Kempinski Explained

Kempinski Hotels S.A.
Type:Private
Founder:Berthold Kempinski
Key People:Bernold O. Schroeder, CEO
Area Served:Worldwide, except North America, South America and Oceania
Industry:Hospitality, tourism
Products:Hotels, restaurants, residences
Num Employees:24,000
Location:Geneva, Switzerland
Kempinski AG Munich, Germany
Foundation: in Berlin, Germany

Kempinski Hotels S.A., commonly known as Kempinski, is a luxury hotel management company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in Berlin in 1897 as the Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft, the group currently operates 77 five-star hotels and residences in 35 countries.[1]

History

Kempinski Hotels claims to be Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Its history began in 1897 with the foundation of the "Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft" in Berlin. A parallel development was that of M. Kempinski & Co, founded by Berthold Kempinski, which was acquired by the "Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft" in 1953.

Berthold Kempinski was born on 10 October 1843 in Posen (then a German province, and now Poland). The Kempinski family was already successfully active in the wine trade from 1862. In 1872 it extended its company to Berlin, where Berthold Kempinski opened a wine merchant's business under his name in the Friedrichstraße. In 1889 he opened a restaurant, the biggest in Berlin, in the Leipziger Straße.

Since Berthold Kempinski and his wife Helena had no son, they invited their son-in-law Richard Unger (1866–1947) to join the business. Berthold Kempinski finally transferred the firm to his son-in-law on condition that he kept the name Kempinski. Berthold Kempinski died on March 14, 1910.

Alongside his wine and restaurant activities, Richard Unger developed his property business up to the start of World War I. After a short period of stagnation during the War, he sold products of his own manufacture under the brand name Kempinski. The business in Berlin flourished so that in 1918, a Kempinski hotel dependency was established at 27 Kurfürstendamm, where the Kempinski Hotel Bristol now stands. Ten years later, M. Kempinski & Co. took over the "Haus Vaterland" on the Potsdamer Platz, where the firm exploited a concept that was unique in Berlin for a long time and is still known as "event gastronomy" ("Erlebnisgastronomie").

To escape the events of World War II, Richard Unger and his family emigrated to the United States and the firm M. Kempinski & Co became part of Aschinger AG.

The Restaurant at 27 Kurfürstendamm was destroyed by fire shortly before the end of the War, and the other properties fell victim to bombing raids. After the end of the conflict, Richard Unger's son and Berthold Kempinski's grandson, Friedrich Unger, returned to Germany. In 1951 construction started on a hotel on the site of the ruined restaurant at 27 Kurfürstendamm, and it opened a year later under the name Hotel Kempinski. For 20 years the modern, progressive five-star hotel enjoyed the undisputed status of the sole luxury hotel in Berlin.

In 1953 Friedrich Unger sold his shares and the name Kempinski to the "Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft", which already ran hotels such as the Baltic, the Bristol and the Kaiserhof. The name Bristol was adopted and is still used at the Kempinski Hotel at 27 Kurfürstendamm. In subsequent years, the "Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft" took over the management of several famous hotels. In 1957 it acquired the luxurious Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg.

In 1970 the General Assembly of the "Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft" voted to change its name to "Kempinski Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft". In the same year, a long-lasting partnership was established with Lufthansa in the form of a 50-per cent participation in the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich, in which Lufthansa already had a holding. In 1977 the hotel company received its present name as "Kempinski Aktiengesellschaft (AG)". At the same time, the Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt Gravenbruch was added to the group's portfolio as its fourth German hotel.

In 1985, Lufthansa acquired shares in Kempinski AG and thereby enabled the hotel company to operate Kempinski hotels abroad too. A year later, Kempinski AG, Lufthansa and the finance company Rolaco S.A. founded Kempinski Hotels S.A., with its head office in Geneva. In 1993 Kempinski AG acquired all the shares in Kempinski S.A.

The Bangkok-based Dusit Sindhorn Company Ltd took over Kempinski in November 1994, when it acquired a 52% stake.[2] [3] The 50:50 joint venture between Dusit Thani Group, and the Siam Commercial Bank eventually accumulated an 83% stake in the group, and Dusit Thani exited from the joint venture in 1998 when it sold out to its partner.[4]

In February 2017, the two existing shareholders of Kempinski AG formalized previous plans for an equity transfer between them. The majority shares of Kempinski AG are held by the existing Bahraini shareholder while the shareholder from Thailand holds a minority.In the same month, Kempinski announced the opening of its first luxury hotel in Cuba.

In 2024, Kempinski acquired two hotels previously managed by Emaar, formerly known as Address Boulevard and Address Dubai Mall. These hotels are now known as Kempinski The Boulevard and Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai, doubling Kempinski's presence in Dubai to four.

Kempinski Hotels worldwide

Kempinski Hotels' portfolio currently comprises 79 hotels and residences worldwide. With the exception of the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski in Munich, which belongs to the group, and two hotels with leasing contracts, Kempinski Hotels operates its luxury hotels and residences under management contracts.[5]

Europe
No.NameLocationCountryOpening Year
1Barbaros Reserve Bodrum Residences, Managed by KempinskiBodrumTurkey2023[6]
2Çırağan Palace Kempinski IstanbulIstanbulTurkey1991[7]
3Frutt Mountain Resort, Managed by KempinskiKernsSwitzerland2020[8]
4Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. MoritzSt. MoritzSwitzerland2002[9]
5Grand Hotel Kempinski High TatrasŠtrbské PlesoSlovakia2009[10]
6Grand Hotel Kempinski RigaRigaLatvia2017[11]
7Grand Hotel Kempinski VilniusVilniusLithuania2012[12]
8Hotel Adlon Kempinski BerlinBerlinGermany1997[13]
9Hotel Baltschug Kempinski MoscowMoscowRussia1992[14]
10Hotel Bristol BerlinBerlinGermany1952[15]
11Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski DresdenDresdenGermany1995[16]
12Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski MunichMunichGermany1970[17]
13Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria CroatiaSavudrijaCroatia2009[18]
14Kempinski Hotel Bahía MarbellaEsteponaSpain1999[19]
15Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay BodrumBodrumTurkey2005[20]
16Kempinski Hotel BerchtesgadenBerchtesgadenGermany2005[21]
17Kempinski Hotel Corvinus BudapestBudapestHungary1992[22]
18Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol Kitzbühel AlpsJochbergAustria2011[23]
19Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt GravenbruchFrankfurtGermany1977[24]
20Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena BanskoBanskoBulgaria2005[25]
21Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Gozo MaltaGozoMalta2001[26]
22Kempinski Hotel The Dome BelekBelekTurkey2005[27]
23Kempinski Palace EngelbergEngelbergSwitzerland2021[28]
24Kempinski Palace Portorož SloveniaPortorožSlovenia2008[29]
25Palais Hansen Kempinski ViennaViennaAustria2013[30]
26San Clemente Palace Kempinski VeniceVeniceItaly2016[31]
Asia-Pacific
No.NameLocationCountryOpening Year
1Beijing Yanqi Island PavilionBeijingChina2014[32]
2Grand Kempinski Hotel ShanghaiShanghaiChina2013[33]
3Hotel Indonesia Kempinski JakartaJakartaIndonesia2009[34]
4Kempinski Hotel Beijing Yansha CenterBeijingChina1992[35]
5Kempinski Hotel ChangshaChangshaChina2014[36]
6Kempinski Hotel ChengduChengduChina2004[37]
7Kempinski Hotel ChongqingChongqingChina2012[38]
8Kempinski Hotel DalianDalianChina2005[39]
9Kempinski Hotel FuzhouFuzhouChina2016[40]
10Kempinski Hotel GuiyangGuiyangChina2009[41]
11Kempinski Hotel HangzhouHangzhouChina2019[42]
12Kempinski Hotel JinanJinanChina2021[43]
13Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace UlaanbaatarUlaanbaatarMongolia2007[44]
14Kempinski Hotel NanjingNanjingChina2019[45]
15Kempinski Hotel ShenzhenShenzhenChina2006[46]
16Kempinski Hotel SuzhouSuzhouChina2008[47]
17Kempinski Hotel TaiyuanTaiyuanChina2013[48]
18Kempinski Hotel XiamenXiamenChina2012[49]
19Kempinski Hotel YinchuanYinchuanChina2010[50]
20Kempinski Residences GuangzhouGuangzhouChina2020[51]
21Kempinski The One Suites Hotel Shanghai DowntownShanghaiChina2012[52]
22Siam Kempinski Hotel BangkokBangkokThailand2010[53]
23Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel BangkokBangkokThailand2020[54]
24Sunrise Kempinski Hotel BeijingBeijingChina2014[55]
25The Apurva Kempinski BaliNusa DuaIndonesia2019[56]
26The Capitol Kempinski Hotel SingaporeSingaporeSingapore2018[57]
27Yanqi Hotel, Managed by KempinskiBeijingChina2014
Middle East & Africa
No.NameLocationCountryOpening Year
1Bristoria Hotel ErbilErbilIraq2022[58]
2Djibouti Palace KempinskiDjibouti CityDjibouti2006[59]
3Kempinski Al Othman Hotel Al KhobarAl KhobarSaudi Arabia2016[60]
4Kempinski Central Avenue DubaiDubaiUnited Arab Emirates2024[61]
5Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm JumeirahPalm JumeirahUnited Arab Emirates2011[62]
6Kempinski Hotel AmmanAmmanJordan2005[63]
7Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red SeaAqabaJordan2009[64]
8Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City AccraAccraGhana2015[65]
9Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead SeaSweimehJordan2006[66]
10Kempinski Hotel Mall of the EmiratesDubaiUnited Arab Emirates2006[67]
11Kempinski Hotel MuscatMuscatOman2018[68]
12Kempinski Hotel Soma BaySoma BayEgypt2008[69]
13Kempinski Nile Hotel CairoCairoEgypt2010[70]
14Kempinski Residences and Suites DohaDohaQatar2010[71]
15Kempinski Seychelles ResortMahéSeychelles2012[72]
16Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort BeirutBeirutLebanon2016[73]
17Kempinski The Boulevard DubaiDubaiUnited Arab Emirates2024
18Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - DohaThe Pearl IslandQatar2015[74]
19Olare Mara Kempinski Masai MaraMaasai MaraKenya2013[75]
20Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski CairoNew CairoEgypt2015[76]
21The David Kempinski Tel AvivTel AvivIsrael2022[77]
22Villa Rosa Kempinski NairobiNairobiKenya2013[78]
Americas
No.NameLocationCountryOpening Year
1Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski CubaCayo GuillermoCuba2020[79]
2Gran Hotel Bristol La HabanaHavanaCuba2020[80]
3Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La HabanaHavanaCuba2017[81]
4Kempinski Hotel CancúnCancúnMexico2022[82]

Global Hotel Alliance

Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) which was founded in Geneva in 2004.[83] Members of GHA's DISCOVERY loyalty programme receive recognition and rewards across more than 570 hotels, resorts, palaces and spas in 35 brands of hotels across 85 countries.[84]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our History | Kempinski Hotels .
  2. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=kempinski-hotels----100-years-of-a-grand-tradition-1997-06-01 "Kempinski Hotels – 100 years of a grand tradition"
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/29/business/lufthansa-sale-of-hotels-due.html "Lufthansa Sale Of Hotels Due"
  4. Spritzer, Dinah A. (12 March 1998). "Dusit Thani Sells Its Share of Kempinski". Travel Weekly.
  5. Web site: 2021-05-20. CEO Of Vodafone wins Women Leadership Excellence Award. 2021-05-20. Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2023-05-14. Barbaros Reserve Bodrum Residences managed by Kempinski. 2023-07-29. Breaking Travel News. en.
  7. Web site: 2023-05-22. Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul Gets a Makeover. 2023-07-29. Luxury Travel Advisor. en.
  8. Web site: 2020-02-15. Frutt Mountain Resort Opens the Winter Season in the Heart of Switzerland. 2023-07-29. Kempinski. en.
  9. Web site: 2022-12-20. St. Moritz: Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary and Unveils a New Lobby and Lobby Bar This Winter Season. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  10. Web site: 2022-03-25. Review: Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras (Strbske Pleso, Slovakia). 2023-07-29. KN Aviation. en.
  11. Web site: 2017-10-02. Kempinski Hotels Opens Elegant Five-Star Hotel in Riga. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  12. Web site: 2012-09-11. Kempinski opens its first hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  13. Web site: 2023-05-24. Review: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. 2023-07-29. Luxury Travel Expert. en.
  14. Web site: 2021-05-12. The Iconic Baltschug Kempinski Hotel in Moscow. 2023-07-29. Salon Privé Magazine. en.
  15. Web site: Hotel Bristol Berlin. 2023-07-29. Visit Berlin. en.
  16. Web site: 2022-08-17. Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden Review: The Awesomeness Of Staying In A Palace. 2023-07-29. Dive Into Germany. en.
  17. Web site: 2020-02-29. How Kempinski Turned A Munich Building Steeped In History Into A World-Class Hotel. 2023-07-29. Forbes. en.
  18. Web site: 2018-07-25. Kempinski Hotel Adriatic. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  19. Web site: 2017-12-04. Kempinski Hotel Bahia announces redesign plans. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  20. Web site: 2015-01-09. Kempinski, Bodrum. 2023-07-29. Spa Wellbeing. en.
  21. Web site: 2017-08-19. Review: Hotel Kempinski Berchtesgaden (Berchtesgaden, Germany). 2023-07-29. Young Travelers of Hong Kong. en.
  22. Web site: 2021-06-15. Hotel Histories: the Kempinski Corvinus Budapest. 2023-07-29. We Love Budapest. en.
  23. Web site: 2011-08-17. Ski the Alps in Austria at the New Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol. 2023-07-29. Luxury Travel Advisor. en.
  24. Web site: 2020-10-20. Hotelbetriebs-AG. (1897) is the predecessor of Kempinski (1953). was re-named as "Kempinski Hotelbetriebs-AG" in 1970. 2023-07-29. LinkedIn. en.
  25. Web site: 2015-10-07. Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko Celebrates 10 Years. 2023-07-29. American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. en.
  26. Web site: 2009-06-15. Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Celebrates 10th Anniversary. 2023-07-29. Malta Independent. en.
  27. Web site: 2022-05-17. The Kempinski Hotel The Dome Belek- Combination of an idyllic seaside holiday with business. 2023-07-29. Travel Trade Journal. en.
  28. Web site: 2021-05-11. Kempinski Palace Engelberg to open in June 2021. 2023-07-29. Business Traveller. en.
  29. Web site: Kempinski Palace Engelberg to open in June 2021. 2023-07-29. Famous Hotels. en.
  30. Web site: 2013-03-24. Kempinski Opens Palais Hansen Kempinski Hotel Vienna. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  31. Web site: 2016-05-23. San Clemente Palace Venice reopens as a Kempinski hotel. 2023-07-29. Hospitality On. en.
  32. Web site: Yanqi Hotel, managed By Kempinski. 2023-07-29. Travel Weekly. en.
  33. Web site: 2013-05-22. Kempinski Hotels Opens Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai. 2023-07-29. Luxurious Magazine. en.
  34. Web site: 2009-10-02. The Luxe List 2009, Indonesia: Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, Jakarta. 2023-07-29. DestinAsian. en.
  35. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center. 2023-07-29. The Finest Hotels of the World. en.
  36. Web site: 2019-07-23. Kempinski Hotel Changsha celebrates 5th anniversary. 2023-07-29. China Daily. en.
  37. Web site: 2007-10-26. Kempinski expands in China. 2023-07-29. Travel Daily News Asia. en.
  38. Web site: 2012-12-11. Kempinski Chongqing soft opens. 2023-07-29. Business Traveller. en.
  39. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Dalian. 2023-07-29. 1000 Meetings. en.
  40. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Fuzhou. 2023-07-29. Orbitz. en.
  41. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Guiyang. 2023-07-29. Travel Weekly. en.
  42. Web site: 2019-07-01. Kempinski Hotel Hangzhou opens its doors. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  43. Web site: 2021-05-21. Kempinski Hotel Jinan - Makes Its Debut in the Heart of China’s “City of Springs”. 2023-07-29. Kempinski. en.
  44. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace. 2023-07-29. Travel Weekly. en.
  45. Web site: 2019-09-30. Kempinski Hotel Staff Take Centre Stage at Nanjing Opening. 2023-07-29. The Nanjinger. en.
  46. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen. 2023-07-29. Travel Weekly. en.
  47. Web site: 2008-05-22. The US$ 172 million Kempinski Hotel Suzhou, China Opens. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  48. Web site: 2013-09-09. Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan Announced in China’s Old Dragon City. 2023-07-29. Luxury Travel Advisor. en.
  49. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Xiamen. 2023-07-29. Travel Weekly. en.
  50. Web site: 2021-06-24. Kempinski Hotel Yinchuan. 2023-07-29. China Daily. en.
  51. Web site: 2023-06-14. Kempinski Residences Guangzhou profile. 2023-07-29. Hotel in China. en.
  52. Web site: 2013-05-15. Kempinski Hotels Opens Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai. 2023-07-29. Kempinski. en.
  53. Web site: 2010-07-21. Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok Opens Today in Thailand. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  54. Web site: 2020-07-30. Sindhorn Kempinski to Open in Bangkok 1 August 2020. 2023-07-29. Hotel Intel. en.
  55. Web site: 2014-10-05. Is this the most incredible hotel to open this year?. 2023-07-29. CNN. en.
  56. Web site: 2019-01-15. Opening on the Island of the Gods: The Apurva Kempinski Bali. 2023-07-29. PR Newswire. en.
  57. Web site: 2018-09-24. Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore to Open October 1. 2023-07-29. Luxury Travel Advisor. en.
  58. Web site: 2022-11-25. Kempinski opens 118-key Bristoria Hotel in Erbil, Kurdistan. 2023-07-29. Hotel Management Network. en.
  59. Web site: 2006-11-17. Kempinski opens in Djibouti. 2023-07-29. Business Travel News Europe. en.
  60. Web site: 2016-07-06. Kempinski Al Othman Hotel Al Khobar Opened in Saudi Arabia. 2023-07-29. Hotel News Resource. en.
  61. Web site: 2024-01-03. Kempinski rebrands two hotels in Dubai. 2024-01-18. Business Traveller. en.
  62. Web site: 2011-03-09. Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah to Open July. 2023-07-29. Luxury Travel Advisor. en.
  63. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Amman. 2023-07-29. Travel Weekly. en.
  64. Web site: 2009-06-14. Kempinski Hotel Aquaba Opens. 2023-07-29. Elite Traveler. en.
  65. Web site: 2015-09-21. Kempinski now open. 2023-07-29. Time Out. en.
  66. Web site: 2007-05-02. Kempinski Dead Sea resort will be completed in May. 2023-07-29. Hotel News Resource. en.
  67. Web site: Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. 2023-07-29. Hotel News Resource. en.
  68. Web site: 2018-03-20. Kempinski Hotel Muscat Opens its Doors in the Sultanate of Oman. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  69. Web site: 2008-04-18. Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay to open this summer. 2023-07-29. Daily News Egypt. en.
  70. Web site: 2010-07-15. Kempinski Nile Hotel opens in Cairo. 2023-07-29. Luxuo. en.
  71. Web site: 2009-11-25. Kempinski to open first hotel in Mideast. 2023-07-29. Trade Arabia. en.
  72. Web site: 2017-05-22. Kempinski Seychelles Resort celebrates fifth anniversary. 2023-07-29. Seychelles Nation. en.
  73. Web site: 2016-10-03. Chain Focus: Kempinski Hotel. 2023-07-29. Hotel News Middle East. en.
  74. Web site: 2015-01-25. Kempinski opens new hotel in Doha. 2023-07-29. Trade Arabia. en.
  75. Web site: 2013-01-25. Kempinski Opens Olare Mara Kempinski, Masai Mara Tented Camp. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  76. Web site: 2015-11-08. Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Prepares for Grand Opening. 2023-07-29. Cairo 360. en.
  77. Web site: 2022-04-03. Kempinski Hotel opens its doors in Tel Aviv. 2023-07-29. The Jerusalem Post. en.
  78. Web site: 2015-08-17. Hotel review: Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi. 2023-07-29. Business Traveller. en.
  79. Web site: 2020-03-05. 5-star Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski now open. 2023-07-29. Pax Editions. en.
  80. Web site: 2022-11-17. Gran Hotel Bristol. 2023-07-29. Hospitality Net. en.
  81. Web site: 2017-05-19. A Peek Inside Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, Cuba's First New 5-Star Hotel. 2023-07-29. Condé Nast Traveler. en.
  82. Web site: 2022-12-18. Official Opening For Kempinski Hotel Cancun. 2023-07-29. Latte Luxury News. en.
  83. Web site: Hotel rewards – Best hotel loyalty programme – Global Hotel Alliance. www.gha.com. 2020-11-12.
  84. Web site: Home / About Discovery – GHA. www.gha.com. 2020-11-12.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kempinski".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.