The Hotel Berlin, Berlin is one of the sector's largest buildings in Germany, with over 700 rooms and suites, several restaurants as well as an impressive event center. The hotel, whose rich tradition dates back to its inception on the Lützowplatz in 1958, has developed into a first-class business hotel over the past four years and its now in the premier league of conference hotels in Germany.
The building steeped in history has been owned by the Swedish Pandox Group since June 2006, a group well-known for its long-term commitment and solid interest in building up strong bands in the hotel business. The takeover entailed greater challenges for both meeting the highest individual requirements, while having to organize the most diverse events perfectly - from small meetings to major conferences.
In the past four years, 26 million euros have been invested in converting the building. The lobby has been given a brand new appearance, while the majority of the rooms and suites have been completely redesigned and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. An in-room entertainment system with HDTV and high-speed internet is standard in every room. Depending on the occasion and requirements, the interior of the rooms is tailored to businesspeople, families, groups, VIPs and even heads of state.
The Hotel Berlin, Berlin is the only building in the city to have established an exclusive Airline Crew Lounge. The comfortably laid out lounge, which has been designed specially for airline crews, is the perfect place for stewards and pilots to sit back and relax or, for example, surf the internet for free.
The conversion of the former Kurfürst Suite to the 120 m² Business Suite Berlin, Berlin will add an attractive conclusion within the building's redevelopment this spring.
Special attention has been paid to developing the event area in the Hotel Berlin, Berlin, this having been extended from 1300 m² to 2000 m². At the same time, the building where meetings, conferences and events play an important role, has taken an innovative course. In fact, prior to the conversion work, the hotel got together with customers and users, with the aim of developing the conference rooms in line with customer expectations while orientating the construction and furnishings to the requirements of the market.
"As a business hotel in the center of the capital, we not only offer guests all comfort and amenities for business and overnight stays, but also creative stimulation for the mind and soul", is how Managing Director Cornelia Kausch describes the new philosophy.
At present, 22 different rooms are available for meetings and conferences - the smallest 20 m², the largest 540 m² in size. The layout is flexible and the rooms can be combined or divided to suit requirements. In this way, it is possible to have a banquet followed within the shortest time by a party, an exhibition or a conference. A professional events team coordinates all the room requirements - irrespective of whether this involves a handful of decision makers in a discrete conference hall or more than 1000 guests at a presentation.
The hotel management has developed a real business culture with its team. "Our staff know Berlin's "in" places, they know where it's all happening and can also answer questions above and beyond the normal tourist level", states Cornelia Kausch. Regular training sessions ensure the staff are familiar with the hotel's philosophy. Every form of commitment pays off here: Because as an employee in the enterprise, you are also involved in the financial success of the Hotel Berlin, Berlin.
The number of staff has risen by 23 since 2006 and now totals 210.
Yet there is no end to the growth in sight: From autumn onwards, the new flagship on the Lützowplatz intends to increase the number of its trainees from 47 to 60 while offering two new training vocations as well - a specialist in the hotel and restaurant industry and an IT specialist for system integration.
The building steeped in history has been owned by the Swedish Pandox Group since June 2006, a group well-known for its long-term commitment and solid interest in building up strong bands in the hotel business. The takeover entailed greater challenges for both meeting the highest individual requirements, while having to organize the most diverse events perfectly - from small meetings to major conferences.
In the past four years, 26 million euros have been invested in converting the building. The lobby has been given a brand new appearance, while the majority of the rooms and suites have been completely redesigned and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. An in-room entertainment system with HDTV and high-speed internet is standard in every room. Depending on the occasion and requirements, the interior of the rooms is tailored to businesspeople, families, groups, VIPs and even heads of state.
The Hotel Berlin, Berlin is the only building in the city to have established an exclusive Airline Crew Lounge. The comfortably laid out lounge, which has been designed specially for airline crews, is the perfect place for stewards and pilots to sit back and relax or, for example, surf the internet for free.
The conversion of the former Kurfürst Suite to the 120 m² Business Suite Berlin, Berlin will add an attractive conclusion within the building's redevelopment this spring.
Special attention has been paid to developing the event area in the Hotel Berlin, Berlin, this having been extended from 1300 m² to 2000 m². At the same time, the building where meetings, conferences and events play an important role, has taken an innovative course. In fact, prior to the conversion work, the hotel got together with customers and users, with the aim of developing the conference rooms in line with customer expectations while orientating the construction and furnishings to the requirements of the market.
"As a business hotel in the center of the capital, we not only offer guests all comfort and amenities for business and overnight stays, but also creative stimulation for the mind and soul", is how Managing Director Cornelia Kausch describes the new philosophy.
At present, 22 different rooms are available for meetings and conferences - the smallest 20 m², the largest 540 m² in size. The layout is flexible and the rooms can be combined or divided to suit requirements. In this way, it is possible to have a banquet followed within the shortest time by a party, an exhibition or a conference. A professional events team coordinates all the room requirements - irrespective of whether this involves a handful of decision makers in a discrete conference hall or more than 1000 guests at a presentation.
The hotel management has developed a real business culture with its team. "Our staff know Berlin's "in" places, they know where it's all happening and can also answer questions above and beyond the normal tourist level", states Cornelia Kausch. Regular training sessions ensure the staff are familiar with the hotel's philosophy. Every form of commitment pays off here: Because as an employee in the enterprise, you are also involved in the financial success of the Hotel Berlin, Berlin.
The number of staff has risen by 23 since 2006 and now totals 210.
Yet there is no end to the growth in sight: From autumn onwards, the new flagship on the Lützowplatz intends to increase the number of its trainees from 47 to 60 while offering two new training vocations as well - a specialist in the hotel and restaurant industry and an IT specialist for system integration.
