Interview
Twin attractions for a flying visit to Frankfurt
RICK ENDERS, GM FRANKFURT AIRPORT MARRIOTT & SHERATON, TELLS PAUL COLSTON ABOUT A MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY AND A NEW REAL-TIME RESERVATION SYSTEM
F rankfurt Airport
Marriott Hotel and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center – the world’ s first dual brand hotel combination of two Marriott International Premium brands under one roof – is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The complex – one of the largest airport hotels in Europe – is directly connected to Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 and the AIRrail ICE long-distance train station via a pedestrian bridge.
“ It is a big milestone since we opened in 1975 when we started off with 500 + rooms, now we are at 1,017,” says general manager Rick Enders, pointing out that the 50th guest who checked in on 18 February received 50,000 Bonvoy points.
The Sheraton’ s Congress Center is the jewel in the event complex which totals over 4,000sqm of events space for hosting a range of business meetings, conferences and corporate functions in a destination that sits in the economic centre of the Rhine-Main region. There are two Club Lounges and over 50 meetings rooms over the two properties.
The prime location means the new Sky Train can take you direct to the soon to be opened Terminal 3 – no need to deal with bus picks ups.
The hotel is also ideal for the traveller who has an early flight or for returning travellers who come in late and wish to carry on somewhere the next day.
I met with Enders during IMEX and he explained they had specially created a departure lounge for the hosted buyers right next to The Eatery kitchen and bar, right in the middle of both hotels.
The property is Green Key certified and offsets its own carbon footprint, as well as offering the‘ Connect Responsible’ programme through Marriott International so that organisers can also carbon offset their meetings. And the hotel’ s Next Gen Business Council initiative has organised the planting of 1,500 trees in a nearby forest.
“ Lead times are getting shorter, especially for smaller meetings,” Enders notes, but adds that RevPAR is growing.
Investing in the future The hotels invest heavily in new apprenticeships, Enders explains.“ We go to recruitment fairs and to the universities, but methods of attracting
Above: Rick Enders
Below: Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and Congress Center
new talent have changed, with efforts moving more to YouTube and LinkedIn. The next generation wants to have more flexible working hours.”
He started his own career in hospitality 37 years ago as a chef in the US but says he has never been tempted to get on the shoulder of his chefs.
“ My old GM told me many years ago when I went into general management.‘ Make sure you have a great executive housekeeper, a fantastic front office person, but hire a first time executive chef and first-time F & B because in the worst case you can step in!”
Real-time reservations And there is a new service on offer – self-booking. The hotels were pilot venues for real-time booking on demand, initially with 10 boardrooms for 8-10 people available.“ You put in the date and use your credit card. Pick up the key when you get here and away you go,” explains Enders.“ Clients can now book online through the marriott. com website. We and Sheraton Amsterdam are the first hotels in Europe to start such as scheme.” n
20 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 137