Financed by donations of shipowners, captains and the seaman’s pension scheme the building originally served as a hostel for seafaring men from all over the world. But time and a number of events did not pass by to leave it untouched.

 

 

So during two world wars the building was used by the German navy for training purposes until it was confiscated by the Royal Navy. After it was given back the housing office allowed the Hydrographical Institute, the Water and Shipping Authority and the Tropics Institute to use the premises and thus put to a more peaceful use. Though it was also planned to be reintroduced to its original use, it was eventually completely abandoned in 1975, as it was no longer profitable for the city. Owner Willi Bartels remembers: “In 1979 we acquired the property right for the by then rather run-down brick-lined-building and after an in-depth refurbishment opened it as a hotel with 105 guest-rooms in the very same year.” It reflects the city’s maritime tradition unlike any other hotel in Hamburg and from the very beginning attached great importance to being individual and hanseatic. Bartels continues: “Its predestined location on the “balcony overlooking the harbour” with a view which no hotel until then offered its guests immediately brought a very good level of occupation, which demanded plans to expand as soon as possible.” So after the restaurant “Port” was opened a further adjoining building, the former nurse’s residence of a hospital nearby, was acquired and fit out with hotel rooms.

 

 

“To bridgeover the gap between the two buildings only a simple connection was to be built”, Bartels remembers. But when the building director suggested a tower, the principals were immediately hooked on the idea of creating a new “pearl” at the harbour. The surrounding and the city’s silhouette with its own towers defined the shape of the tower to be built. “The goal was to develop a unique building, which should be distinctive in its stature.” The affinity to maritime architecture of the past – to lighthouses – suggested the building of a tower which could be inhabited. The opening in 1987 not only provided new guest rooms but also a small conference room and the popular “Tower Bar” in which one can enjoy a drink in the evening sun at 62 metres height.

 

But even after the success of this spectacular construction it was quite clear for the hotel operator: “We want to continue expanding and advancing!” So in the beginning of the 1990s the idea of a separate house next to the Hotel Hafen Hamburg, which should supply further guest rooms and especially conference facilities, was born. The idea became more and more distinct and bore the “working title” Residenz. “The building”, says Bartels “was to be technically modern and unlike the Hotel Hafen Hamburg less rustic. The “Ellipsen” in the top floors provide the participants of conferences with a panorama view of the harbour and St. Pauli – and besides, with the Residenz we could now offer a total of 670 beds.” The Hotel Residenz Hafen Hamburg immediately after opening in 1995 became very popular.

 

 

Even though now offering facilities the request for conference and banquet rooms still exceeded the offer. The demand was to be met before the new millennium with a sensational new completely glazed banquet room to be constructed on the roof of the traditional building. The enterprise proved to be more difficult than expected, when the building was found unapt to hold the weight of a further level. Consequently the complete 4th floor was cored, the roof carried off, a 5th floor constructed and steel carriers driven into the walls. Willi Bartels: “This had to be finished by December, 13th 1999, as that was my 85th birthday, which I wanted to celebrate under the “Elbkuppel” as well as the turn of the millennium shortly afterwards!”

 

 

After a great deal of refurbishing in the beginning of the new millennium, the Hotel Hafen Hamburg is now also categorised with 4 stars, thus presenting both parts of the hotel in an equal quality. “The idea to now unite both hotels in a single enterprise bearing the name Hotel Hafen Hamburg made sense”, Willi Bartels recalls.

The first step to unite the hotels was taken: the design of both houses was blended in a unitary logo. It was decided to promote the hotel as the Hotel Hafen Hamburg and – in order not to confuse our guests – the extensions “Classic” and “Residenz” were used. Furthermore the different classes of rooms were maintained.

In September 2006 by merging the room classes, the process of uniting both hotels was concluded. The extensions are now history.

We now welcome our guests in the following guest room-categories: Seaman’s Class, Lieutenant’s Class and Commander’s Class as well as in the Residence in the Captain’s Class and the Admiral’s Class.

The Hotel Hafen Hamburg now belongs to one of the largest hotels in northern Germany and has established itself as a popular meeting point in Hamburg. With an average occupation level of about 90 % it is one of the most successful hotels in Hamburg. Asking the proprietor on his recipe of success, he simply states: “An individual charm and a good price-performance ratio – that does the trick!”

 

 

As we unfortunately have to reject a great number of requests for accommodation in the Hotel Hafen Hamburg due to being fully booked on many occasions, the idea was formed to build a new hotel.

Only 150 metres away a perfect site for this project was found, when the Bavaria brewery released a large property in the heart of the St. Pauli district.

The EMPIRE RIVERSIDE HOTEL located at the corner Bernhard-Nocht-Straße / Davidstraße, close to the Reeperbahn, has open up to the public.

Find out more about Hamburg’s exclusiveness!
www.empire-riverside.de !