InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - IC Hamburg will leave the chain

This could be read yesterday in local newspapers. IC Hamburg will be re- or debranded before the end of the year. The owners refused to invest the millions requested by IHG for a revitalisatin of the property.

German only:

http://reisen.t-online.de/-intercontinental-hamburg-luxushotel-verliert-betreiber/id_20361270/index

Not nice to hear; and gets me to wonder what will happen to IC Frankfurt, which is in no better shape than IC Hamburg.

Would probably leave IHG without IC presence in Hamburg for a long time.

Not nice to hear; and gets me to wonder what will happen to IC Frankfurt, which is in no better shape than IC Hamburg.

Would probably leave IHG without IC presence in Hamburg for a long time.

Believe me: IC Frankfurt is miles ahead of IC Hamburg. I use both properties frequently and at least as a RA I feel very well in Frankfurt (lounge, suites), however, but never liked Hamburg. The only good thing in Hamburg was the "Bergedorfer Marzipan", but beside that.... Not much to offer.

Better article here: http://www.welt.de/die-welt/wirtschaft/article5001438/Hotelkette-InterContinental-verlaesst-Hamburg.html

Believe me: IC Frankfurt is miles ahead of IC Hamburg. I use both properties frequently and at least as a RA I feel very well in Frankfurt (lounge, suites), however, but never liked Hamburg. The only good thing in Hamburg was the "Bergedorfer Marzipan", but beside that.... Not much to offer.

HAM doesn't have a lot of suites, and lacks a lounge that is indeed true. Rooms are, imo, in need of an renovation at both properties. HAM can give RAs not a lot of benefits.

I would also prefer FRA over HAM, but there are not worlds between them.

It's been some time since I last stayed at the IC Hamburg. I have always been upgraded to a large Junior Suite and I have enjoyed the view from the top floor restaurant. The ground floor restaurant was often overcrowded at breakfast time. Overall, it was a good location for my stays during CEBIT with the hourly trains to Hanover from the nearby railway station. I currently prefer to stay at Le Meridien, where the rooms are much better, but I am sorry to see this alternative gone.

As it was, not that I will really miss IC HAM. Better hotels available for same price. And IMO location wasn´t that good. Especially if you had a regular room with no view.

It's been some time since I last stayed at the IC Hamburg. I have always been upgraded to a large Junior Suite and I have enjoyed the view from the top floor restaurant. The ground floor restaurant was often overcrowded at breakfast time. Overall, it was a good location for my stays during CEBIT with the hourly trains to Hanover from the nearby railway station. I currently prefer to stay at Le Meridien, where the rooms are much better, but I am sorry to see this alternative gone.

I stayed there last night and checked out today. I always get a nice double upgrade as a RA. Looks like, this was my last stay there .... :(

When you've got the Park Hyatt to stay at - a truly stunning property in HAM - its difficult to justify anywhere else even as RA. Especially when Ms Raffles gets a Euro 170 corporate rate! (And no, I don't know the code!)

The owners refused to invest the millions requested by IHG for a revitalisatin of the property.

I am sad to learn that IC Hamburg will leave IC chain (but maybe it will be rebranded under the Crowne Plaza name).

The location is not central but exclusive and quiet, and service always attentive. But it is true that the hotel needs a room renovation (and it is true that I would not stay at this property if it was not an IC).

But the good news is that InterContinental is really seeking for consistency of the brand and refuses to have properties below IC standards.

Second largest German city offers serious other options :
- Park Hyatt
- Le Méridien Royal
- Sofitel Hamburg Alter Wall
- The Side Hotel
- The Empire Riverside Hotel

German only:

http://reisen.t-online.de/-intercontinental-hamburg-luxushotel-verliert-betreiber/id_20361270/index

Translation:

According to some information from the Hamburger Abendblatts, the luxury InterContinental Hamburg hotel will soon no longer be operated by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. The hotel will loose its brand before the end of the year, reports the paper. A new operator has not yet been found.

According to information from the Hamburger Abendblatts, the required renovation of the property is the background for breaking with the hotel. The owners do not seem willing to spend millions to renovate the hotel. According to Hamburger Abendblatts, it will have no impact for the employees, but InterContinental manager Gesa Rohwedder will no longer be active in this hotel. The InterContinental Hamburg has 281 rooms, from about 200 euros.

Any ideas what effect will this have on already booked stay(s)? I've a stay coming up mid-November and I really need this qualifying IC-stay!

Any ideas what effect will this have on already booked stay(s)? I've a stay coming up mid-November and I really need this qualifying IC-stay!

Apparently they leave at 01/01/2010 (according to the "Welt" article), so you should be fine.

When you've got the Park Hyatt to stay at - a truly stunning property in HAM - its difficult to justify anywhere else even as RA. Especially when Ms Raffles gets a Euro 170 corporate rate! (And no, I don't know the code!)

Euro 170 is solid, but nothing to write home about, so do not expect too many requests...also one of the problems of Hamburg, the yield is solid, but also nothing to write home about...considering that the property is there for 35 years and has been paid for ( including some minor renovations of the public areas ) I would resist to invest some serious money as well, especially if the significantly better competition cannot really charge much more anyway...and new properties ( Westin ) are just around the corner.

To me, the IC Hamburg was definitely past its prime. Very 70s appearance, and although the rooms were fine, upon approaching the building, I always felt like I was traveling back in time. It had a very "alte BRD" (old Western Germany) feel to me (perhaps because of the old Casino). I think I'll try to get in a last stay in December to say goodbye.

I'll try to get in a last stay in December to say goodbye.

... and have a last free drink;)

I would resist to invest some serious money as well, especially if the significantly better competition cannot really charge much more anyway...and new properties ( Westin ) are just around the corner.

The question are:
- is the hotel able to attract guests without any international brand?
- does any international brand (Hilton, Radisson, Pullman, ...) would accept to deal with former IC Hamburg if no investment is made?

It's always difficult to invest, but not investing is the best way to see your revenues declining

The question are:
- is the hotel able to attract guests without any international brand?
- does any international brand (Hilton, Radisson, Pullman, ...) would accept to deal with former IC Hamburg if no investment is made?

It's always difficult to invest, but not investing is the best way to see your revenues declining

No, considering their location ( nice, but not too central in comparison to some other 5* hotels ) and limited appeal otherwise.

Pullman is not a brand, but a bad joke of a company that should take some lessons in branding and loyalty management ( I understand that they have improved this recently, however they started at below zero in this regard )

Radisson invested quite some money to renovate its high rise ( more medium rise in US terms ) building in Hamburg, which was absolutely disgusting before that renovation.

Hilton runs some 4 star properties in Europe and Germany, so it could fit...

Actually, they should invest some money and make it a CP.

Hilton runs some 4 star properties in Europe and Germany, so it could fit...


Apparently Hilton has no interest: German article (http://www.tophotel.de/index.php?pokerspiel-um-neuen-hotelbetreiber)

I stayed there last Sunday and frankly, I don't see why this hotel is getting some bad rap here. I got a very nice room (not sure what type) modern furnishing, everything in a very good shape. Have stayed at worse ICs and at 134€ (incl breakfast) I´d say it was an excellent deal. (especially considering the 250+€ I paid after that at the IC Muscat :td:)

I stayed there last Sunday and frankly, I don't see why this hotel is getting some bad rap here. I got a very nice room (not sure what type) modern furnishing, everything in a very good shape. Have stayed at worse ICs and at 134€ (incl breakfast) I´d say it was an excellent deal. (especially considering the 250+€ I paid after that at the IC Muscat :td:)

Well, at least it has the lowest standard of all German IC hotels.
Standard rooms are ridicculous small and need desperate refurbishement. Juinor Suites and Suites are ok, but nothing to write home about.
Location is a little way off the hotspots in Hamburg.
No club lounge...

Normal rooms don´t offer 5* standard and for real VIPs the hotel has nothing really thrilling to offer.

As RA, I enjoy all other German and most other European (except IC Geneva) more than this property.
Still I´m unhappy, not to have the IC option in HH anymore from Jan 2010 on.

Well, at least it has the lowest standard of all German IC hotels.
Standard rooms are ridicculous small and need desperate refurbishement. Juinor Suites and Suites are ok, but nothing to write home about.
Location is a little way off the hotspots in Hamburg.
No club lounge...


Probably I was upgrade to some non-standard room, because I wouldn't call it small. Locationwise I have no comments, checkin in the evening, checkout in the morning, short cab ride to Hbf both ways...

Still I´m unhappy, not to have the IC option in HH anymore from Jan 2010 on.

So am I. :eek: