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PRESS KIT Contents Welcome home ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Luxurious living ...................................................................................................................................... 3 The culinary offer .................................................................................................................................... 4 The Villa Rothschild Restaurant ............................................................................................................. 5 Tizian’s Bar & Brasserie and the panorama lounge ................................................................................ 6 The meeting & banqueting rooms ........................................................................................................... 6 ASCARA SPA in our affiliated hotel, the Falkenstein Grand Kempinski .............................................. 7 Concierge Johannes Imhof ...................................................................................................................... 8 General Manager Stefan Massa ............................................................................................................... 9 The history ............................................................................................................................................. 10 At a glance ............................................................................................................................................. 11 1 Welcome home Since March 2007, the charm has returned to the historic Villa Rothschild Kempinski located in the town of Königstein close to the city of Frankfurt. The former summer residence of the Rothschild’s, the Frankfurt banking family, is today an exclusive boutique hotel and a top address for gourmets in the Taunus area. Extensive renovation work has resulted in the property’s historic character being presented in a new light without, however, undermining its authenticity. The result, therefore, of a year-long building project is a charming boutique hotel housed in a building with a remarkably rich tradition and whose history has been documented by numerous paintings, photographs and written articles. Designed by a Viennese architect and built between 1888 and 1894 as a summer residence for the Frankfurt banker Wilhelm Carl von Rothschild and his wife Hannah Mathilde, the Villa Rothschild can to this day look back on a very eventful past. The Villa’s completion in 1894 was marked with a grand celebration; guests included Victoria, Princess Royal – the widow of German Emperor Frederick III, and the Prince of Wales. In the years that followed, many princes and crowned heads of state visited the exclusive property. In 1949, the property became the focal point for the political and economic reconstruction of Western Germany. In the “Haus der Länder” (House of the German States), the Villa’s official title at this time, German politicians such Theodor Heuss, Ludwig Erhard and Ernst Reuter held talks with numerous diplomats from throughout the Western World. Several conferences were held in the Villa Rothschild in which the premiers of the German states mapped out Germany’s democratic future. The fruit of their endeavours was the signing of the groundbreaking foundation agreements marking the birth of the Federal Republic of Germany. Not only eminent politicians congregated at the Villa Rothschild however, numerous prominent figures from the church, the business world and the arts also gathered here. The guestbook features entries from the King of Yemen and world-famous conductors such as Wilhelm Furtwängler and Georg Solti together with the names of renowned German actors and actresses such as Käthe Dorsch, Gustav Fröhlich and Heinz Rühmann. Subsequent to the “Haus der Länder” losing its political identity when the city of Bonn became the new seat of the German government, the 1950’s witnessed the transformation of the Villa Rothschild into a hotel. Since 1955, the estate with its park of over ten hectares has been the possession of the municipality of Königstein. Distinguished guests such as Willy Brandt, Walter Scheel, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and film star Sophia Loren have since resided in this historic gem. Entering one of the 22 hotel rooms today provides guests with the feeling of having stepped back in time to the era of the “old” Rothschild’s. Responsible for creating an authentic and cosy ambience has been interior designer Irina Peters. To allow the “Kaiser Era” atmosphere to come alive, each room has been furnished with French period furniture, exquisite silk wallpaper and chairs and curtains made of French “Toile-de-Jouy” fabrics. Additionally, all rooms feature state-of-the-art technical equipment such as wireless internet and top of the range Bang & Olufsen products. Due to the successful 2 interplay between old and new, the villa’s history can be experienced without having to forfeit the comfort of modern technologies. Due to its wonderfully peaceful and healthy location at the heart of the climatic spa resort of Hochtaunus and its close proximity to Frankfurt city centre and Frankfurt International Airport, this stylish hotel offers a unique combination of comforts to business people and individual travellers alike. Luxurious living Elegant designs and harmonious colour schemes await guests in the 22 rooms and suites of the Villa Rothschild Kempinski. The exceptionally comfortable living experience in the different room categories provides the perfect environment for rest and relaxation. Exclusive marble fittings dominate the prestigious bathrooms underlining the luxurious feel. The rooms and suites are characterized by their individuality and premium quality. High-grade fabrics in the dominant colours of red and green combine with the latest technical equipment providing the perfect way of experiencing history from a modern perspective. Large windows in the rooms and suites provide a permanent view of the surrounding Rothschild Park, the Main Valley and the historic Kronberg Castle. A particular highlight in the higher room categories, greater space is otherwise the only difference between categories, is the gas-fired fireplace which is fitted behind safety glass and conveniently controlled by means of a remote control. The “Rothschild Rooms” in what is the world’s smallest Kempinski Hotel are at the same time the hotel’s suites. This is also where family members resided during the time when the Villa Rothschild was a summer residence. The names of the suites today, “Baroninnen- Zimmer” (Baroness’s Room) and “Baronen-Zimmer” (Baron’s Room), reflect the fact that Baroness Mathilde von Rothschild and her husband Wilhelm Carl von Rothschild resided in these rooms during the family’s numerous summer visits. The Baroness’s Room is unique in every sense. It is spaciously designed with precious fabrics and exquisite furniture and features an historic fireplace. Its 65m² interior creates a harmonious ambience that exudes comfort and well-being. The naturally lit bathroom is clad in precious marble completing the exclusive feel. A luxurious, dreamlike ambience can also be found on the top floor of the Villa Rothschild Kempinski. In the “Romantic Room” with its 60m² interior, a charming living-cum-sleeping area can be found. A popular choice with honeymoon couples particularly with its canopy bed. 3 The culinary offer Christoph Rainer, Head Chef of the Villa Rothschild Restaurant A passion for cooking and a love for detail: Christoph Rainer focuses on pleasing the most demanding of palates. Today’s Villa Rothschild Kempinski opened its doors for the first time in March 2007. Standing over the stove in the Villa Rothschild Restaurant since then has been head chef Christoph Rainer conjuring up innovative culinary treats with his ambitious art of cooking. Only eight months after the opening of the restaurant, Rainer convinced the gourmet critics at the Michelin Guide that he was worthy of his first Michelin star. Today in 2013, he has already 2 Michelin stars to his name. The focus of his dishes is firmly on the harmonious fusion of unusual flavours and on perfect presentation. The young, ambitious chef from the German state of Hesse puts a great deal of idealism into his work. “I’m fascinated by the lightness of “puristic cuisine” and its focus on the essentials,” stated Rainer. Using fresh, top quality basic products, particularly from a local source, is just as important to him as the harmonious combination of exotic ingredients and unusual flavours. The creative head chef’s philosophy is crystal clear: light gourmet cuisine with creative combinations of flavour and an appreciation of the basics. Rainer grew up in Hanau and after passing his chef’s examination at Heidelberg’s hotel management college he completed his apprenticeship in the nearby town of Bruchköbel in the Adler restaurant. He learnt his trade from the masters of his craft and his style of cuisine has been heavily influenced by his time working with the likes of Alois Köpf in the Fürstenbahnhof, Markus Nagy in the Villa Hammerschmiede (1 Michelin star) and with Heinz Winkler in the Residenz in Aschau (3 Michelin stars). A particular highlight to his career was working as sous chef to Dieter Müller and Nils Henkel in Bergisch Gladbach (3 Michelin stars). Today, it is Rainer’s very own style of cuisine which is being praised by the gourmet guides. The latest confirmation