How was 2009 for the German tourism industry, what were the arrival numbers and how did this compare to previous years?
Germany, as a holiday destination, has sustained its position very well in the global market over the last year and a half and has gained market share. In October 2009 we turned the corner and, since then, an improvement has been seen. In the last year, the total number of overnight stays in Germany reached 368.7 million, 2009 was a challenge for the tourism industry, Germany’s strength, its diversity in the source markets but, moreover, in the products and services we can offer to our visitors helped in this situation.

What is the number of Middle East visitors and do you have a breakdown of where these come from?
In 2009 770,980 overnight stays were recorded for Gulf nationals from the following countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Statistics published by the German Federal Statistics Office for the GCC indicate that the number of arrivals by GCC nationals in Germany during 2009 reached 258,883, indicating a 7.07 per cent increase compared to 2008. The majority of GCC tourists came from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait.

Which areas are most popular with Middle Eastern tourists and is this remaining constant or changing?
Over the past years we have seen few changes and developments in preferences of GCC tourists coming to Germany but recent records show GCC travellers are increasingly starting to explore various areas of the country. Again, the diversity of Germany as a travel destination makes it the second most visited country out of the Gulf in Europe.

With value and price being key factors for today’s tourists has there been a need to develop or change your product offering?
In comparison to other countries, Germany has already shown that it is very affordable. For example, Germany has an excellent price ratio in hotel accommodation. Rates for overnight stays in German cities, for example are comparatively low, compared to other large European cities. Also, Germany’s major cities offer Arab guests information material in Arabic. Many hotels have hired Arabic-speaking staff and offer halal food, designated prayer rooms and various TV channels in Arabic.

How was the first quarter of 2010 and what are your expectations for the rest of the year?
The entire Gulf region is an important growing market, both as an incoming and outgoing tourist destination. Germany remains a very popular destination for GCC travellers which has been underlined by 132.998 overnight stays by GCC nationals in Germany from January to March 2010, a 9.3 per cent increase on the same period in 2009.

What is Germany’s particular tourism focus for 2010?
German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is promoting Germany worldwide as a creative and inspiring travel destination. Germany is still setting trends today, producing innovative ideas and modern art. It is precisely this wealth of creativity that we are promoting with our theme for 2010. This year, Germany is celebrating the Ruhr as the European Capital of Culture under the official name of ‘RUHR.2010, Essen for the Ruhr’. Never before has the title been held by an entire region. Hundreds of highlights and events in captivating locations will reveal a surprising new side to the region. In 2011, GNTB will promote Germany as a health and fitness destination.

How is this being promoted and are there any particular campaigns aimed at the Middle East?
Being ranked among the top 20 source markets the Gulf region is important for the German tourism industry and in response to this dynamic growth Germany is continuing its efforts to attract more GCC visitors. To promote everything Germany has to offer for travellers from the Gulf, regional promotional tours, training and study tours are offered for the trade and media in the GCC.

What are your offerings for local tour operators and agents?
The above mentioned marketing and sales tools are purely designed to support local tour operators and agents. For instance, the promotional tour ‘Dallal fi Almania’ (‘Feel Good in Germany’) held earlier in the year received good participation from GCC travel professionals and journalists. A five-stop road show took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi with 16 different partners and suppliers from the German tourism industry who presented their services and products to the travel trade and a large number of media representatives. Furthermore, GNTO supports the trade in all six markets through provision of information and various training sessions and educational trips to Germany.

The first facility of its kind in Lufthansa’s worldwide network. The lounge, which opened just over a year ago, is geared to the needs of passengers arriving on long-haul Lufthansa flights and can be used by first and business-class passengers as well as by status customers.

With a total floor area of 1,200 sq m, on two levels, the Welcome Lounge provides all the amenities guests need in order to freshen up after an intercontinental flight and prepare for the day ahead.

Located on the upper level is a spacious comfort area with lounging armchairs and a quiet zone for relaxing plus a bistro area where guests can fortify themselves with various snacks or help themselves to the breakfast buffet with hot and cold dishes.

Wireless internet access is available throughout, while in the dedicated work area workstations and free internet terminals are provided. At reception there is a large cloakroom where guests can leave their baggage during their stay.

During the planning phase, great emphasis was placed on the modern shower area on the lower level which encompasses 28 high-end showers in an elegant design that invite guests to relax and refresh themselves after their flight. A concierge is on hand to allocate the shower facilities and also co-ordinate customer wishes such as the ironing service for HON Circle members, first class guests and senators.

“The Welcome Lounge provides ideal conditions for our premium passengers to start the day feeling relaxed, regenerated and refreshed after a long night flight. In designing the facilities, we paid close heed to the wishes of our frequent flyers and top customers,” explained Dr Karl-Rudolf Rupprecht, Lufthansa’s senior vice president hub management Frankfurt. 

The local clinics and doctors have an excellent international reputation and are frequented by patients from around the globe, many of them from Russia and the UAE.

Whether in Düsseldorf to receive a check-up, have surgery or undergo therapy that may last for weeks, visitors will find everything they are looking for at the Breidenbacher Hof, a Capella Hotel.

The luxury hotel, located directly on the famous Königsallee, offers two in-house clinics. The newly opened private hospital Pearl of Aesthetic, offering aesthetic and plastic surgery, and the well-established private practice Preventicum which is a centre for cardiovascular medical science and preventive medicine.

A unique advantage for guests of the Breidenbacher Hof is the direct walkway connecting the hotel to the clinics offering guests extreme privacy.

Grand Suite - Living Room

“Absolute discretion and privacy are our prerogative”, said general manager Cyrus Heydarian. “Our advantage is that we can offer everything under one roof and patients can go from the hotel directly to the clinics and do not have to walk outside after surgery or in bandages. We also offer an all-round service package to make every guest as comfortable as possible, even if the reason for the stay is a medical one.”

Not only the patients themselves enjoy excellent service, the accompanying family members do as well. The central location of the Breidenbacher Hof on the Königsallee makes the hotel an ideal starting point for shopping and sightseeing.

The hotel, which is running a stay seven pay six promotion until September 12, will offer cold towels and sparkling date juice on arrival with Arabic-speaking front-desk staff and an Arabic chef in the kitchen.

At night guests can enjoy bakhlava and Arabic chocolate and a date menu featuring around 30 different types of dates such as Mactoumi, Dekkini and Khidri.

A selection or Arabic sweets and traditionally-made tea and coffee will also be available along with a choice of 30 Arabic newspapers and magazines and Arabic television.

Those who are fasting will be offered a selection of fresh dates at sunset and for Iftar Michelin-starred chef Tobias Jochim has created a special Ramadan menu with Arabic and Lebanese specialties which are available throughout the hotel including through room service and at the rooftop terrace.

And the rooftop terrace at the newly-created outside café is the ideal place to enjoy non-alcoholic cocktails and a large sheesha selection, including apple, melon and mint, with a 24-hour sheesha butler on call.

All guest rooms include signage pointing the direction to Makkah and for Friday prayers the hotel offers a transfer, at a nominal cost, to the mosque at prayer times. Prayer mats are also available.

What facilities do you offer your guests?
We have 570 rooms and banquet facilities for up to 1,000 people which can be split into smaller rooms – 28 in total. We have three restaurants – one fine dining, one traditional, located outside, and one all-day dinning. All the restaurants have terraces and a garden. We also have a wellness and fitness area with a  swimming pool.

You have different towers, what are the differences?
We have three buildings in one. The original building is 40 years old and has 320 rooms, however it was totally renovated in 2003 including pipes and wiring, so in fact it is like new.

The first annexe is the executive tower and in 2003 the other annexe, of 250 rooms, was added. Therefore, we have different types of rooms – basic, executive and deluxe. The executive annexe has 100 rooms with an executive lounge. These rooms are larger and have a contemporary design.

Kupper...flexible

What is the difference between running an airport hotel compared to a city or resort hotel?
Well, in an airport hotel you have to be more flexible. City hotels have more constant business in terms of advance bookings. In an airport hotel, it is very fast with a very quick turnover. You have to be aware in the morning you can have 200 rooms suddenly empty and by the afternoon fully booked again.

I think we here in Frankfurt have an excellent location for an airport hotel. We have forest nearby and we are close to the city. This is not a typical airport location. Airport hotels are usually farther out, one hour or more, and not in such nice surroundings such as our gardens etc.

Do you get many visitors from the Middle East region?
Yes, of course, with our location near to the airport but also close to the downtown area. We have a number of guests who choose to stay with us even if their meetings are downtown as they are near town and can get quickly to the airport. Normal airport hotels are far out and mostly in industrial areas. However some Middle Eastern visitors do like to stay in town closer to the shopping.

How did you fare in 2009 and how does the first quarter of 2010 look?
I was a bit worried when we had a tough 2009 as everyone did, so we were prepared that the beginning of 2010 would be tough too, but just the opposite has happened. We have been really very happy with the first quarter and it seems set to continue. So I guess people have decided that it is time to do business again and also conference and exhibitions are up. Imex, which is going on now, is one of the smaller exhibitions but, having said, that we are fully booked because of it.

What are your main source markets and are you looking at new ones?
Our main markets are Germany, Europe, the US, the Far East and then the Middle East.

China , Russia and India are the new markets we are looking at as emerging sources. You can never say there is enough, you have to continue to look for new business.

Last year arrivals increased by 22 per cent in comparison to 2008.

Gulf visitors particularly enjoy the great shopping opportunities, the historical architecture and the inviting parks and gardens of the city.

And not only do plenty of luxury hotels employ Arabic-speaking staff but many also offer special menus and reserve entire floors for their regular visitors from the Gulf region.

The safe and family-friendly atmosphere is one important reason to return regularly during the summer. Others include relaxing visits to the English Garden and the city’s plentiful welcoming street cafés  which  are full of other Gulf tourists.

Families travelling with children are sure to visit places such as Westpark, with its several playgrounds, and the well-known Botanical Garden and in Bavaria Filmstadt, Germany’s Film City, visitors can take a look behind the scenes of the film business.

With the Alps just a stone’s throw away, there are many possibilities for outdoor sports, such as paragliding, hiking, mountain climbing or mountain biking during the summer months.

And Neuschwanstein Castle, also near Munich, towers 200 meters above the river valley. The fairytale castle of King Ludwig II draws more than a million visitors a year.