Worldhotels launches its first branded hotels

Frankfurt – Worldhotels, the leading group for independent hotels, is proud to present its first branded hotels in Germany and Kazakhstan, the Worldhotel The Rilano Munich, the Worldhotel The Rilano Hamburg and the Worldhotel Saltanat Almaty. To be launched in January 2011, they will be the first of the group’s 450 hotels to display the Worldhotels brand prominently in the hotel name, exterior signage and at various points of the property.

The Worldhotel The Rilano Munich is located in the popular district of Schwabing, just 10 minutes from the city centre and close to the Allianz Arena, the Olympic area and the BMW World. With 700m2 of conference facilities, it is ideal for meetings and events. The four star superior hotel features 150 fashionably furnished rooms, all with flat screen TVs and ergonomic work stations. Guests will enjoy sleeping in specially designed Rilano beds which were developed together with the leading German manufacturer Mühldorfer and boast high-quality mattresses, duvets and an exquisite selection of pillows. Culinary highlights are the bar Coffee Fellows, the Restaurant mamma minuti as well as the modern Jazz restaurant where guests can study the menu and place their orders with stylish iPads and a specially created Rilano App.

Spread over six floors with 170 rooms, the Worldhotel The Rilano Hamburg is situated in the Finkenwerder district, beside the river Elbe. All rooms in the four star superior hotel are decorated in natural colours such as beige, soft vanilla and woody dark brown and offer amazing views of the river. Guests can enjoy the sauna and fitness area with solarium free of charge. In addition, the hotel offers five modern conference rooms with air-conditioning and state-of-the-art technology. The popular Fusion Bar serves exotic cocktails and a wide selection of wines. Another highlight is the excellent restaurant River View with a summer terrace boasting spectacular views of the luxury cruise liners and impressive container ships passing by on the Elbe.

The new four star Worldhotel Saltanat Almaty is scheduled to open in January and is located in the historical heart of Almaty, Kazakhstan, within walking distance of famous sights such as the Republic Square, Central State Museum and Presidential Palace, and just three kilometres from the main train station and 15 kilometres from the airport. The building has been completely renovated and features 60 modern rooms, all of which are decorated in warm colours and fresh design elements and offer panoramic windows, air conditioning, free wireless Internet and in-room print, scan and copy amenities. Additional facilities include a restaurant with summer terrace, lobby bar and fitness centre complete with state-of-the-art cardio and muscle exercise equipment.

“Our first three branded hotels perfectly represent everything Worldhotels stands for”, says Robert Hornman, Managing Director of the group. “They boast excellent facilities for leisure and business guests to work, sleep, dine and unwind, whilst at the same time featuring a great location and a unique style and atmosphere.”

Jandos Kumekbayev, General Manager of the Worldhotel Saltanat Almaty, says: “We are very proud to be among the first branded hotels of Worldhotels and we are looking forward to benefiting from the wide range of sales, marketing, e-commerce and technology assets that the group has to offer.”

Holger Behrens, Director of Rilano Hotels & Resorts adds: “We are excited to become part of the global Worldhotels portfolio with two branded hotels. We will benefit from the international exposure of our hotel and our guests will enjoy the same incentives that the large chains offer, for example frequent flyer miles from 18 airline programmes, which will give our hotel an additional competitive edge.”

The new branding solution of Worldhotels was introduced in September and is the ideal alternative to standard franchise contracts. For a competitive all-inclusive annual fee, four- and five-star hotels competing against global chains can now brand themselves as a Worldhotel and benefit from the impact, support and strong return on investment of a global brand while still maintaining their unique identity. By 2013, the group plans to have added 50 branded hotels.

“Our focus is on guest experience and quality, not on standardising hardware”, says Robert Hornman. “Our hotels offer premium facilities for discerning business and leisure travellers as well as a unique ambience and design. We believe that standards don’t have to mean standardisation.”