Travel

The Frankfurt Marriott: Germany's tallest hotel is a smart pick for leisure and work visits

by Sujoy Dhar | @twfindia 21 Mar 2024, 12:57 pm

When I checked in at The Frankfurt Marriott Hotel this February, the dawn was breaking. From the window of my 28th floor room, a vast canvas of Frankfurt was unfolding with the gradual onset of the sunlight.

At that moment, ensconced in that elegant, restful room of Frankfurt's tallest hotel, I felt a certain bliss despite a long flight from New Delhi to Paris and then a rather mis-planned road ride to the German city of many European corporate headquarters.

This five-star Marriott property of 44 floors near the city centre is a favourite of tourists and business travellers , but what won me over was that  sweeping vista of Frankfurt from the room as the first golden rays of dawn slowly uncover the metropolis.

The exhibition grounds, the congress center, the main train station as well as the multi-purpose arena Festhalle are just across the hotel I learned about later. Located in the Westend Gate, the hotel at 159 meters was the tallest skyscraper in Germany at the time of its opening in 1976 and also the country's first skyscraper.

From the  skyscrapers to half-timbered houses and parks, Frankfurt for me was more than just the  financial hub of Germany as I enjoyed the city's culinary offerings, the Stadel museums and the old town walk.

While I was a tourist exploring Frankfurt, visitors on work to the city of commerce would be happy to choose this hotel with 23 conference rooms, available for business meetings.

Rooms and Business centres

The Frankfurt Marriott Hotel has a total of 593 rooms and suites, all located on floors 26 to 44 and so each room offers a panoramic view of the city.

Depending on the room's location, you can look out over the exhibition grounds, the Taunus mountains, the popular Westend residential district or just the jagged Frankfurt skyline.

I did not stay in a suite, but with comfortable beds to sleep and work with my laptop in a room that is aesthetic yet understated, this is what most people like me perhaps look for in a hotel in a city like Frankfurt.

Besides the rooms and suites, the hotel's foyer area is attractive with a new acoustic ceiling, and a new lighting concept. There is a digital registration and advertising space besides wireless smartphone and iPad charging stations and a mobile wardrobe.

The highlight of the hotel is probably the Platinum Ballroom, which is the largest ballroom in Frankfurt city centre with daylight. The event rooms on the first and second floor were recently extensively renovated, said a hotel representative. The conference rooms are equipped with the latest technology.

Fitness 

The hotel's fitness centre on the 1st floor is open every day. Guests can work out on various latest cardiovascular machines, strength training equipment and weights. The hotel has two saunas, one mixed and one female sauna.

Food, glorious food

The hotel has three restaurants and you can be spoiled for a choice of food. From international cuisine in the CROSS to typical American dishes in the Champions Bar & Restaurant, to the Brasserie ici, which can also be booked for private events, guests are greeted each morning with an extensive and nourishing breakfast buffet.

Champions – Bar & Restaurant is a sports bar in the hotel that is popular with sports enthusiasts. The bar is particularly popular with Eintracht Frankfurt fans, says a hotel representative. Numerous fans gather here every match day to watch their favorite team's game together on a total of 12 screens. At half-time, fans can view the Eintracht showcase, which contains rare exhibits every month. It is a cool place to be.

M Club Lounge in the hotel is exclusively for Marriott Bonvoy guests with Platinum status or guests who have booked a Club room. A breakfast and dinner buffet awaits them in the lounge. Guests also have access to complimentary snacks and beverages all 24 hours a day. The M Lounge is a quiet area where guests can relax or concentrate on business.

Brasserie ici, in French brasserie style, is the breakfast restaurant that offers guests a nutritious start of the day. From egg dishes to pastries to fresh fruit and cold meats and cheeses - everyone will find what they are looking for here. The efficient chef prepared some scrumptious omlettes for me every day I stayed. I sat on a table by the glass pane overlooking the outdoors and enjoyed my breakfast and coffee basking in the Frankfurt morning vibes.

CROSS is open from 10a.m. until 11p.m. and offers guests distinctive dishes throughout the day. In the evening, the CROSS develops and offers a lively bar atmosphere.

When in Frankfurt, depending on your budget, this is the go-to hotel for both well-heeled tourists and business travellers.