Very satisfying annual result 2022 / Maritim with positive forecast

“We have not only broken even, but we are clearly in the black. Fortunately, the fourth quarter also went significantly over the target,” reports Martin Friedrich, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH for the 2022 financial year. With sales of 300 million euros, the hotel business managed to generate a profit of around 11 million euros, according to preliminary figures. It is a very satisfying annual result, which considerably exceeded our expectations, even if it still is far below pre-Covid levels,” Friedrich concludes.

The hard Covid-related cutbacks in the hotel portfolio have therefore paid off. “In addition, we have significantly accelerated digital processes in many business units and implemented a number of structural improvements in our hotels,” adds Erik van Kessel, Managing Director Operations and Labour Director for Maritim Hotelgesellschaft.

The positive development in headcount is just as important. While many staff members moved away from the hotel industry during the Covid pandemic, Maritim Hotelgesellschaft managed meanwhile to attract or win back around 1000 employees. Currently, the Group once again has a total of 3,400 employees in Germany and 5,500 worldwide. “Our guests benefit from this above all, since wholehearted hospitality and excellent can only be guaranteed with appropriately trained personnel,” Erik van Kessel explains.

Satisfaction among employees has increased once again, by 8% compared to the pre-Covid level, as the current Maritim employee survey shows: “Of course, the human resources situation in the sector is still rather strained, but we are seeing a clear rising trend and are happy to note that after the extremely hard Covid period, considerably more people are showing enthusiasm for the hotel sector.

And young people are also contributing to this, since with nearly 1000 trainees throughout all the apprenticeship years, just as many new recruits are learning the trade in one of the 25 German Maritim hotels as before the Covid-19 pandemic. Just recently, “kununu” awarded Maritim with the “Top Company 2023” prize; the decisive aspect here was the company’s high commitment to education and training above all. On a digital platform, employees evaluate their employer, which can be honoured with the “Top Company” award for especially good evaluations.

Business development in Germany

“The tourist segment significantly recovered in 2022; in the private customer sector, many holidays were made up for. People have been travelling excessively again looking for relaxation; as a result, our hotels in holiday regions and attractive city locations enjoyed high demand at good rates,” Erik van Kessel concludes.

Yet he adds that the convention sector is only partly ‘back in business’. Although the business has been seeing strong catch-up effects, small events above all, while congresses and trade fairs have come back, bringing good rates for the hotel industry. Since the Covid break, customers have been booking rather short-term, so long-term planning is hardly possible. “Due to the long pre-planning period, the large events which are very important for Maritim are still not back to the usual level,” he says.

In addition, Maritim Hotels have to react to the increasing costs caused by the energy crisis and inflation and pass them on in part to the customers. “So for this reason as well, the state of advance bookings in the convention sector is rather moderate and currently not at the level we would wish it to be,” he explains.

In spite of all that, the forecast for 2023 looks altogether positive. “The current political and economic framework is difficult, but good business development in 2022 is very motivating for us. Well-booked hotels mean more work of course, while the staffing level is still rather short. For this reason, we are attaching even more importance to internal training, employee development and the education of young people than ever before. It is very important to us that our employees are happy; then our guests are happy as well. And we are really looking forward to the new cutting-edge Maritim hotels in Ingolstadt and Amsterdam,” says Dr. Monika Gommolla, owner and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH.

Opening in just a few weeks: Maritim Hotel Ingolstadt

Situated in a top location on the Danube, the new Maritim Hotel and Congress Centre Ingolstadt will be a unique location for event planners and travellers. The hotel offers 223 state-of-the-art rooms and suites, including 191 Classic, Comfort and Superior category double rooms and 32 luxury suites.

It is expected to open at the beginning of May, while the official ceremony will take place on 19 June, with the participation of all project members and invited high-ranking guests from the world of politics, business and culture. It is at that time that the modern and spacious event capacities will be fully used for the first time. The hotel itself has a 170 sq. metre room for 152 people. The 4th level features a rooftop terrace with a view of the castle and direct access from the Congress Centre, offering a variety of options for festive events and incentives.

The Congress Centre with direct access to the hotel houses a large room, which can be expanded with a stage (optional) and a gallery. There is enough space here for up to 1,289 persons. In addition, there is a conference area on the 2nd level, which offers eleven differently sized conference rooms including a lounge, stretching over a total area of 1,292 square metres. The hall and all the conference rooms have natural light and there is the option of combining conference rooms together. Along with the hall, the Congress Centre features a total conference area of 4,172 sq. metres for 2,432 persons.

The gastronomical heart of the hotel is the “Danubio” Restaurant with summer terrace, complemented by the “Ingold” Bistro offering international haute cuisine with Bavarian accents, as well as the “Barrista” Café and Piano Bar with live music.

The new Maritim Hotel Ingolstadt is situated in the direct vicinity of the New Castle with the main collection of the Bavarian Army Museum , the Audi Academy, and much more. The historic Old Town is just a short walk away, while the distance to the main train station is 4 km, and only about 6 km to Ingolstadt Village. The underground car park has 524 parking places as well as charging stations for the Hotel and Congress Centre.

Climate protection at Maritim: “Company Footprint”

To offer our guests accommodations that are as climate-friendly and environmentally-friendly as possible, all Maritim Hotels in Germany are currently undergoing an elaborate sustainability check. For this project, Maritim Group has teamed up with a partner experienced in matters of climate protection: ClimatePartner based in Munich. The “Partner for Climate Protection” has already audited many companies, including several from the hotel industry. Issues like energy consumptions, waste volumes and emissions are inspected, and a so-called Corporate Carbon Footprint is determined. An individual action catalogue is then derived from the results, for example for CO2 reduction or for building energy management. A big advantage here: All empirical values and initiatives can be transferred and implemented throughout the chain in the future.

Sustainability with “Pro Tomorrow”

The “Pro Tomorrow” initiative supports sustainable hotel stays at Maritim as well. Since early 2022, guests have the option of resigning from room cleaning and thus promote regional and social projects. A solid year has passed and the results are clear: It was more than worth it. A sum of around 200,000 euros has already been given to regional sustainability and social projects. “Pro Tomorrow” has just recently been launched abroad as well. At the Maritim Resort & Spa Mauritius, guests can also resign from having their rooms cleaned to support “CUT”, a local non-governmental organisation (NGO). On Mauritius, “CUT” helps women and children who have experienced domestic violence, or are suffering from the effects of addictions or other serious diseases (https://cut.mu). A list of all local projects is available here: www.maritim.de/de/umweltschutz/protomorrow.

Maritim abroad

Second hotel on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

You can enjoy a sustainable holiday with Maritim in Bulgaria as well: On 2 May, the Maritim Hotel Amelia in Albena will open its doors. It is a sustainable resort committed to environmental protection and distinguishable through its “green mission”. Maritim has already been successfully operating the Maritim Hotel Paradise Blue Albena here since 2019. Situated in its direct vicinity is the new Maritim Hotel Amelia with 141 rooms and suites, offering a location right in the heart of Albena, right at the gently sloping beach with fine sand.

At the hotel complex completed in 2022 and directly connected with the Maritim Hotel Paradise Blue Albena, guests can enjoy an extensive outdoor area with several pools, sun terrace with deckchairs, sunshades and a pool bar. The Executive Area features a rooftop pool with bar. In addition, “Amelia” offers a private beach area exclusively for hotel guests. A direct passageway offers access to the 750 square metre wellness oasis at the Maritim Hotel Paradise Blue Albena with a spa area, indoor pool, sauna, steam bath and fitness room.

Second hotel opened in the Chinese metropolis of Taicang

A new hotel in China is also enhancing the Maritim portfolio, the Maritim Hotel & Conference Centre Taicang. In addition to the elegant 5-star hotel with 150 rooms and suites, the hotel company also operates the neighbouring Taicang Congress Centre with a total event surface area of 4,000 sq. metres. “The new Maritim Hotel is in a strategic location, right in the so-called New City of Science & Education. Taicang has been officially designated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce as the ‘Chinese-German base for business cooperation’. The metropolis close to Shanghai is developing dynamically in the automotive and electronics industry as well as the energy sector; a number of German companies have their representative offices here,” Dr. Monika Gommolla explains, noting the advantages of the location. For our Chinese partners, decades of experience in the conference and event business and the top service quality of German Maritim Hotels are decisive factors for the cooperation, adds the Maritim Supervisory Board Chair.

Only last year, the Maritim Hotel Taicang Garden opened its doors as the only certified 5-star hotel in the metropolis. Maritim Hotels has been active on the Chinese market for over twelve years.

“Greatest Hotel Team of all Times”: Maritim Hotel Amsterdam opens in 2024

The first guests will start checking into the new Maritim Hotel Amsterdam next year. Since September 2022, Director Caroline Receveur (54) has been responsible for the pre-opening phase. A native of the Netherlands, she has been familiar with the hotel market in Amsterdam for decades. These are the best prerequisites for the launch, which has been constantly postponed due to construction delays. Yet now, the blue Maritim letters can be seen from far away on the third-highest building in the Dutch metropolis; the “final sprint” is underway, and on-boarding has already begun: “It would be great if we could put together the greatest hotel team of all times. We would like to keep the work exciting and diversified for our colleagues. Especially since guests and customers in Amsterdam vary widely and come from all over the world. All these guests should be more than satisfied with their stay with us. By making very good preparations, we will also be able to react to all markets and wishes in a custom-made manner,” the hotel manager explains to clarify her concept.

The 110-metre high hotel building with 579 rooms and suites has already become a ‘landmark’ in Amsterdam. Attached to it is a conference and congress centre with 18 conference rooms that can accommodate more than 4,400 visitors. The large conference room fits up to 2,200 people. With its modern facilities and good accessibility, the Maritim in the north of Amsterdam will become a new point of attraction. It is only 20 minutes to Schiphol Airport and there are excellent rail, road and boat connections. A five-minute ferry ride across the River Ij takes you to Amsterdam's beautiful 17th-century canal district.