place of pilgrimage for those celebrating love at any time.

You can do a lot in Dublin on a long weekend. In Europe’s friendliest city; you can talk to anyone. It’s said the city is as intimate as a pub. But it’s probably better not to over-prepare for Dublin, or anywhere in Ireland. Be ready to go with the flow, build in one or two key activities and expect the locals to throw a surprise or two your way.

Dublin hotels and restaurants will be pulling out the stops to create a traditional romantic atmosphere on Valentine’s night, so candle-lit dinners will be the norm. Flowers are no problem either— Smithfield Flower Market — and one Dublin temple to the art of all things— chocolate— is actually not far from St. Valentines’ Shrine. Chocolatier Cocoa Atelier on Drury Street oozes handmade Irish chocolate deliciousness.

Finally, the all-important card.The Emerald Isle’s charm is more along the style of literary son Sheridan: “Won’t you come into the garden? My roses should like to meet you.”

Ireland is a land that reaches deep into the heart, lifts spirits and stirs you to your very core.

For more information, go to: www.discoverireland.com, www.galwayonline.com and www.visitdublin.com

Ireland Tops Paris for Best Destination in 2011

An imprint of the global publishing giant Wiley, Frommer’s is one of the travel market’s leading authorities and most trusted online content and guide book producers. Every year its editors, authors and experts from around the world select the best cities, islands, beaches and other vacation destinations and decide on the destinations that are going to be big news for travelers in the coming year.

Its Top Destinations list aims to steer travelers clear of too-hot spots or places so under the radar that travelers could find themselves lost. The list also includes the Frommer’s Readers’ Favorite Destination.

“Last year’s favorite Paris was beat out this year by the very tourist-friendly nation of Ireland,” the company says. “During the nominations process, supporters told us why they were putting the Emerald Isle on their wish lists for the following year.”

Those reasons were comments praising Ireland’s rugged beauty, the people, the history, lush countryside and opportunities to ramble and explore.

Ireland received 29% of the overall vote from the 10 destinations up for nomination and pipped Paris in the readers’ vote for best destination by just 1%.

The other places up for nomination were Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Egypt, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Greece and Paris. More than 7,300 ballots were cast for the awards.

www.frommers.com
www.discoverireland.com

Tips on Tipping

ET: Are there certain countries where an average tipping amount differs greatly from other countries? Can you point out the countries where tipping procedures are quite a bit different than other countries?

Tipping customs can be very different in other countries, so it’s important to do your homework and get to know the culture you’re visiting before you take off. In some countries, tipping is not expected for most services. In Italy, you’d tip the same as you would tip for a taxi in the States—about 15% to 20% of the fare. But in restaurants over there and in most of Europe, you’d leave a lot less for the waiter than you would here in the U.S. It’s customary to leave just the change from your bill or up to 5% of your pretax bill.

ET: In which country or countries do you believe that waiters, cab drivers, etc. expect the largest tip?

I’m not familiar with enough countries’ customs to say definitively, but the U.S. is pretty generous when it comes to tipping.

ET: Some countries include the tip in the bill. Can you point out which countries do this?

In the U.S., in certain instance, tips are included in the bill. Many hotels, for example, include a tip in the room service bill. And many cruise lines, including Carnival and Celebrity, automatically add daily tips onto your onboard account. You can opt to change the tips at the guest services desk onboard.

ET: Do you have any personal tipping instances or funny stories about tipping from other people that you would like share?

When I went on my honeymoon a few years ago, my husband and I really hadn’t prepared properly for all the little indulgences we were giving ourselves to celebrate. We ordered room service, poolside service, took surf lessons, did a horseback-riding tour, used valet parking when we rented a car one day, ordered show tickets through the concierge, etc.—and wound up overtipping almost everyone we encountered. We even tipped the maintenance guy who came to our room a few times to fix a clogged drain. I wish we had been more familiar with standard tipping policies then and had budgeted for all of it beforehand.

ET: Is there a difference in the amount that you would tip a cab driver versus a waiter?

In the U.S., it’s standard to tip a cab driver 15% to 20% of the fare and a waiter 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill. You might also tip the driver extra for assistance with any luggage—$1 or $2 each bag.

ET: If you don’t like the service, should you tip at all?

Tipping is always at your discretion. These suggested amounts are just that—suggestions… that are in line with what people typically leave. But before you opt out of tipping, you should keep in mind that the people you are tipping count on those gratuities to make a livable wage. Also remember that a lot of people may be involved with providing your services. So, for example, if your food takes a long time to get to you in a restaurant, there may be a backup in the kitchen for some reason, which is totally out of the control of your waiter. So by not leaving a tip, you may be punishing someone who was not at fault.

ET: Many tip advice columns suggest tipping housekeeping but only 30% of guests do. This is one of the few instances where a guest tips before a service is given, rather than on the quality of a service. Housekeepers are also not front of the house nor a tip-based profession. Could you elaborate a bit on that advice?

Housekeepers are often overlooked because you don’t always see them performing their service like you do with a bellhop or concierge. But they do provide an important service, and many rely on tips to supplement their lower hourly wages. Of course, tipping is always at your discretion. Stories and advice such as mine are just meant as suggested amounts outlining standard protocol.

I’m not really sure how to respond to your point about tips being given prior to services being rendered. But it’s recommended that you leave a daily tip because housekeepers may change shifts, so you want to ensure that you’re tipping each person who tidies up your room. If you’d rather minimize your housekeeping tip, you should avoid receiving the services by putting out the Do Not Disturb sign and then just tip the morning you check out.

ET: What are some of the biggest tipping mistakes and how does tipping differ between cultures?

The biggest tipping mistake people make, I think, is just not thinking about it beforehand. You should be prepared to tip by budgeting it into your travel costs and getting to know the customs of the place you are visiting. Tipping standards vary greatly between different cultures. In Italy and much of Europe, the 15% to 20% tip you’d leave your waiter at a U.S. restaurant would be considered extravagant; it’s more common to leave just the change from your bill, up to 5%. So you could save some money just by getting to know the culture you are visiting better.

ET: What can travelers do to minimize feeling like a slot machine constantly spitting out dollars when traveling?

If you’d rather skip the tip, you can avoid services for which they are expected, such as the housekeeping example I gave above. Or you can pack lightly and plan to carry your own bags, avoiding assistance from bellhops, skycaps and drivers. Or you can opt to vacation to places where tips are included, such as at some all-inclusive resorts or aboard certain cruise lines.

ET: Is there additional information you’d like to share with our readers about tipping in general?

I’d just like to emphasize how important it is to budget for tipping. It’s part of the cost of services, whether it’s included automatically or not. So you should be prepared for it and make sure you can afford it without busting your budget.
Stacy Rapacon, Kiplinger Channel Editor