Hyatt Hotels announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement with Badriah Investments B.V. to develop a Hyatt-branded hotel within a 16th century castle in Baden-Baden, located in southwestern Germany.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand Hyatt’s brand presence in Germany, while at the same time, restoring a local icon for the community to once again enjoy,†said Peter Norman, senior vice president, real estate and development for Hyatt in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “This hotel will add to our growing portfolio in Germany, bringing the authentic hospitality for which Hyatt is known to a beautiful region visited by high numbers of business and leisure travelers throughout the year.â€
Neues Schloss Baden-Baden, a Hyatt Hotel will be the seventh Hyatt-branded hotel in Germany, joining Grand Hyatt Berlin, Park Hyatt Hamburg, Hyatt Regency Cologne, Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf, Hyatt Regency Mainz, and Andaz Munich, which is currently under development and is expected to open in 2017.
“We are very optimistic about the strength of our future relationship with Hyatt,†said Fawzia Mubarak Al Hassawi, owner of Badriah Investments B.V. “We are immensely proud to work with Hyatt on this project to restore this beautiful castle. My father, the late Mubarak Abdulaziz Al Hassawi, was the visionary behind this project, and he wanted to revive this unique landmark to allow people to share in both the history of Neues Schloss and its vibrant future as a luxury hotel. We have no doubt Neues Schloss Baden-Baden will be warmly received by both the local residents and visitors to Baden-Baden.â€
Built in the 16th century, the castle was the former residence of Baden’s margraves, military commanders that protected the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, and later, the summer residence of Grand Dukes of Baden. The hotel will take its name from “Neues Schloss,†or “New Castle.â€
Scheduled to open in 2018, Neues Schloss Baden-Baden, a Hyatt Hotel will undergo a transformation to restore the historic aspects of the castle, which will include 146 guestrooms, a bar and restaurant, a fitness center and meeting space. In addition to the historic castle, a modern extension will be added, which will offer guestrooms and private apartments, as well as a spa, pool and sauna area with views of Baden-Baden and the Black Forest. The hotel will offer more than 590,000 square feet (55,000 square meters) of historic grounds and parkland.
Situated in the northern foothills of the Black Forest, close to the borders of France and Switzerland, Baden-Baden is know for its ancient Roman baths and thermal spas. The spa town is host to Germany’s most famous horse race meeting, the Kurpark-Meeting, and is home to one of Germany’s oldest and most beautiful casinos. Baden-Baden is also a major year-round meetings and incentives and leisure destination.
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Baden-Baden Tourist Information website’s page on Neues Schloss statesâ€
Neues Schloss
Majestically situated on the Florentinerberg, a sun blessed hill overlooking Baden-Baden, is the Neues Schloss or New Castle – the former residence of the Margraves of Baden. Unfortunately, with the building being in private hands, it is not possible to visit either the castle or its gardens. It is, however, well worth wandering up to the terrace, in front of the castle, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Baden-Baden.
By the way, did you know that the entire contents of the castle were sold by Sotheby’s in a spectacular auction in 1995?
In October 2003, the Neues Schloss was sold to the Kuwaiti Al Hassawi Group. It is believed that this listed building is to be renovated into a luxury hotel.
Now we know the castle will be open to the public in a few years as the Neues Schloss becomes part of Hyatt Hotels with a scheduled opening for 2018. This will make a road trip through Germany a pleasure for Hyatt Gold Passport members who can stay at Andaz Munich (opening in 2017), drive 200 miles to Baden-Baden for a stay in an historic castle, then up to Mainz, Cologne and Dusseldorf on the Rhine River and Hamburg and over to Berlin in a somewhat circular route of Germany.
I have logged a few thousand miles on Germany’s autobahns in the 1970s, but as a teenager, I was never the driver. I think I just talked myself into taking a Germany road trip in a few years.
Source: Hyatt Hotels Press Release
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Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.
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