Rath checks in: Hotel Papa Rhein, Bingen

binge home time. That is the marketing slogan of Hotel Papa Rhein. As you know, pure slogans don’t impress me. I was interested in the strategies and the real stories behind them. The experience that I take with me as a guest at the end of the day is crucial. All the better when marketing and the final experience harmonize.

Jan Bolland, who was honored as the best hotelier of the year of the next generation in Hamburg at the end of March as part of the ranking “The 101 best hotels in Germany”, knows like no other how to put his vision into practice. In my opinion, he deservedly won the award for the next generation of hoteliers, which was announced for the first time this year.

As the son of a hotelier family, he has been operating independently for a long time and, for example, transformed a former monastery in an almost inconspicuous area into a sought-after spa resort. The Marienhöh, Hideaway and Spa, was extensively renovated in the Hunsrück and now no longer accommodates nuns, but hotel guests looking for relaxation. Establishing Marienhöh in this situation – you have to do that first.

The hotel industry is part of his DNA, says Jan Bolland of himself. His family is now in its fourth generation and delights guests. The focus on effective marketing lies in the history of the entrepreneurial and hotelier family. In 1907, Jan’s great-grandfather founded a naturopathic resort because the trained butcher himself suffered from a rare type of neurodermatitis. For the time, he took a courageous and revolutionary path that was soon crowned with success.

But: From one day to the next, the customers fell away. Necessary health cures lasting several weeks suddenly had to be borne by the guests themselves, as the health insurance companies no longer approved subsidies. Actually a disaster for a spa hotel that specializes in just these guests. But Bolland and his family have managed to create a new client base and continue to inspire their regular customers. The Medical Health Resort idea was born. This concept is now considered one of the most successful in the luxury hotel industry. Thanks to the Bollands.

Now Jan Bolland has chosen one of the most beautiful places on the river for his dad Rhein. Does such a house need fancy marketing slogans at all? Not necessarily for me, because I have always felt a strong bond with this place. Basically, my very own story begins here, because I was born not far from here.

The name Papa Rhein alone is a friendly invitation to everyone who is looking for something down-to-earth and yet also something special. The wild Rhine is right in front of the house, the lush green vineyards are opposite. Castles complete the romance of the Rhine. But before I get lost in any more crushes, let me tell you more about the house.

The Papa Rhein in Bingen reminds me of southern Scandinavia. Instead of the Baltic Sea, the Rhine makes the view flow here. The hotel is not really a hotel, but a ship stranded on land. One uses first names as on the big ships of this world. The employees work together as a crew. Everything is well thought out and above all thought through to the end.

My room is of course not a room in the traditional sense, but a bunk. Luckily it’s a lot bigger and more comfortable and not as intentional as the concept that has already been implemented in Til Schweiger’s Barefoot Hotel on the Baltic Sea.

I am spared the unsightly swell. On the other hand, I enjoy the feeling of freedom and adventure like on the seas of the world to the fullest amidst the sandy tones of the furnishings with a great view over the Rhine. I even discover a small chest, a treasure chest hidden in the lobby. I can also feel the sand under my feet: around the Bootshaus-Bar there is an area with a fine-grained sandy beach. To be on the safe side, I also apply lotion at the hotel; the sun’s rays are probably as intense as on the high seas without you noticing. However, I do not wear waterproof clothing.

Healthy Pure Cuisine by Nils Henkel

From the very first moment I’m “on board” I feel like I’m setting sail. Into a sea full of unbelievable service gestures and finesse. Speaking of finesse: I am particularly looking forward to my dinner in the restaurant. Scandinavian cosiness and style, or “casual atmosphere” in modern German, prevail here. Above all, I am looking forward to seeing Nils Henkel again, one of the most talented vegan and vegetarian star chefs in Germany. But he can also do fish and meat like no other.

In his Pure Nature Cuisine he combines fresh vegetables with herbs. From time to time a fish swims by as a side dish. The professional chef and former holder of three Michelin stars no longer has any star ambitions. Rather, he concentrates on delighting his guests and pampering their palates. He manages to do that again and again. On my plate I find a work of art that tastes just as wonderful and, above all, colourful. His creations get six Rath stars from me.

Conclusion: On first name terms with the crew – democratic and cordial luxury

For me, the Papa Rhein is the epitome of democratized luxury. In a positive sense. Here Kreti and Pleti meet with prince and princess. The team and the guests are on first name terms. This connects, creates a warm intimacy and friendly atmosphere. I would like to see this fresh entrepreneurial spirit more often in the German hotel industry.

Sure, new concepts require courage, but they also enable surprising experiences for the guest. Ultimately, this determines the success or failure of a house. My assessment in this case: The ship continues to drive full speed ahead! And in business terms, the young hotelier of the year 2022 can’t stop laughing. Earned!

Rath’s Reise-Rating (current rating in bold):
1. Explicit Travel Warning
2. Better than under the bridge
3. So-la-la, not o-la-la
4. Complaining at a high level
5. If only it were always like this
6. Great cinema

About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of a 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. Rath is the source of ideas for the ranking “The 101 best hotels in Germany”, whose partners include the Handelsblatt.