Cover of our book FRANKFURTER HOF by Manfred Markowski
Frankfurter Hof
Whenever I am in Frankfurt, I have always been seeking a chat with head concierge and legend-of-the-house Juergen CARL, who is one of the most interesting personalities of the trade. Later I find myself sitting on the terrace in the charming courtyard, browsing thourgh Thomas Mann's Buddenbrocks while pondering about the whereabouts of this first city hotel of Frankfurt. All this under the impression of the historic facade of the hotel.
During the days of an international fair – and there are plenty in Frankfurt – the hotel buzzes. But the most exciting period is the yearly Book Fair, when hundreds of people roam the hotel and make it the inofficial centre des affairs of the Frankfurter Buchmesse.
Talking about books: we have now published our book FRANKFURTER HOF (in Deutsch and in English). The blurb on the cover reads:
Since 1876 the Frankfurter Hof is among the most famous hotels in the world. Its façade is a reminiscence of glorious days, of splendid festivities and heydays of an empire. But it is also a symbol of downfall and resurrection – an allegory of modern Germany.
Since the days of César Ritz the most experienced hoteliers managed this hotel. This book offers an intimate view into the life of the past and present days of the Frankfurter Hof, presenting images and sources never published before.
The guests of the Frankfurter Hof come from all over the world and from all different backgrounds. This book introduces over 900 names from the hotel’s guest book, a fine selection of illustrious personalities.
Andreas Augustin
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1872 – 1900
With the formation of the company “Frankfurter Hotel-Actien-Gesellschaft” the foundation stone of the Frankfurter Hof was laid on 29th October 1872.
On 26th June 1876 the grand hotel with the name “Frankfurter Hof” opened its doors with a large ceremony. The impressive new building was built by the architects Mylius and Bluntschli, 250 rooms (350 beds), 20 banquet rooms, a large dining hall created for 800 persons, elevators, steam heating and a spacious kitchen with 6.5 m high ceilings astonish guests as well as hoteliers from all over the world.
1891 the “Frankfurter Hof” owned the first public phone in Frankfurt and one year later in 1892, the first electric lightning.
In the same year the hotel company decided to lease the “Frankfurter Hof” to the well-known Swiss hotelier César Ritz. (see our book Hotel Savoy London, by Andreas Augustin and Andrew Williamson)
1900 – 2000
Until the beginning of the Second World War the number of guests rose constantly and even during the war the “Frankfurter Hof” existed as a platform for international guests and was not occupied by the Nazi regime.
In 1940 Albert Steigenberger, owner of the hotel “Europäischer Hof” in Baden-Baden purchased a stock majority and took over the management of the “Frankfurter Hof”.
In March 1944 the Hotel burnt down after frequent bomb attacks. Only the facades could be saved. The hotel re-opened only 4 years later in an adjoining building with 20 beds.
On January, 1st in 1951 Albert Steigenberger founded the A. Steigenberger Hotelgesellschaft KgaA.
In 1958 Egon Steigenberger inherited the hotel from his father. Under his leadership the “Frankfurter Hof” gained back its excellent position in the international hotel industry.
In 1961 the “Frankfurter Hof” became the largest hotel in the Federal Republic of Germany.
In 1976 the Gourmet-Restaurant Français was awarded with a Michelin Star.
The “Frankfurter Hof” was awarded the best business hotel in the world by the US magazines “Profi Travel” and “Business week” in 1992 and was listed as one of the 100 leading hotels of the world by the Institutional Investor in 1997.
The restaurant “OSCAR*S” opens in 1996 and fascinates with a young and fresh restaurant concept.
Investments of over DM 50 million were made.
2001 – 2009
Investments were made amounting to € 10 million for the renovation of all 332 rooms and suites, the banqueting hall and banquet rooms, furthermore the design of two new banquet rooms as well as the complete reconstruction of the main kitchen. The Gourmet Restaurant Français received its own kitchen.
2002 Opening of the exclusive Japanese Restaurant IROHA. As one of the first hotels in Germany the Frankfurter Hof offers the possibility to surf the Internet with wireless LAN (WiFi) and with high speed in all guest rooms as well as in the public areas.
2005 the completely renovated five star deluxe hotel with 332 rooms and suites, 18 banquet rooms, 4 restaurants, bar and the Skyline Wellness Club combines international flair, the latest technical standard and a personal guest service which satisfies the highest demands.
2006 Renovation work in the Frankfurter Hof. 21 single and double rooms are turned into 10 luxurious suites, Junior suites and Deluxe double rooms. Furthermore, the Restaurant Français undergoes a gleaming refurbishment in Louis VIII style, and is finally given its own small terrace. The Oscar*s Terrasse and the exterior facade also benefit from a new coat of paint.
2007 The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof is selected as the Institutional Investor Hotel of the Year.
2008 The gourmet Restaurant Français has been awarded one Michelin star and 17 out of 20 Gault Millau points. With this, Patrick Bittner completes the first stage of his illustrious career. The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof brings the legendary “Havana Lounge” back to life. In the autumn, the management opens the hotel’s very own “Cigarrum” for smoking enthusiasts.
2009 Steigenberger has a new majority shareholder and lays the foundation for a successful future. The Egyptian tourism company Travco Group International Holding S.A.E. takes on the majority shareholding of Steigenberger Hotels AG.
The gourmet Restaurant Français has been awarded one Michelin star again and 18 out of 20 Gault Millau points. Cigarrum is nominated as “Cigar Lounge of the Year 2010” by Gault Millau.
2010
The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof opened its book lounge. In a dignified, warm surrounding with the exquisite charm of a small library, guests can find a diverse selection of literature. The lounge will, in future, provide the perfect setting for readings and events.
The Gourmet Restaurant Français is awarded one Michelin star again and 18 out of 20 Gault Millau points.And Cigarrum is nominated as “Cigar Lounge of the Year 2010” by Gault Millau.
2011
The Gourmet Restaurant Français is awarded one Michelin star again and 17 out of 20 Gault Millau points. Patrick Bittner is awarded “Cook of the month” by the German Gourmet-Magazine “Der Feinschmecker” in February.
The Most Famous Hotels in the World start researching the complete history of the hotel to produce a picturesque book about the Frankfurter Hof.
2012
Renovations in the main building are under way. 100 rooms recieve a complete facelift. A Spa is built. Completion planned for end 2012/beginning 2013.
Reutlingen-based interior designer Cornelia Markus-Diedenhofen was commissioned with the design of the new guest rooms, which are now decorated in warm shades of cream and brown whilst a high-gloss dark wood veneer provides a classy contrast.
The hotel’s Hofgarten Restaurant is also being modernised.
2013
The highlight of the renovation project will be a new Day Spa of just under 1,000 m² in size, designed by Peter Silling & Associates from Cologne in conjunction with Berlin-based company GOCO Europe and to be completed by January 2013. A total of €30 million is being invested in the modernisation of the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof.
On 17 January the new book FRANKFURTER HOF by Andreas Augustin is presented.
An excerpt of the hotel's guest list (in the book we have compiled a list introducing over 800 names!).
Abbado ClaudioItalian conductorAdenauer KonradFirst Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany 1949-63Adorf MarioGerman actorAga Khan Begum InaaraWife of Karim Aga Khan IV.Akihito Prinz TsuguCrown prince of Japan (today‘s Emperor of Japan)Albert von Sachsen-Coburg und GothaPrince of Belgium, later King Albert II.Allen WoodyAmerican comedian, actor and directorAnastaciaAmerican singer and songwriterAndress UrsulaSwiss actressAnka PaulCanadian singer, composer, songwriter and actorArendt HannahGerman-American political theorist and authorArrau ClaudioChilean pianistAshkenazy VladimirRussian pianist and conductorAuguste Viktoria von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-AugustenburgGerman Empress, Queen of PrussiaAznavour CharlesFrench chanson singerBachmann IngeborgAustrian novelistBackhaus WilhelmGerman pianistBaltsa AgnesGreek opera singerBarnard ChristiaanSouth African cardiac surgeonBartok EvaHungarian-British actressBartoli CeciliaItalian opera singerBassey ShirleyBritish signerBécaud GilbertFrench chanson singerBeckenbauer FranzGerman football coach, manager and former player, 96 goalsBecker BorisGerman former World Nr 1 professional tennis player and Olympic gold medal winnerBegum Aga KhanYvette Blanche Labrousse, wife of Aga Khan III.Belafonte HarryAmerican singer, actor and entertainerBelmondo Jean PaulFrench actorBergman IngmarSwedish directorBernhard ThomasAustrian novelistBeuys JosefGerman action artist, sculptorBloch ErnstGerman Marxist philosopher, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1967Böhm KarlAustrian composerBöhm KarlheinzAustrian actor and founder of „Menschen für Menschen“Böll HeinrichGerman novelist, Nobel Prize for Literature 1972Boney M.Disco group of Frank Farian with international singersBoulez PierreFrench composer and conductorBrandauer Karl MariaAustrian actor and film directorBrynner YulAmerican actorBuchholz HorstGerman actorBumbry GraceAmerican opera singerBurckhardt Carl JacobSwiss historian, writer and diplomat, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1954Caballé MontserratSpanish opera singerCarreras JoseSpanish opera singerCash JohnnyAmerican country singerCelibidache SergiuRumanian conductorChamberlin Clarence DuncanAmerican aviatorChaplin Charles Jr.American actorChaplin GeraldineEnglish-American actressCharlotte von PreußenDutchess of Saxe-MeiningenChevalier MauriceFrench actor and chanson singerChirac JacquesPresident of FranceChristian XKing of DenmarkChulabhorn Walailak MahidolPrincess of Thailand, daughter of King Bhumibol and Queen SirikitCoelho PauloBrazilian novelistCooper GaryAmerican actorCooper Leroy GordonAmerican astronaut (Mercury-Atlas 9, Gemini 5)Copperfield DavidAmerican illusionistCourrèges AndréFrench fashion designerCrosby BingAmerican Jazz- and Pop-singerDalai Lama Tendzin GyatshoTibetan-Buddhist monk, spiritual leaderDanella UttaGerman novelistDavis Jr. SammyAmerican entertainer, actor, singer and impersonatorDe Winter LeonDutch writerDemski EvaGerman novelistDietrich MarleneGerman movie starDohnány Christoph vonGerman conductorDomingo PlacidoSpanish opera singerDonna LeonAmerican novelistDroemer WilliGerman publisher and founder of Droemer publishingDu Mont SkyGerman actorDürrenmatt FriedrichSwiss novelistEco UmbertoItalian writerEggerth MartaHungarian operetta singerEichinger Bernd & KatjaGerma producer, director and screenwriterEisenhower Dwight D. General34. President of the USAErhardt HeinzGerman comedian, musician, entertainer and actorEschenbach ChristophGerman pianist and conductorEsfandiary Bakhtiary SorayaWife of Reza Pahlavi from 1951-1958, Queen of PersiaEuler AugustGerman aviator, aircraft constructor and holder of German Pilots licence Nr 1, issued 1909Everding AugustGerman director and impresarioFelipe von SpanienPrince of Asturias, Crown prince of SpainFernandelFrench actor and singerFischer O.W.Austrian actorFlickenschild ElisabethGerman actressFollett KenBritish actorFontaine MargotBritish Prima Ballerina AssolutaForsyth FrederickBritish writer, novelistFournier PierreFrench cellistFreni MirellaItalian opera singerFriedrich VIIIKing of DenmarkFriedrich von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-GlücksburgPrince of Denmark, son of Christian IX. later King Friedrich VIII. (1906-1912)Frisch MaxSwiss playwright and novelist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1976Funke CorneliaGerman writerGandhi IndiraPrime minister of India, daughter of NehruGaran?a El?naLatvian opera singerGardiner John EliotBritish conductor, choirmasterGedda NicolaiSwedish opera singerGhiaurov NicolaiBulgarian opera singerGigli BeniaminoItalian opera singer and actorGoodman BennyAmerican jazz musician, band leader and clarinettistGorbatschow MichaelPresident of SU, Nobel Peace Prize 1990Grass GüntherGerman writer, Nobel Prize in Literature 1999Gréco JulietteFrench chanson singer and actressGreger MaxGerman big-band-leader, musician and conductorGrossman DavidIsraeli Writer and peace activist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2010Grzimek BernhardGerman behaviour researcher, manager of the Frankfurt zoo, producer of documentaries about animals and their behaviourGulda FriedrichAustrian pianist and composerGuns'n RosesAmerican Hard Rock bandHaas WaltrautAustrian actressHabsburg Otto vonAustrian-German politician, writer and publicist, former Crown Prince of AustriaHallstein IngeborgGerman opera singerHandke PeterAustrian novelistHanser CarlGerman publisher and founder of HanserHass HansAustrian sea biologist and filmmakerHassan ibn TalalCrown Prince of JordanHasse O EGerman actor, director and radio actorHavel VáclavCzech playwright, essayist, dissident and president, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1989Hearst William Randolph Jr.Heir of Hearst NewspapersHeesters JohannesDutch actor and singerHeller JosephAmerican writerHenkel GabrieleGerman art collector, author and artist, widow of Konrad HenkelHesse HermannGerman-Swiss poet, novelist and painter, Nobel Prize for Literature 1946, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1955Heuss TheodorPresident of Germany, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1959Highsmith PatriciaAmerican novelist and short-story writerHill GrahamBritish racing driver, twice Formula One World ChampionHill TerenceItalian actorHitchcock AlfredBritish directorHörbiger ChristianeAustrian actressHoffman DustinAmerican actorHold MarianneGerman actressHolm RenateGerman opera singerHorowitz VladimirAmerican-Ukrainian pianistHoven AdrianAustrian actor, producer and directorHoward „Boy“ GordonAmerican actorHudson RockAmerican actorHussein bin TalalKing of Jordan 1952-1999Ibn Saud von Saudi ArabienKing of Saudi ArabiaIgelhoff PeterAustrian musician and composerIrving JohnAmerican novelistJagger BiancaBritish-Nicaraguan human rights activist, actress and former modelJaspers KarlGerman philosopher and psychiatrist, Peace Price of the German Book Trade 1958Juan Carlos I. und SofiaKing and Queen of Spain since 1975Jürgens CurdAustrian-German actorJürgens UdoAustrian composer and singerJungk RobertGerman-Austrian journalist, writer and inventor of the future workshopKaas PatriciaFrench singerKästner ErichGerman writer and script writerKarajan Herbert von und ElietteAustrian conductorKemal Ya?arKurdish-Turkish writer, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1997Kennedy EdwardAmerican senatorKennedy RobertUS Senator of the USAKertész ImreHungarian writer, Nobel Prize for Literature 2002Kiefer AnselmGerman artist, painter and sculptor, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2008Kiepura JanPolish-American opera singerKishon EphraimIsraeli writerKissinger HenryAmerican Foreign Minister, Nobel Peace Prize 1973Knef HildegardGerman actress and chanson singerKnittel JohnSwiss writerKnuth GustavGerman actorKöth ErikaGerman opera singerKohl HelmutChancellor of GermanyKollek TeddyIsraeli politician, mayor of Jerusalem, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1985Konsalik Heinz G.German writerKopelew LewRussian dissident, humanist, and writer, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1981Kortner FritzAustrian director and actorKrüger HardyGerman actor and writerKrupp, AlfriedIndustrialistKulenkampff Hans-JoachimGerman actor and TV presenterLagerfeld KarlGerman fashion designer, photographer and costume designerLamfalussy Baron AlexandreHungarian- European economist and central bankerLang FritzAustrian-American director, actor and screenwriterLast JamesGerman big band leader, composer and music producerLeander ZarahSwedish actress and singerLehmann LotteGerman opera singerLenz SiegfriedGerman novelist, playwright and essayist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1988Leon DonnaAmerican writerLeuwerik RuthGerman actressLevine Charles AlbertAmerican millionaire, first passenger aboard a transatlantic flightLindgren AstridSwedish author and screenwriter, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1978Lollobrigida GinaItalian actress, photographer and sculptorLoren SophiaItalian actressLübke HeinrichPresident of GermanyLuise von HohenzollernPrincess of Prussia, Grand duchess of BadenMainardi EnricoItalian cellist, composer and conductorMankell HenningSwedish writer and directorMann ThomasGerman writer and Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature 1929Marceau MarcelFrench pantomimeMayo Charles WilliamAmerican surgeon and board member of the Mayo ClinicMcDonalds MalcolmScottish aristocrat and travellerMcLaine ShirleyAmerican actress, dancer and writerMeinrad JosefGerman actorMenuhin YehudiAmerican conductor and violinist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1979Meysel IngeGerman actressMick JaggerBritish band leader of the Rolling Stones, singer and song writerMidler BetteAmerican actress, singer and comedianMiller ArthurAmerican novelistMinnelli LizaAmerican singer and actressMitscherlich AlexanderGerman psychoanalyst, writer, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1969Mitterand FrancoisPresident of FranceMoffo AnnaItalian-American opera singerMoser HansAustrian actorMuhammad Bin TalalCrown Prince of JordanMuti RicardoItalian conductorMyrdal AlvaSwedish sociologist, Nobel Peace Prize 1982, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1970 with husband GunnarNat „King“ ColeAmerican Jazz-pianist and singerNenaGerman Pop singerNesser HakanSwedish novelistNicoletti SusiAustrian actressNilsson BirgitSwedish opera singerNitribitt RosemarieGerman call girlNurejew RudolfRussian-Austrian ballet dancerOistrach IgorUkrainian violinistOno YokoJapanese-American artist, filmmaker, musician, wife of John LennonOpel AdamGerman industrialist, co-founder of OpelOrff CarlGerman composerPamuk OrhanTurkish novelist and screenwriter, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2005, Nobel Prize for Literature 2006Pavarotti LucianoItalian opera singerPeck GregoryAmerican actorPeleBrazilian football player, 1088 goalsPerlman ItzhakIsraeli violinistPeter II. von KaradordevicLast King of YugoslaviaPorsche FerdinandGerman car constructorPresley PriscillaAmerican actress, wife of Elvis PresleyQuadflieg WillGerman actorQuinn AnthonyAmerican actorRaabe MaxGerman singer and leader of the Palast OrchesterRathenau EmilGerman entrepreneur and industrialist, founder of the German Edison Society of Applied Electricity, later AEGReincke HeinzGerman actorRichards CliffBritish pop musician and singerRingelnatz JoachimGerman writer, comedian and painterRivel CharlieFrench clownRökk MarikaAustrian actress, singer and dancerRolling StonesBritish pop groupRoss DianaAmerican actress, Jazz- and Pop-singerRosselini IsabellaItalian actress and filmmakerRosselini RobertoItalian directorRubinstein ArthurPolish-American classical pianistRühmann HeinzGerman actorScheel WalterPresident of GermanySchell MaximilianSwiss actorSchmeling MaxGerman boxing championSchneider RomyGerman actressScholl-Latour PeterGerman-French journalist, writer and filmmakerSchreier PeterGerman opera singerSchutz Frére RogerSwiss founder of the ecumenical Taizé Community, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1974Schwarzkopf ElisabethGerman-British opera singerSchweitzer AlbertGerman theologian, organist, philosopher, physician and medical missionary, Peace Nobel Prize in 1952, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1951Simmel Johannes MarioGerman writerSolti GeorgHungarian-British conductorSontag SusanAmerican essayist, literary icon and political activist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2003Spencer BudItalian actorSperber ManésAustrian-French philosopher and novelist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1983Spielberg StevenAmerican director, producer and script writerSpringsteen BruceAmerican Rock musicianStewart JamesAmerican actorStingBritish Rock-musician and actorStolz RobertAustrian composer and conductorSuter MartinSwiss writerTanaka MichikoJapanese actress and singerTennant NeilPet Shop Boys / music bandThatcher MargaretPM of Great BritainTrapp Maria vonAustrian author and leader of the Trapp Family ChoirTrenker LuisSouth Tyrolean actor, mountaineer, director and writerTschechowa OlgaGerman actress and founder of a cosmetics companyTurner TinaAmerican singer and actressUllmann LivNorwegian novelistUstinov PeterBritish actorVargas Llosa MarioPeruvian-Spanish writer, journalist and politician, Nobel Prize in Literature 2010, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1996Vidal GoreAmerican writerVilar EstherArgentine-German writerWalser MartinGerman writer, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1998Warhol AndyAmerican artist, leading figure in Pop Art, filmmaker and publisherWeizsäcker Richard vonPresident of Germany, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1963Welles OrsonAmerican film directorWerner IlseGerman actress and singerWerner OskarAustrian actorWestheimer RuthGerman-American sex-therapist and authorWilder ThorntonAmerican novelist, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 1957Willis BruceAmerican actorWolf ChristaGerman writerZinnemann FredAustrian-American film directorZuckmayer CarlGerman novelist
1876 J. Fauchère-Schimon
1899 Ferdinand Hillengass
1902 Georges Gottlob bis 1933, Ferdinand Hillengass
1916 C.Schmoll und F. Wangemann
1933 Franz Wangemann und O. Hillengass
1937 Eugen Karl Otto Hillengass
1952 Kurt von Ru?cker
1957 Anton Ruppert, Albert Wachs
1958 Hugo Seidl
1961 Kurt von Ru?cker
1964 Albert Wachs
1965 Curt W. Peyer
1975 Hugo Seidl
1980 Fred Eggert
1981 Bernd O. Ludwig
1992 Robert A. Schaller
1996 Peter J. Leitgeb
2004 Gerhard Mitrovits—hotel manager Kai A. Winkler
2007 Reinhard Heermann
2008 Spiridon Sarantopoulos
2011 Armin Schroecker
2014 Moritz Klein (ab 1. Feber)
Restaurant Francais is regarded as the best hotel restaurant in Frankfurt
Oscar*s is the latest highly successful gastronomic idea of the Frankfurter Hof. As cafe, bar restaurant and bistro, it offers an innovative menue, new world wines and cocktails.
The Author´s bar, die Autorenbar is ideal for drinks tea and snacks
A restaurant in the basement offers the biggest variety of Japanese food in town.
Exquisite new Spa (opened January 2013) with Turkish Bath and "The Barber", a men's salon