A reminiscence of famous Düsseldorfers

Düsseldorf is known for good hotels. One of the best houses in Europe can be found there with the Breidenbacher Hof, which is geared towards individual guests. The hotel is a member of the best German hotel association, the “Selection of German Luxury Hotels”. Now there is something new, also on Königsallee, at number 59.

The Hotel Kö59 ran under the flag of Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts for many years and has always been owned by Dorint. Now the owner Dirk Iserlohe has decided to bring the house back into one of his hotel management companies in order to make it a homage hotel. To the Homage Hotel Kö59.

The Hommage Hotels form an exciting hotel company that is new to the market and is growing rapidly. It will occupy an interesting niche in the luxury segment. In addition to the Kö59, there are five houses on Sylt, in Wiesbaden, Bremen, Baden-Baden and Kitzbühel. All of these five-star hotels live the credo of the Hommage Hotels: “Where moments make memories”. With its excellent services, each hotel is a tribute to its location.

Jörg T. Böckeler, CEO of the Hommage Luxury Hotels Collection and Dorint Hotels & Resorts, successfully managed the Düsseldorf hotel himself as director from 2006 to 2010 and is now returning to the scene as CEO of all Hommage Hotels.

The hotel is both an efficient conference hotel and one of the top addresses for individual guests from all over the world, a successful mix of art, culture and cuisine, completely renovated in recent years and technically up to date.

The interior is lovingly and stylishly furnished and anything but a cold conference hotel. That’s how I feel and see that the best materials and finest woods are used here and regional art has been integrated. I like the reminiscence of Düsseldorf. Including the oversized wall in the lobby, on which are the names of those who lived and worked in Düsseldorf and made it world famous, such as Otto Dix and Joseph Beuys.

I am perceived and addressed as a person. I noticed that as soon as I checked in. I am not greeted with the nonsensical question “Did you have a safe journey?” but with “Welcome, Mr. Rath”. Well done. As a “number” one is listed at best in prison or in mediocre hotels.

Technically well-equipped conference venue

We held our two-day “101 Future Hospitality Days” event at Kö59. This is a meeting of 150 established, leading hoteliers with 250 young talents and up-and-coming executives from German-speaking countries. The class reunion of the most relevant hoteliers in Germany. There is time and space to discuss topics such as health, digitization and sustainability and to show new ways. As part of this event, we were able to present the ambitious hotelier Eike Gethmann from the Fährhaus Koblenz with the award as 101 Next Generation Hotelier of the Year for his “innovative and courageous work”.

A colleague event is a challenge for every hotelier. Imagine if 400 hoteliers are in one house and eat, drink, sleep and celebrate for two days. Everyone looks closely. The Hommage Hotel Kö59, under the direction of General Manager Daniela Fette, who is still relatively new in this house, mastered this challenge with flying colors. What’s more, she exceeded the expectations of hotel colleagues. The feedback is excellent.

This house is undoubtedly one of the best conference and banquet hotels, at least in Germany. The combination of high professionalism and efficiency, paired with the attentiveness and cordiality of the general manager who is always present and in a good mood, makes this house something special. Daniela Fette transforms it into a living room, so to speak. She is there when she is needed. She has an eye on the detail and sees the big picture.

After a day of thinking and discussing, I’m looking for relaxation and exercise for the body and I find a suitable place: the premium fitness studio and spa “Holmes Place”. The only drawback is that the studio is next door, but it is accessible via a connecting door. Acceptable for sports freaks as the machines and courses are very good.

Finest cuisine

Breakfast the next morning delights me, my eyes and my stomach. It “bursts” with strength and freshness, everything has style and class, like the very successful selection of dishes at the buffets overall. The gala, which takes place on the second evening and is attended by the owner Dirk Iserlohe, is of the same high quality – that can raise the blood pressure of the hotelier. But Iserlohe sympathetically relaxes the hostess and ultimately sees herself as a host as well.

The day was long, but I pay a visit to the bar. The recently reopened “Fifty Nine” welcomes all guests, hotel guests and visitors from outside. Before I fall into the comfortable king-size bed, I take in the pleasant atmosphere of the tastefully furnished room, including the luxurious bathroom, and am delighted with the bright, friendly room. In terms of modern architecture, something has been thought through to the end here.

Plus: With General Manager Daniela Fette, a warm and always present host, hotel top and stylishly renovated, friendly and competent staff, fresh, delicious and attractive buffets with a large selection.

Minus: Holmes Place is outside the hotel.

Rath’s travel rating (current rating in bold)

1. Explicit Travel Warning
2. Better than under the bridge
3. So-so, not oh, là, là
4. Complaining at a high level
5. If only it were always like this
6. Great cinema

insider tip

Be sure to reserve a table at The Duchy restaurant in the Breidenbacher Hof. An absolute insider tip. So secret that it has remained undiscovered by Gault Millau and the Michelin Guide to this day. From my point of view one of the most exciting restaurant concepts in Germany, next to the Nikkei Nine in Hamburg.

About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of the Travelgrand.ch travel platform, Carsten K. Rath is a professional globetrotter. He travels to all the hotels he writes about for the Handelsblatt on his own account.