TRAVELLERS from the GCC and Libya comprise a substantial part of the guests checking in to the Ritz-Carlton Berlin, says an official.
And to keep them coming, the hotel is offering special summer deals from 195 euros post the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
“Between 10 and 12 per cent of our guests are from the Middle East,” the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, Lothar Quarz told TTN.
“Since our opening in 2004, we have been happy to welcome guests from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Libya, in particular, but also guests from Oman and other countries in the region.”
The summer deal begins July 10 and runs until August 31. Rates are 195 euros for a regular room, or 245 euros for Club level rooms. Prices include breakfast for two.
Quarz, who was at ATM last month, is currently meeting with travel agents and tour operators across the region as part of a Ritz-Carlton roadshow. Part of the Emirates Holidays and Qatar Holidays brochures, the hotel also works closely in the region with such distributors as Gulliver’s Travel.
If the hotel, which is situated right on historic Potsdamer Platz and metres away from a section of the former Berlin Wall, was the first place this correspondent saw any Emiratis on a recent trip to Germany, that’s because the hotel pulls out all the stops. The service levels are unmatched, quite like what us spoilt Khaleejis are used to, but the hotel also offers a variety of services targetted at Arab guests, including food menus, fruit and date platters, four Arabic TV channels, inter-connecting rooms and suites for families, as well as providing prayer mats and copies of the Koran. “We have a staff exchange programme with staff from our Bahrain and Dubai properties, so guests at the hotel will often be met by associates that can anticipate their unique needs,” said Quarz.
The 302-room hotel, the address for film stars, government officials and well-heeled travellers alike, has been called a symbol of the continued economic and cultural resurgence of Germany’s capital city. An integral part of the Beisheim Center complex, the hotel building is reminiscent of the golden age of art deco skyscrapers, but is actually fusion of modern trends. The interiors, created by Cologne-based Peter Silling, were inspired by the works of Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) and feature antique features that contrast with dramatic geometric forms, as well as exceptional lighting concepts.
Of special interest to guests are the two very unique dining experiences offered. The first, Desbrosses, is an authentic French brasserie dating back back to 1875 and the small French village of Macôn. It was moved to Germany and recreated, piece by piece, in the hotel, complete with show kitchen and red enamel stoves. In a more formal setting, with ornate floor-to-ceiling columns and accents of imported Italian marble, the hotel’s Venetian-inspired gourmet restaurant, Vitrum, features menus inspired by European tradition.
Another feature of the hotel is the Club level, located on the 10th and 11th floor of the hotel. Accessible only with a coded room key, Club rooms offer special amenities and services (such as the Bath Butler), as well as added security and privacy, while the Club lounge provides the intimate feeling of a ‘hotel within a hotel’ with a fireplace, complimentary laptop, and three complimentary F&B presentations each day.
For guests wishing to keep up with their fitness routine while travelling, the hotel includes both a workout room and a relaxing spa, La Prairie.
The conference facilities at the Ritz-Carlton Berlin, comprise a 9,800sqft grand ballroom with ceilings 18 feet high. Meeting space, including a handsomely appointed boardroom, totals 19,370 square feet. A business centre assist travellers with any office needs from email to translation services.