List of the 100 largest hotel operators Germany [2024 Update]

List of the 3 largest hotel operators in Germany

Hotel properties are a popular asset class – sometimes with investors or project developers – and generally operate via operating companies. In only a few cases is the operator also the owner of the property. There are hotel chains that have a large number of brands and operate with these either only regionally or in their own country, in some cases throughout Europe or even globally. In short, the hotel operator market is complex and difficult to understand. In the following, we present three renowned hotel operators in Germany that are part of our database in more detail.

1. Accor Hotellerie Deutschland GmbH

One of the most renowned hotel operators on the German market is undoubtedly Accor Hotellerie Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of the French Accor Group. Founded in 1967 by Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson, Accor opened its first hotel under the Novotel brand in Lille, France. A few years later, the German market was entered for the first time with the Ibis and Mercure hotel brands. In 1983, Deutschland GmbH was finally established to further accelerate growth. After the hotel portfolio had been expanded by several brands by the turn of the millennium and ultimately ranged from budget (Ibis) to luxury (Sofitel), a phase of consolidation, modernisation and rebranding began in 2010. Today, the company operates over 300 hotels in Germany. In other words, the Germany-wide presence also plays an important role in the realisation of the group’s Europe-wide strategy.

2. B&B HOTELS GmbH

The French budget hotel chain B&B – an abbreviation for Bed & Breakfast – has a strong presence on the domestic market through its German subsidiary and has always been aimed at price-conscious travellers. After the company was founded in 1990, it expanded into Germany almost 10 years later with the first B&B Hotel in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Further openings quickly followed, particularly in cities with many business travellers, including Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. The attractive hotel location at convenient points (close to motorways, airports, etc.), the uncomplicated self-service concept (at breakfast) and the functional rooms became increasingly popular – also with short breaks and leisure travellers. Finally, in 2010, the US investor Carlyle Group took over the hotel chain and accelerated the expansion throughout Europe enormously before the French investment company Eurazeo took over in 2016. Today, B&B HOTELS GmbH operates around 170 locations throughout Germany.

3. Marriott International (Marriott Hotel Holding GmbH)

The US hotel chain operator Marriott is one of the most important global players and also has a very relevant position in Germany. Its history is quite unique: the company was originally founded in 1927 as a so-called root beer stand, then continued as a restaurant chain and finally developed into a global hotel empire. Around 40 years after it was founded, the first hotel expansion into Europe took place in this context, before the first Marriott Hotel in Germany (Hamburg) finally opened its doors in 1986. With its brands, the hotel group primarily operates in the upscale segment (e.g. Marriott Hotels & Resorts) and is also a leader in luxury hotels (e.g. The Ritz-Carlton). However, new and innovative brands such as Moxy Hotels and AC Hotels are now also intended to reach millennials, design-conscious guests and an urban audience. By acquiring the Sheraton, Westin, Le Méridien and W Hotels brands, Marriot became the largest hotel operator in the world overnight and therefore also plays a leading role in Germany with around 120 hotels.

Picture source: Rafi Thissen via Unsplash (10.09.2024)

Hotel chains and hotel companies: This information is included

• Company name
• Number of locations/hotels (Germany)
• Foreign presence Yes/No
• Segment (Budget / Medium / Luxury / Mixed)
• Brand portfolio (examples) if available
• General contact details (address, e-mail address, telephone number, URL)
• Salutation of the management suitable for form letters (e.g. ‘Dear Dr Müller’)

Note: If the sales and employee figures are not included in a company’s own financial statements but in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the data from the respective consolidated financial statements are provided.

Picture source: sidath vimukthi via Unsplash (10.09.2024)