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Kempinski Hotels
Founded in Germany over a hundred years ago, Kempinski Hotels has long reflected the finest traditions of European hospitality. Today, as ever, it represents the highest standards wherever they are found.
Located in many of the world's most well known cities and resorts, the Kempinski collection includes hotels in the grand manner, pace-setting modern establishments and older hotels of individual charm. All blend gracefully into their surroundings and offer luxurious accommodation, superb cuisine and unrivalled facilities - complemented by impeccable service.
For leisure and business guests alike, the name Kempinski has long been synonymous with style, nobility and efficiency. Put simply, they are the first choice for the discerning individual.
In addition to operating many of the finest city hotels in the world Kempinski is a name that can now be found in many exciting resort locations, each combining local flair and ambience with the international standards of service and luxury that Kempinski guests have come to expect.
More than one Century of Tradition, Style and Exclusivity
Kempinski Hotels is the oldest luxury hotel collection in the world, acquiring its first property in 1897. While the Group was founded in Germany, its portfolio is now spread throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia with over 45 individual and distinctive properties in locations such as Beijing, Berlin, Budapest, Istanbul, Dresden and St Moritz.
While maintaining a leading position in the business travel market, endorsed by renowned properties in many of the world's key cities, Kempinski Hotels has entered the global resort market in response to growing consumer demand. The Group currently comprises 15 dedicated resorts, each of which offer an exceptional range of leisure facilities, luxury spa and a breathtaking location:
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko, Bulgaria
Kempinski Hotel Bel Air Rügen, Germany
Kempinski Grand Hotel Heiligendamm, Germany
Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza Sicily, Italy
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Gozo-Malta
Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona Costa del Sol, Spain
Kempinski Hotel Bahía Real Fuerteventura, Spain
Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains St Moritz, Switzerland
Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Kempinski Hotel The Dome Belek, Turkey
Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum, Turkey
Kempinski Hotel Patagonia Park Plaza El Calafate, Argentina
Kempinski Hotel Colony Park Plaza Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Kempinski Hotel Julai'a Kuwait
Kempinski Hotel Ajman United Arab Emirates
The name 'concierge' is extremely important for Kempinski, and for our guests, as it is the Concierge who responds to our personal needs, providing any requested service at any time. While other hotel groups have downgraded this service, Kempinski Hotels has revitalized the philosophy, ensuring our Concierge Teams remain highly respected, by providing the ultimate in personal recognition; not only meeting but exceed the expectations of our guests.
To reflect their importance, a range of programmes have been developed in honour of the Concierge: Business Concierge, Kempinski's revolutionary corporate account recognition programme offers clients special discounts and privileges.
To enhance and support Business Concierge, Kempinski developed a dedicated central database called KARIS (Key Accounts Rates & Information System). KARIS tracks and monitors corporate account production and facilitates instant rate offers and contracts. KARIS is unique to Kempinski and enables all sales staff to instantly access rates and cross-sell.
Available throughout the year and on a seasonal basis (e.g. Summer and Winter Interludes), Leisure Concierge is a collection of promotions designed to meet the needs of discerning leisure travellers. Packages are available in all room categories, from standard rooms to suites and include a destination pack personally compiled by the hotel Concierge.
Private Concierge is Kempinski's first guest recognition programme, offering invited members enhanced personal recognition and a series of ground breaking benefits, many of which are available whether or not the member is resident in the hotel.
Meetings Concierge was launched in May 2001 and promises to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. The new programme provides flexible and comprehensive services for groups of 10 participants or more as well as an A La Carte facility which enables tailor-made events. Costs vary by hotel but Daily Delegate Rates start from 48 Euros per person while overnight accommodation starts from 86 Euros per person (a full list is available on request).
Over the years, Kempinski Hotels has developed into an innovative and highly respected collection of luxury properties, renowned for meeting and exceeding the demands of discerning international travellers. Each offers superior standards of service combined with a style that reflects the individuality of the hotel and it's location.
Senior Management
President & Chief Executive Officer: Reto Wittwer
Chief Operating Officer: Michel Novatin.
Chief Financial Officer: Heidi Niedermeier.
Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing: Christopher Hartley
History of the Company
Berthold Kempinski was born on October 10, 1843, in Raschkow in Posen (formerly a province of Prussia, but now known as Poland). He was one of two sons. In 1862, his brother, Moritz, opened a specialist wine shop in Breslau, also in Posen, called M. Kempinski & Co, which Berthold joined two years later. They worked hard at their enterprise together and ten years later, in 1872, Berthold and his wife, Helene, moved to Berlin and opened a wine shop under the same name, which they soon expanded into a restaurant with rooms.
Berthold was ambitious and, seeing his new venture was proving successful, wanted to expand even further. He searched for a suitable location and, in 1889, he opened a restaurant in the Leipziger Strasse with several dining rooms, the biggest restaurant in Berlin at this time.
As Berthold and Helena had no sons, their daughter Frida’s husband, Richard Unger, entered the small company. Richard proved to be astute and was largely responsible for the company’s continued success. In 1897, the Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft Hotel management company was established, marking the historical beginning of Kempinski Hotels as we know it today.
Noticing his son-in-law was capable of managing the company without him, Berthold retired and the company became Richard’s, even though the name was retained. Berthold Kempinski died on March 14, 1910, and was therefore spared from the events to follow.
Until the First World War Richard, who now owned the company, had managed to build an enormous real estate complex revolving around his gastronomical business. During the First World War, the business ran smoothly and after the war, Richard even managed to buy his own production-centres. Then, as the Kurfürstendamm street began to enjoy more popularity, Richard bought and managed a restaurant at Ku’damm 27 (the address where to this date, the Kempinski Hotel Bristol proudly stands). In 1928 M. Kempinski & Co. also took over the management of the ‘Haus Vaterland’ on Potsdamer Square and introduced a sensational new concept - entertainment gastronomy – the likes of which Berlin had not seen before.
After success, however, came sadness. In 1937, Richard Unger and his family emigrated to the United States of America to escape the war. Unfortunately, the Restaurant at Kurfürstendamm 27 was destroyed in a fire shortly before the war ended and all his other properties were destroyed by bombings.
However, the Kempinski name was destined to survive and, after the war ended, Dr. Friedrich W. Unger, Berthold’s grandson and Richard Unger’s son, returned to Germany. In 1951 he started to build a hotel directly on the site of the destroyed restaurant at Kurfürstendamm 27. One year later the Kempinski Hotel opened and became the most modern and popular Grand Hotel of its time. It was the first five star hotel in Berlin and became renowned for its innovations – for example, building an indoor swimming pool.
In 1953 Dr. Friedrich W. Unger sold his share of the business to the Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft, which already ran hotels called the Bristol and the Kaiserhof. The name Bristol was taken over and used by the hotel at Ku’damm 27, which is how the hotel which is known today as the Kempinski Hotel Bristol acquired its name. The Kempinski Hotel Bristol was the first property of the internationally active hotel group and in 1970 the Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft changed its name to Kempinski Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft. Since 1977 the company has been called Kempinski A.G. In August 2002, at its AGM in Munich, the majority shareholder (98.2%) of Kempinski AG, in accordance with new German company law governing squeeze-outs, passed a resolution to purchase the remaining 1.8% of the Company’s shares.
Over the years, the company acquired other famous landmarks all over Germany. In 1957 the Atlantic Hotel in Hamburg, also know as the ‘white castle’, situated on the outer Alster Lake and in 1970 50% of the stakes in the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich, which established a long-standing partnership with Lufthansa, who was also a shareholder of the property. In 1977 the Hotel Gravenbruch near Frankfurt joined the group.
In 1985 Lufthansa bought shares in Kempinski, enabling the traditional German Hotel group to operate hotels abroad. Kempinski Hotels S.A. was formed by Kempinski, Lufthansa and Rolaco S.A. and the Company’s head office was established in Geneva, Switzerland. Its mission was and still is to expand the group globally, while retaining distinctive and individual hotels with history or breathtaking modernity.
Kempinski Hotels is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel management company. While retaining one owned property – the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski (Munich) and two leases – Hotel Adlon Kempinski (Berlin) and Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains (St Moritz) – the Company’s expertise, and therefore portfolio, is concentrated in the management of hotels.
Today Kempinski Hotels prestigious portfolio comprises over 45 luxurious properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America. Well known and established names like the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin, the Çiragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in St. Moritz and the Kempinski Grand Hotel in Heiligendamm are part of the international growing group. Each hotel and resort offers superior standards of service combined with a distinctive style that reflects the individuality of the property and its location.
For reservations or availabilty enquiries, please call (toll free) our reservations centre at 00 800 426 313 55
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