Interviewing General Manager Nina Quitmann of the new 25hours Hotel Hamburg Altes Hafenamt

Earlier this month upscale boutique hoteliers, 25hours Hotels opened a stunning new hotel in Hamburg, the Altes Hafenamt on the harbor. I had the opportunity to talk with the new hotel's director, Nina Quitmann about the impact, and the potential of this new property. I think you will find her in depth and detailed responses to be telling of how excellent hotels come into being.

Phil Butler: The new Altes Hafenamt opening is slated to have many unique features. What do you find most exciting/interesting about this new Magdeburg Harbor hotel?

Nina Quitmann: The Altes Hafenamt is a listed building with a living history. But it is not only a historical witness in the Ueberseequartier, it is also one of the lowest-lying buildings. The former Hafenamt lies more-or-less in a hollow within the HafenCity. This explains why we have to deal with several levels and very individual floor plans.
This biography, as well as the sensitive handling of the old building, were the guiding principles for the interior design. The Augsburg design team DREIMETA led by Armin Fischer is responsible for this and creates the new hotel in the cosy style of a captain's home: The venerable figure of the old harbour master acts as godfather, providing inspiration to the guests as they move through the house. As much historical detail as possible, was preserved and integrated as a creative interpretation.

Phil Butler: The historic Überseequartier is a fabulous location for a hotel business, but can you tell us about the challenges to creating a memorable stay for guests there?

Nina Quitmann: None of the 49 guestrooms are alike. 49 rooms mean 49 different floor plans between 20 - 50 square meters. Some sections literally scream for some creative solutions like the one in the south wing with an oriel is perfect for a free-standing bathtub. Diversity is the key: Some quarters on the ground floor have a terrace, roof rooms on the 3rd floor delight with open beams, others impress with a ceiling height of up to 3 meters or a view of the Magdeburg Harbour. A playful option for families or small groups of friends are rooms that can be combined or expanded. For those who like something special, they can book the spacious harbour master's room on the 1st floor: with stuccoed ceilings and a small Juliet balcony.

An all this is based on our philosophy. We don't believe the customer is king but should, instead, feel like a guest at home with friends. Guests don't just simply stay at our house, they deliberately choose dynamism, surprise and a touch of adventure. Our hotel is a social hub. A place where international travellers and local guests form a community, entertaining and being entertained. Since we don't take ourselves too seriously, we believe that our guests deserve to have a bit of fun. Everyone who stays at a 25hours Hotel should leave with a story to tell.

Phil Butler: We've read the press that talk about Hotel Altes Hafenamt being a far more "private" nature of this hotel, versus some of the other 25hours properties. Can you tell us a bit about how this character is accomplished?

Nina Quitmann: "Sailors stay in the HafenCity, captains stay in the Altes Hafenamt. There is of course still the connecting link of the maritime theme but it's expressed in a totally different way. The Altes Hafenamt is a new opening, not a continuation. In line with its historical past, the wishes to appear more worldly and adult. Its character is more that of a boutique hotel, more grown-up and informal. This is both reflected in the interior design and the overall atmosphere.

Vintage objects meet flea market finds, new harmonises with the old. The loose furniture varies in each room and individually enhances the identical basic set-up of the 49 rooms. They all have king-size beds. Plus they also boast the popular 25hours standards that our guests appreciate: ultra-comfortable beds, air-conditioning, sustainable toiletries, flat-screen TV, minibar, bluetooth loudspeakers and free Wi-Fi. Those who book in the L and XL categories can enjoy a Nespresso machine and Samova- tea in the room – use is included in the room price.

By the way, trendy cycling is also part of the scene at the Altes Hafenamt in typical 25hours tradition: Twelve rooms in the categories L and XL also feature Pelago bikes as part of the fixtures and furnishings. The great thing is: They don't just look good, they can also be put to good use. Anybody who wants more physical exercise or fancies a quick workout can take a look in the fitness room on the 2nd floor.

Phil Butler: It's clear the guests of Hotel Altes Hafeamt will experience something unique, but what about the NENI Restaurant & The Boilerman Bar? What make Restaurant an Bar so special?

Nina Quitmann: As is so often the case with 25hours, the Altes Hafenamt closely interacts with its location. This also includes joining with strong local & international partners to create a meeting place for locals and travellers alike. To be able to breathe new life into the oldest building in the HafenCity is fantastic and will add even more variety to the heart of the Ueberseequartier.

We are also serving exciting culinary delights from early morning to late in the night: The NENI Restaurant seats 80 and serves up the eclectic cuisine of Haya Molcho: a culinary mosaic of Persian, Russian, Arabic, Moroccan, Israeli, Turkish, Spanish, German and Austrian influences. It lives from the shared experience and enjoyment of the dishes. Something that is very easy to do in the most beautiful places in the restaurant, on the terrace or in the idyllic inner courtyard.

We admire the Molcho family as a powerful creative force in Vienna's gastronomic scene. We enjoy a very successful partnership between the Zurich and Berlin houses and we are delighted that this culinary liaison is now extending to Hamburg. NENI fits perfectly into the history of the Altes Hafenamt, because Haya Molcho weds homeland and wanderlust into a joyful culinary experience.

And before or after visiting the restaurant our guests are strolling through the hall – past the wonderful nautical charts – take them to the Boilerman Bar.

A stage for convivial meetings and alcoves for relaxing moments with good drinks. A small, fine and unusual place with a casual character. By partnering with Joerg Meyer and Rainer Wendt we were able to establish a type of bar concept that is unique within the HafenCity. A quality neighbourhood bar where you can enjoy a precision-mixed highball in a relaxed atmosphere.

A highball derives from a signal used on the American railroad. When a train drove through a station and saw a high ball, it meant: you're not on schedule, drive faster. The person who then had to ramp up the speed was the boilerman, the person who fired up the boiler. So, the bartenders in the Boilerman Bar are the warm-up guys and the guests are passengers on a journey to a great drinking style. This approach will surprise and delight neighbours, barflies and hotel guests.

Phil Butler
Senior Partner
Pamil Visions PR