Closing the Intercity Hotel in Kassel: Future full of questions!

Closing the Intercity Hotel in Kassel: Future full of questions!

The Intercity Hotel at Wilhelmshöhe station in Kassel has been closed since April 1, 2025. With 146 beds it was the city's largest hotel and was opened in 1995. Previously it belonged to the Frankfurter Steigenberger Group, recently the Berlin HR Group was responsible for the hotel. However, the closure is not directly related to the takeover by the HR Group, but is the result of a lease that ended on April 30th. Employees of the hotel were informed at an early stage and must now search for new jobs, but also receive offers from the HR Group, which has taken over seven intercity hotels, including Kassel in recent weeks. According to the HR Group, the closure had been planned for a long time, so that the employees had enough time to adjust to it. These details report daily menu.io

The future of the location is considered in a positive light, since Jürgen Herres, spokesman for Garbe Capital & Strategy, confirmed that the building was extensively and energetically renovated. Comprehensive renovation work is planned, the completion of which will be sought by spring 2026 at the latest. In addition, a long-term lease was concluded with the Economy hotel chain B&B Hotels, which is already represented in Kassel several times and would like to further expand its location there. However, it remains unclear how many beds can be accommodated in the renovated building. The hotel bed offer in Kassel is currently 6,677. In view of the demand for further capacities, an increase was required. This reports hna.de.

The closure of the Intercity Hotel is in the context of a dynamically changing hotel market in Germany. Despite challenges such as Corona pandemic and increasing operating costs, the industry shows a resilient adaptability. The "Hotelmarkt Germany 2024" industry report analyzes current trends and developments, highlighting the economic stability of the hotel industry. The report emphasizes that the claims of the guests change. The desire for sustainability, individuality and networking shapes the future orientation of the industry. This represents a request to adapt the existing concepts to remain competitive even in times of crisis, which is emphasized by the hotellerie.de

Mayor Anja Lipschik and Regula Ohlmeier from the Wilhelmshöhe interest group have spoken in favor of continuing to operate a hotel at the location. This reflects the need for a stable hotel infrastructure in Kassel, which is essential for tourism and the local economy.