This week saw the soft opening of Jumeirah Frankfurt, the first mainland European opening of the luxury hotel chain (the group has two existing properties in London).
The 218-room hotel, which will officially open on September 1, 2011, is situated in the heart of the city centre, and is adjoined to the MyZeil shopping centre. Business Traveller visited the hotel last week for a pre-opening tour.
“We are very excited that the hotel is finally opening,” said a spokesperson, “Jumeirah is new to Germany and we really have to prove ourselves. In the Middle East, people already know what Jumeirah stands for.
“We had to consider what would translate Jumeirah into a European market. If you look at Jumeirah Frankfurt, it’s luxurious, we use high quality materials, and we will give high quality service – but its style is not the same as other Jumeirah properties.”
In the shiny new lobby of the Jumeirah, abstract artwork by Hartwich Ebersbach hangs on the walls - there are nearly 250 of his pieces throughout the hotel. The surfaces are black and white, and there is a contemporary, minimalist feel.
A spiral of hanging crystals runs the length of the ceiling, accumulating in a chandelier spiral - a nod to Jumeirah’s trademark decadence, but presented in a (slightly) more subtle fashion.
There is also strong focus on technology throughout the hotel. Touch panels summon lifts which take you directly to the floor you want, while rooms and suites have motion sensors that regulate the temperature of the room to suit you, as well as recognising if you’ve fallen asleep, and turn off the lights.
Rooms have automatic blinds during strong sunlight, and many feature an “open bathroom concept” - where guests can retract the bathroom walls and create an entirely open-plan space.
There are eight room categories in total, all of which have a good working space, with international plug sockets, floor to ceiling windows and at least one 42-inch LG flatscreen TV.
Jumeirah Frankfurt’s location onto the MyZeil shopping centre should serve it well. Le Petit Palais Bistro, the hotel’s warm, casual café that will open September 1 is located on the ground floor of MyZeil and will serve as a gateway to the hotel for shoppers.
The hotel does not have its own fitness centre, but will make use of the MyZeil’s large Fitness First gym, which will be free for guests, and can be accessed through a private entrance from the hotel on the sixth floor, which backs directly onto the gym.
The hotel’s event facilities are on the third floor, and there are four high-tech meeting rooms and an aptly named Crystal Ballroom. This has a capacity of 300 and the ceiling dazzles with a sea of crystals. All rooms have natural daylight, LG flatscreen TVs and touch panels for adjusting heat and lighting.
The hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Max on One, has a comfortable, intimate feel - one area has bookshelves and sofas - and the décor is muted and homely. The restaurant also features transparent wine cabinets - the hotel boasts 400 different types of wine - and there is an open kitchen area, which has the chef’s table beside it.
Jumeirah's signature Talise spa on the fourth floor has seven treatment rooms – two of which are specifically for manicures and pedicures. There is a sauna with starlights on the ceiling, and one room has facilities for Thai massage and private yoga sessions.
The hotel's main competition is likely to come from Villa Kennedy, a luxury Rocco Forte property situated on the south bank of the River Main, as well as other upmarket brands present in the city including Intercontinental, Westin, Hilton and Steigenberger.
The next European Jumeirah will open this winter in Baku, Azerbaijan. Jumeirah Mallorca is set to open in March 2012 - the hotel is situated in the secluded Port of Soller. There will also be three more Jumeirah openings later this year in the Maldives, Kuwait and Dubai.
For more information visit jumeirah.com.
Report by Rose Dykins
