Frankfurt – European Traveler

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

Wacker’s at Kornmarkt 9

A coffee shop with history and flavor

By Don Heimburger
Photos by the author or as noted

Wacker’s Kaffee is a third generation family-owned and run coffee shop in Frankfurt, Germany, which I heard about while on a city tour bus.

As the bus zipped past the small shop at Kornmart 9, I had just enough time to see its facade and notice all the customers lined up for coffee. The tour guide recommended the little establishment, which has been in business since 1914, or nearly 100 years.

It’s taken a while for me to actually “like” a good cup of strong German coffee, but now when I return to the U.S., I miss its rich flavor. So a taste-testing trip to this shop was in order, especially since I knew how to find it, and the small shop looked interesting.

When time allowed, it was back to the shop, and trying to squeeze in the shop among the other customers was a challenge. Customers were lined up both for coffee to drink right there—Germany hasn’t become tuned in yet to the term “to go”—and to buy coffee beans in bags.

FILLED WITH CUSTOMERS
The several tables outside were filled with customers in December savoring their hot cups of Wacker’s kaffee, while others at the inside counter were purchasing bags of coffee beans and other Wacker’s products (they sell coffee mugs and other coffee-related items).

To keep customers a bit warmer outside, the seats are covered in the burlap bags from the coffee beans, a nice touch.

In the rear of the shop, customers were crowded around several tables, enjoying their coffee and kuchen, which is also served.

The business began when Luise Wacker opened a coffee shop at the location in 1914. Previous to this, a store was located here where the famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe purchased his milk supplies.

Comments about the store on Trip Advisor include these two:

“Definitely the best coffee shop in Frankfurt. There are generally two lines, both often stretching out the door; the one on the left is for those who want to order drinks, while the one on the right is for those who want to buy coffee beans. The shop is also very small with limited seating, so when the weather is nice (or even just tolerable), you will see customers spread out both in front of the shop, and sitting on the stone wall across the street, enjoying their coffee and pastries.

“What non-German speakers may find intimidating is that, when the shop is quite busy, the cashier will shout out to customers further back in the line, asking them for their order. Luckily, the words for cappuccino, espresso and latte are generally the same in both English and German, so you should feel comfortable simply shouting your order back to her. “

Another customer said: “Great coffee. The smell is worth it alone.”

Wacker’s offers a long list of ready to drink coffees, and beans, so you’ll need a moment to figure out what you want. Coffee beans, available in bags of 500 grams each, include beans from Mexico, Java, India, Nicaragua, Galapagos, Cuba and Brazil, and expresso beans come from Jamaica, Guatemala, Costa Rica and other locations. I counted 40 bean types available from the shop.

Once your order is ready, you’ll be treated to some really good coffee, German-style!

For more information, go to www.wackers-kaffee.de.

InterContinental Hotel at Frankfurt City Center

By Don Heimburger
Photos by the author

I haven’t been to perhaps more than six InterContinental hotels in my lifetime, but I have to admit that each one more than exceeded my expectations.

Many are oases in the middle of busy cities, with street noise and lots of hustle and bustle; yet, entering the lobby of the Frankfurt (Germany) hotel, I found myself already starting to relax.

The Frankfurt City Center hotel on Wilhelm-Leuschner Strasse, managed by Thomas Hilberath, who has a knack for pleasing his upscale guests, attracts a clientele with above average income. This includes many businessmen, but also leisure travelers, who come to Frankfurt to take in the sites. And when the annual Christmas Market begins in Advent, it’s just a 15 minute walk from the hotel to the Roemer Platz, where this popular event is held.

BUSY LOBBY
The lobby exudes a warm atmosphere and is a very busy place at 10 a.m., with professionals having discussions in the hotel’s lobby lounges. At the same time, bags await transfer to waiting cabs, and the hotel staff keeps busy helping guests find directions, check out and check in.

This 21-story hotel towers above the Main River and affords spectacular views of the city center as well as the Main. One of my night shots of the river from the top floor could probably win a prize.

The 770 rooms available are classed as standard, deluxe and suites, and a different range of services and room footage come with each type of room.

From my corner room I got a sweeping view of the skyscrapers from one set of windows and what was going on near the river on the other side of the room out the other windows.

Standard rooms of 280 square feet feature warm room colors and are equipped with high-speed internet connections. Bathrooms feature a black and cream and gold design. Bathrobes, hair dryers, in-room safe, coffee maker/tea-maker, mini-bar and iron/ironing board are featured in all standard rooms, as is a work desk, television with cable and satellite channels.

Deluxe rooms are on the 19th and 20th floors of the River Wing (the hotel has two wings, one across the street from the other), and measure about 540 square feet. There is turn-down service at night, complimentary morning newspaper and a separate check-in area at the front desk for these guests. Deluxe rooms also feature a separate sitting area, and the bathrooms are roomier and even more upscale with more features. A valet service is also available in Deluxe rooms.

The Panorama Suites feature an elegant living room, a more luxurious bedroom, a whirlpool and even a complimentary meeting room.

24-HOUR FITNESS ROOM
Strolling around the hotel, you’ll find a 24-hour health-fitness center on the ground floor, which is complimentary; massages, manicures and facials can be arranged. The business center offers high speed internet and wireless LAN in public areas such as the hotel lobby.

On the 21st floor is the Club InterContinental Lounge for guests of this floor. The bar on the first floor, which takes its name from the German stock market index, DAX, and Frankfurt’s skyscraper-inspired nickname, DAXx Mainhattan’s Bar, is located just off the lobby and stays open until 1 a.m.

Two restaurants offer guests modern cuisine as well as Italian specialties. Signatures Veranda Restaurant features a fusion of haute cuisine from across Europe, with a menu to suit every palate featuring varying themes. Regional dishes, steak, or fish are available and served in the private dining room, summer terrace or veranda, depending on the weather. The dining room is also where breakfast is served.

Breakfast is a hearty meal, with juice, eggs, scrambled or to order, sausages, bacon, potatoes, toast, tomatoes, beans, breads, jams and jellies, cold cuts, cereals, coffee and even champagne, plus plenty more for those who need to carb up for a long day. The wait staff is pleasant and courteous.

Leons Italian Restaurant, inside the hotel, is where you can enjoy a long, leisurely meal in the ambiance of a 1920s-style Italian cafe. Popular classics include pasta, pizza and meat and fish dishes, and a cold glass of beer or wine tops off the meal. The large bar area and live piano music lure young professionals, who often stop by for drinks after work.

Trip Advisor customer comments about the hotel include these two: “Excellent, quick check-in. Room may have been small, but it was clean and comfortable, along with nice large towels. Breakfast was very good with great coffee. Very close to the train station and a beautiful walk along the river to the Christmas market. “

A second comment was, “The staff (was) quick to complete the check-in formalities. The travel desk is also very informative. Breakfast is good and location is very close to main station.”

I’d stay at the InterContinental again. Good location next to the busy train station and to the main part of busy “Mainhattan,” good food and service, and a competitive price add up to what I’d call a hotel with staying power.

For more information, go to www.frankfurt.intercontinental.com or www.intercontinental.com.

Le Meridien Parkhotel

Prime location in the center of Frankfurt’s bustling downtown

By Don Heimburger
Photos by the author

This German 297-room hotel is more than 100 years old, having been built in 1905 as a palace with 77 rooms and suites, designed in the Art Nouveau style.

There are also 220 guest rooms in the newer wing which are highlighted by clean lines and modern design. At night, the hotel’s welcoming exterior sign, in lights and in a script style of writing, gives the hotel’s entrance a unique flair.

Located within easy walking distance of the main Frankfurt train station, the hotel is convenient for leisure as well as business travelers, as the main Frankfurt Trade Fair Center is only five minutes away. The museum district is also close by.

NEAR IDYLLIC PARK AREA
The hotel is located on the quiet and idyllic Wiesenhuttenplatz, and in the summer months you can sit underneath the towering chestnut trees in the beer garden La Jardin and sip your favorite beverage.

Marble lobby floors, dark wood paneling accents and plenty of room to maneuver luggage give the hotel’s entrance floor a graciousness and style. A cozy bar, the Morocco-style Casablanca with high-backed leather chairs, at one end of the lobby, beckons thirsty guests to come in for some relaxation. The sign over the bar’s door from the lobby side is a light-projected image. Just down the street is a lively bar/restaurant area should you want to mingle with the street crowd. The reception desk or concierge can direct you.

As at many of the other hotels in the vicinity, there is a choice of room types, with varying degrees of comfort, space and amenities. There are 25 Classic rooms located in the historical palace portion of the hotel, with high ceilings and real Italian marble in the bathrooms. The average room size here is about 130 square feet.

Superior rooms, and there are 177 of them, are in the modern business wing of the hotel and offer 270 square feet of space. Modern in design, the rooms feature a television with a LCD and plasma screens (and a handy mirror on the other side of the screen), a safe and a complimentary bottle of mineral water.

Executive rooms— with about 322 square feet of space—are in the historical palace portion of the building and provide decor in the Art Nouveau style but with modern amenities. The Deluxe rooms, with 355 square feet of space, offer more room for a comfortable stay. There are also Junior Suites, with about 485 square feet of space— available with separate living and sleeping areas. These are in the Art Nouveau style, and offer classical elegance with very high ceilings, inviting color tones and bathrooms featuring Italian marble. The hotel also says you receive the “VIP” treatment when you book a room of this category.

INVITING BREAKFAST
Buffet-style breakfasts consist of smoked salmon, cold cuts and cheese, eggs to order, soft boiled eggs, dried cereals, yogurt, juices and coffee, fresh cut fruits, apples, oranges, bananas, jams and jellies, a variety of breads and pastries, plus more.

The spacious, modern Restaurant La Parc off the lobby, with Sven Frambach as chef, offers a mix of both traditional classics and newer dishes. Using fresh ingredients, seasonal accents and Frambach’s expertise, each dish is “a little piece of art.” The menu is a la carte, with monthly specials, and culinary events are planned throughout the year. As an example, pumpkin was recently featured through the first week of November, then goose was the specialty of the house.

The restaurant is open between 6:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. There is also a business lunch buffet that alternates specialties from time to time. Every Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. there’s a special Laurent’s dinner buffet, inspired by French cuisine and accompanied by piano music. The price also includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne, a carafe of the red or white house wine and mineral water.

The White Stone Lounge wellness center in the hotel offers saunas, herbal steam rooms, massages, cosmetic treatments, manicures and pedicures and exotic applications such as lotus petal facials and body peelings. A gym is also open daily between 5 a.m. and midnight.

Having come to the hotel from the main train station, and it was raining heavily, I was glad to see the Le Meridien such a short walk from the station. The reception clerk offered a friendly greeting, and quickly I was off to my room.

Convenient location, personable employees and some historic atmosphere make for a good mix at the Le Meridien.

For more information, go to www.lemeridienparkhotelfrankfurt.com or www.lemeridien.com.