THE FONTENAY TO MAKE ITS DEBUT IN HAMBURG IN AUTUMN 2016

 

29 SEPTEMBER 2015 - Luxury hospitality in Hamburg will be taken to a new level in autumn 2016 with the debut of The Fontenay, the first five star superior hotel to open in the city for the last 18 years. A 131-room contemporary lakeside hotel in the heart of the city, The Fontenay is set to become a true modern classic, sitting on the tranquil banks of Lake Alster within a ten-minute walk of Hamburg's cosmopolitan city centre.

 

Construction of The Fontenay began on 14th August 2014 when ground on the Euro 100 million project was broken.  Designed by Hamburg architect, Jan Störmer of Störmer Murphy and Partners, The Fontenay will have a sculpture-like architecture that mirrors the fluid lines of the lake and surrounding parkland, offering pure lakeside luxury.  The Fontenay will create the perfect balance between the natural and urban spheres, making it a great example of the urban nature trend.  Featuring a façade of white ceramic tiles, the hotel evolves from three fusing circles that form two interior open spaces, including the 27m high atrium, which will be flooded with natural daylight, as will all guest floor corridors.  

 

The Fontenay will have 131 rooms and suites starting at a minimum size of 43m2, all with floor to ceiling windows and balconies offering views of the lake.  The abundant sunlight, sparkling lake waters and lush parkland surrounding the hotel will be reflected in its interior décor.  The use of warm colours and parquet wood flooring, along with 2.6m high ceilings as standard in all guest rooms, will amplify the sense of space and light.  The two top suites will be 185m2 and 245m2 respectively, both opening out onto large lake-view terraces.  The hotel will have two restaurants; one all-day dining and another gourmet offering cuisine from a Michelin-starred chef. 

 

Outdoor living will be embraced at The Fontenay at every opportunity, from the terraces of guest rooms and restaurants, to the roof, where the bar will be the perfect place to watch the sun set over the city.  Also on the roof will be a full-service spa, where the waters of a 20m horizon edge indoor/outdoor pool will appear to merge with the sparkling water of the Alster below.  The Fontenay will have four meeting rooms, all offering natural daylight and varying in size from 65m2 to 220m2.

 

The Fontenay is owned and developed by Klaus-Michael Kühne, majority shareholder and Honorary Chairman of the globally operating Kühne + Nagel Logistics Group, who seized the opportunity to build a hotel on the banks of the Alster as a lasting tribute to the city he was born in and the lake he grew up on. It will be the second hotel developed by Kühne and his wife, Christine, who in 2013 sensitively restored an 18th century castle in Calvia, Mallorca, opening it as a 38-room Leading hotel, Castell Son Claret.   

 

“Our goal is that The Fontenay makes a lasting and positive contribution to the further development and enrichment of Hamburg, not only as a business centre, but as a unique destination for international leisure travellers, embraced by its local community,” commented Mr. Kühne.  

 

The Fontenay's general manager is Thies Sponholz, who joined the management team in January 2015 from Rocco Forte's Hotel de Rome, where he had been general manager since 2006.   Commenting on the project, Sponholz said, “There couldn't be a better time for The Fontenay. The hotel is a reflection of modern Hamburg; a homage to the Hanseatic city.  As Hamburg's dynamic spirit gathers momentum, the international traveller is discovering the Elbe metropolis as a new hub.  For this clientele, The Fontenay offers the perfect place to stay.  Our aim is to create a contemporary and cosmopolitan lifestyle experience that connects with each individual guest, ensuring they feel recognized, at ease, respected and understood.”

 

The hotel is named after the American shipbroker, John Fontenay, who came from Pennsylvania to Hamburg in the 19th century and fell in love with the idea of residing on the beautiful banks of the Alster.  In 1816, he bought several parcels of real estate and it is on this land that, 200 years later, The Fontenay will open its doors.  

 

Hamburg is an elegant and vibrant city representative of modern, dynamic Germany, having recently been voted by German travellers as their favourite city, and has strong cultural and economic ties to the USA and UK.  Germany's largest waterfront city, life in Hamburg centres around the water for trade, culture and leisure, and the city is a popular stop-off point for those touring Scandinavia.  It has one of the world's largest cruise ship ports and regularly plays host to ocean liners such as MS Europa 2 and Europa as well as Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth.  It is also renowned for world-class art collections such as that found at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, and architecture such as the historic Speicherstadt, or warehouse district, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2015.  The next two years will see the eagerly awaited opening of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in January 2017 and the results of Hamburg's bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games.  It is the birthplace of Karl Lagerfeld and its live music scene is world famous, drawing the likes of The Beatles, who performed in Hamburg in the early 1960s.  

 

Follow our progress on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheFontenayHamburg or via our website www.thefontenay.de. 

 

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Media requiring further information or artist's renderings of The Fontenay, Hamburg, should contact Vicky Legg at Thrive Communications by email at Vicky@thrivecommunications.co.uk or by calling +44 (0)7702 929795.