Rezidor SAS Hospitality: German home market crowned with new-generation hotels
Controlled expansion with new Radisson SAS Hotels in Rostock, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt
Frankfurt/Brussels – Three new hotels have opened in Germany within a few weeks: Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, the first-class hotel group of the European Rezidor SAS Hospitality hotel company, is pulling out the stops. The new hotels in Rostock, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt are packed with surprises. In terms of architecture, design and comfort, they set new standards. “These are hotels of the new generation,” exclaims Thorsten Kirschke, Vice President Rezidor SAS Hospitality, convinced of the special role of these new establishments. It is no accident that the new hotel projects have been realized in Germany. “Germany is one of our home markets that we want to develop further. On 1 November, we shall be opening in Frankfurt what is now the 19th German Radisson SAS hotel,” says Kirschke. This marks a response to the standing of the German hotel market. “Germany is not only situated in the heart of Europe, but it is also of central significance for the continent.” The new Radisson SAS hotels are modern and exceptional – and not faceless mass-produced articles. This also reflects the growing needs of guests who attach growing importance to individuality.
The goal of the parent company Rezidor SAS Hospitality is to be represented the length and breadth of Germany, says Kurt Ritter, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rezidor SAS Hospitality. “To enhance brand awareness in Germany, an international hotel company in particular has to be present in the key markets. By this I mean the metropolitan centres and large towns, as well as complementary markets such as Rostock. Rezidor SAS Hospitality is thus increasingly occupying these major locations with the matching brands.”
The parent company Rezidor SAS Hospitality is one of the world’s fastest-growing hotel companies. Germany is a pivotal source market in Europe. After Scandinavia with 70 units and UK/Ireland with 41, Germany with its current 33 hotels – including the brands of Radisson SAS, Regent International Hotels, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites – is the third-largest region. Overall, the hotel company currently operates 263 hotels in operation or in the pipeline with over 47,000 rooms in 48 countries. The Radisson SAS brand encompasses 174 hotels in 44 countries in Europe, the Near East and Africa. Within five years, the number of the brand’s hotels has increased fivefold. The company’s expansion is to be continued. “By 2012, Rezidor SAS Hospitality aims to have at least 700 hotels,” Ritter adds.
“The crowning element in our current expansion is Radisson SAS Hotel Frankfurt,” explains Ritter, highlighting the hotel’s exceptional status. At the moment, it is probably the most remarkable new hotel in Germany. The hotel is enclosed by a gigantic disc in which the colours of the sky are reflected – an unforgettable sight. “This is one of our flagships worldwide,” says Ritter, referring to the hotel with its 428 rooms and suites. The interiors have been designed by two of the stars of the scene. Matteo Thun is responsible for the design of the rooms and the wellness area, while Adam D. Tihany from New York has developed the public areas and restaurants. The atmosphere throughout is open, vibrant and consistently transparent – a designer hotel of the superlatives. Radisson SAS mainly expects to attract international guests for whom Frankfurt is the hub of Germany if not of the whole of Europe.
Lifestyle, hypermodernity and effervescence – these are the terms that best describe the new Radisson SAS Media Harbour Hotel Düsseldorf. Opening in mid-September, it is situated in the ascendant trend-setting district of the capital of North-Rhine/Westphalia, Düsseldorf’s Media Harbour. Almost half of the local businesses belong to the media, information, communication and advertising sectors. Within just a few years, the district has evolved into an attractive, internationally noted architectural focus, “a microcosm in its own right”, as Ritter puts it. Matching this, Radisson SAS Media Harbour Hotel is the niche product in the niche market. The hotel with its 135 rooms and suites mainly serves as a meeting point for design-oriented and trend-conscious guests who want much more than just a bed for the night. The hotel has been designed by the architect Erich Grimbacher. Star designer Matteo Thun from the South Tyrol has styled the hotel’s interior and captured the Media Harbour’s pulsating flair. Stunning eye-catching elements are distributed throughout the building – for instance, the bar area with its floor-to-ceiling windows, the casual glamour of the lounge with its fireplace, or the walk-in wine cabinet made of glass.
Radisson SAS Hotel Rostock, right in the heart of the Hanseatic town, opened on 1 August. The four-star superior hotel offers a breath-taking view of Rostock’s busy urban port. The 251 rooms and suites are available in the fascinating styles of Ocean, Urban and Chilli. The hotel’s central space is the large, 400 square metres ballroom with a ceiling height of up to seven metres. Projection screens are integrated in the ceiling. Overall, the hotel has 900 square metres of events space. “We’re not only demonstrating our presence in eastern Germany, but we also regard the hotel as a gateway to Scandinavia. These countries are a crucial and highly promising market for Radisson SAS and for Rostock,” says Ritter.