Hybrids are dynamic, multifunctional spaces where people can stay, work, eat and drink, and socialise all under one roof. Over the past 18 months, many hospitality brands have pivoted to a hybrid model in order to maximise revenue and cater to changing guest needs.
In this series, we’re travelling around the world to highlight the brands that are leading the way in this exciting space. This month, we’re heading over to Germany! Here are seven of the leading hybrid hospitality brands in Germany:
1. The Student Hotel, Berlin
Currently operating in 15 European cities – including Germany’s capital Berlin – The Student Hotel is a pioneer in the hybrid hospitality space. Each urban-campus style property offers so much more than just a place to stay, with accommodation, co-working spaces, bars, restaurants, gyms and shops all under one roof.
Their Berlin spot is in a prime location in the city’s central Mitte district and features a bar & restaurant, fitness centre, flexible coworking space and shared lounge. Rooms are equipped with mod-cons like flat-screen TVs, air-con and Nespresso machines, and there’s a Family Studio option with bunk beds for those travelling in a group. Like all Student Hotels, there are extended stay options so guests can check-in for one night or up to one year. Reviewers rave about the welcoming vibe, friendly staff and free activities which include yoga, city walking tours and movie nights.
While many hospitality groups took a serious hammering in Germany during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Student Hotel’s flexible hybrid model meant they were able to reallocate rooms in sync with changing consumer demand and achieve strong occupancy despite travel restrictions. Following on from this success, the company recently secured a huge €300 million investment which will fuel their expansion – there are seven new hotels in the pipeline and 3000 rooms set to be added to their portfolio, so expect to see this award-winning hybrid hospitality concept in a city near you very soon!
2. The Circus, Berlin
Three houses in the heart of Berlin’s Rosenthaler Platz neighbourhood form to make The Circus Hotel, The Circus Hostel and The Circus Apartments. The group caters to travellers on all budgets by offering a range of accommodation options from dorm beds for backpackers to luxury boutique apartments perfect for business travellers.
Whichever type of stay guests opt for, the philosophy remains the same – The Circus team believe strongly in bringing people together through travel and in providing a hospitality experience that is sustainable for their staff, their city and the environment.
This commitment to connecting people to each other and to the city is exemplified by their Behind the Curtain programme – a specially curated series of events and activities designed to showcase the very best of Berlin and take people beyond the guidebooks. From street food tours to after-hours gallery visits and live music performances, the team draw on their local knowledge to give guests a truly unique and personalised experience.
Back on-site, there’s The Circus Café, rooftop terraces, cosy courtyards and even a microbrewery producing excellent craft beer. In a slightly quirkier feature which we just had to mention, the hostel is also home to the world’s only Hoff Museum where fans of David Hasselhoff can celebrate the man himself.
3. URBAN LOFT, Cologne
This Cologne-founded loft hotel concept serves up contemporary style and buzzing spaces to appeal to young professionals in the heart of the city. Designed to be a place where creative locals and travellers can connect, URBAN LOFT – which describes its offering as ‘an experience’ – provides the opportunity for people to stay, work, eat, drink and socialise all under one roof.
Dubbed an extension of the city, URBAN LOFT’s design-led rooms are colourful, modern and equipped with SmartTVs, USB ports and sustainable bathroom products. Rotating exhibitions, pop-up shops and boxed breakfast options are all on-site to make their guests stay that much more of an experience versus the typical hotel stay.
Their dedicated onsite coworking space has been designed as an inspiring environment for remote workers to drop by and get down to business. Hotel guests can fuel up with unlimited coffee when working here and they charge just €10 for locals and visitors who want to make use of this space.
Urban Loft’s sister hotel is set to open in Berlin in 2022, so watch this space.
4. Generator – Berlin Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Hamburg
Located in 14 locations across Europe and the US, Generator combines the social culture of a hostel with design-centric accommodation, vibrant communal spaces and quality food and drink to offer guests the ultimate luxury on a budget experience.
With 3 sites across Germany, Generator’s design-led hotels give guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in a dynamic social culture and connect with each other as well as with their surroundings.
As well as stylish yet affordable rooms, Generator offers both guests and locals a variety of social spaces opportunity to relax, meet others and work including chill-out spaces, an alfresco terrace, library, beer garden and a variety of onsite cafe, bar and restaurant options.
As trailblazers of the shared accommodation model, Generator is always a brand to watch.
5. Hostel Die Wohngemeinschaft, Cologne
They say good things come in small packages and while Hostel Die Wohngemeinschaft may only offer 16 rooms for guests to stay, it certainly packs a punch.
Located in the heart of Cologne’s hippest neighbourhood, the Belgian Quarter, this hostel is home to a café-bar, theatre, common lounge and ‘creative rooms’ which can be hired for inspiring conversations away from your desk.
Each of the 16 rooms is individually decorated with a unique theme and dorm bunks are equipped with a curtain for privacy as well as its own reading lamp and plug socket. Their versatile theatre space seats up to 70 people and hosts a variety of events including live music, talks, plays and films.
Their social spaces and café-bar areas are popular with locals and guests alike, the perfect spaces to meet, eat, drink and work. If guests are in need of a quieter area to meet that deadline or complete a project, the hostel also has a living room that you can work from first and relax in later.
6. Moxy, Berlin Ostbahnhof
On the ground floor, guests will find plenty of space to catch up on emails with dedicated computers for those who need to work on the go and a meeting room to make use of. Plus, there’s an onsite library so guests can grab a book to read during their trip.When winding down from a busy day of work, guests can take part in an onsite fitness class,ask the staff for an adult colouring book, or take part in a games room showdown.
There’s also an onsite bar for those after-work cocktails, with a free welcome drink provided on arrival to all guests (we’ll cheers to that).
The hotel’s 210 rooms are modern, vibrant and comfortable with options catering to solo travellers and groups or families. Staff are friendly and will happily share their local knowledge of the best things to do and see in the city.
Moxy Berlin is positioned to appeal to travellers on a budget who still want a premium experience, with affordable stays around 100 euros a night.
7. nHow, Berlin
Located just a short distance from Berlin Central Station on the banks of the River Spree, the nHow Berlin is both Germany’s and Europe’s first music hotel. The hotel is home to not one but two professional recording studios and even offers guests room service with a twist – guitars and keyboards can be delivered to their rooms free of charge.
There’s also an onsite restaurant and bar serving up international cuisine and cocktails. Unsurprisingly given the theme, nHow Berlin regularly plays host to exclusive concerts and club events and is located on the border of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, the property is close to some of the city’s best music venues.
For digital nomads and business travellers, catch up with your emails and work from their vibrant lobby area while grabbing a bite to eat and drink. In the warmer months, you can grab a spot on their outdoor terrace to take in the views and embrace that ‘work from anywhere’ life.
Besides Germany, nHow is currently operating in 7 countries in Europe with plans to open in four more locations soon, including their South American debut in Santiago de Chile. The brand has recently launched workcation packages to target remote workers at a number of their sites, including London and Amsterdam.
Danke for reading! We hope you enjoyed learning more about some of the best hybrid hospitality brands in Germany.
Are you looking for marketing support for your hybrid hospitality brand? We work with innovative businesses that are changing the way people stay, live, work & play. From hybrid hotels to design hostels and coliving spaces, our clients create spaces that connect like-minded people through shared experiences.
If you’re looking for a marketing team that finally ‘gets it’ – and gets results – you’re in the right place.
Drop us a message and let’s chat about how we can support your brand.
