4-star superior design hotel andel’s Berlin had its grand opening yesterday evening. After 19 months of intensive construction, the biggest hotel project yet of Austrian realty developers Warimpex and UBM was put into operation. The management will be with Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG.
Modest, but fierce success strategy
In its first classification, andel’s Hotel scored 633 points, only 17 short of becoming a 5-star superior hotel. A normal 5-star hotel would have been no problem, however. „For strategic reasons, we voluntarily waived one star. Thus, guests at andel’s will be staying at a first-class 4-star hotel. After all, 24h room service, sky bar and Egyptian bedding are by no means a standard“, said Martin Lachout, chief of project development for Vienna International AG. This strategy is founded on a recent issue. „It works better for the current market situation. It is not possible to sustain a 5-star standard with single rooms for 99 euros and doubles for another 20 euros surcharge“, said Martin Lachout in a reference to the present price fights in the Berlin hotel industry.
One week after the critical statements on new hotel projects by Burkhard Kieker, chief of Berlin Tourismus GmbH, Berlin is witnessing the next opening of a high-class hotel. More hotels are „not welcome“, said Kieker during the presentation of tourism figures on March 5. The average room rates in the 4 and 5-star segments are currently at about 150 euros – well below the European average.
„We are not taking the statements of BTM manager Kieker to heart. Everyone has the right to open a hotel“, said Rudolf Tucek, chief executive of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. „We will have to fight for our share of the market“, Martin Lachout (chief of project development) added.
50% occupancy rates – that is the first year’s target. In the second year, this figure is meant to be increased by around 10 points. For comparison: the andel’s Hotel in Munich is currently showing an occupancy rate of 68%. Last year, half of the beds in Berlin had been booked. The attractive pricing is supposed to bring about above-average results in both, the comfort and economic segment.
Centrally located in the east of Berlin
Andel’s Hotel is situated east of Berlin downtown, in the immediate vicinity of the concerts and events venue Velodrom and the swimming and diving pool in Europasportpark, which, being the most modern indoor pool in the city, serves as a venue for various national and international competitions. The hotel’s central location is further guaranteed by two train stations directly in front of the building, providing swift and convenient connection to downtown Berlin, Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the international airports of Tegel and Schönefeld and to the fair grounds. Its favorable location makes the hotel a preferred choice for both, tourists and business travelers.
The construction
The conference area, spanning 3,800 sqm, posed a particular challenge for the architects and builders in the intensive construction phase. In substantial modifications to the existing shell form of the building, freight elevators were installed, making it possible, for the first time, for travel buses and fair exhibits of up to 28 tonnes to be moved to the basement. The 4-star superior design hotel in Landsberger Allee was constructed in a joint effort of London star interior designers Jestico + Whiles, who had been responsible for the interior design of the andel’s hotels in Prague and Krakow, and architect’s office Seeger Müller. The total investment volume amounted to 100 million euros. For 80 million euros, the andel’s hotel group has constructed its largest hotel yet. „The difference of 20 million is made up of infrastructure and organization costs, as well as land price“, said Dr. Franz Jurkowitsch, chairman of the supervisory board at Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. With a total of 557 rooms on ten floors, a flexibly configurable meeting area of 3,800 sqm, a 570 sqm ballroom and a sky bar in the 14th floor of the 60 m tower – with a panoramic view atop the roofs of Berlin – andel’s Hotel is among the most attractive meetings and events locations in Berlin. In addition, hotel guests have access to a 550 sqm spa, and an upscale à-la-carte restaurant offers excellent dining.
