Best New Opening

The Florentin by Althoff Collection, Frankfurt am Main

The Florentin shows how harmoniously tradition and modernity can be combined on several levels. The urban retreat is located in a historic city villa from 1901 in the historicizing Gothic and Renaissance style as well as in a contemporary extension. Clean lines, natural materials and a pleasantly minimalist design create a modern aesthetic. Green plants in the inner courtyard and in the public areas, such as the restaurants, create lively accents. High-quality materials and fine textures extend from the rooms and suites to the spa. The latter boasts a light-flooded indoor pool, a range of treatments and a small gym.

The villa can also be booked exclusively for private use.

Best Family Hotel

Ulrichshof, Rimbach

As varied as the requirements for the perfect family vacation can be, they are effortlessly reconciled at the Ulrichshof. While some seek peace and quiet, others long for adventure - all this is possible here without compromise. Children quickly make new friends under the watchful eye of a trained team. During the age-appropriate indoor and outdoor program, they can play, paint and do handicrafts together to their heart's content or even take part in a technology workshop. Adults can enjoy a relaxing break in the parents' spa with sauna, steam bath and treatments. Moments of happiness for the whole family await in the riding stables, in the water world or out in nature.

Best Gourmet Hotel

Hotel Traube Tonbach, Baiersbronn

Traube Tonbach has earned Baiersbronn in the Black Forest a reputation as a "star village". The Finkbeiner family's restaurant has four Michelin stars under its roof. A culinary legacy that dates back to 1789. The centerpiece is the legendary Schwarzwaldstube, which has been one of the great addresses for top European cuisine for decades with three stars. In Restaurant 1789, this culture of indulgence is continued in a contemporary way with a star. Seasonality and uncompromising product quality are the common threads that characterize the kitchen philosophy; sometimes interpreted in a Baden-Swabian way, sometimes as a finely composed tasting menu. Also a culinary poem: the Schatzhauser serves the finest steaks with a dream view.

Best City Hotel

Breidenbacher Hof, Düsseldorf

You wouldn't expect so much opulence behind the straightforward façade of the Braidenbacher Hof: In the middle of Düsseldorf's old town, the house evokes the glamorous days of the 19th century. A century resurrected; it combines historical grandeur with contemporary comfort in a remarkably harmonious way. A magnificent marble staircase, white and gold coffered ceilings and brocade characterize the ambience. But modernity also has its place: for example in the Royal Silk Spa with its intimate atmosphere, sauna, facials, massages and indoor pool.

The Raw Bar with fresh snacks and the Show Kitchen, where the chefs are happy to let you look into their pots, are contemporary. The best way to round off the evening is with one of the award-winning cocktails.

Best Spa Hotel

Bergkristall - My resort in the Allgäu, Oberstaufen

The Allgäu family business is known far beyond the region, not least because the Lingg family has been committed to warm hospitality for three generations. At the same time, the house is completely geared towards relaxation: from breathtaking panoramic views to the infinity pool. The spacious Kristall Spa is the heart of the hotel. It offers modern applications that meet guests where they are.

Light, strength and clarity - the properties of rock crystal - form the pillars of the concept. The range has recently been expanded to include a new indoor sports pool, a larger yoga studio and a two-storey gym. The latest highlights also include the lakeside suites with direct water access and their own sauna.

Hotelier of the Year

Leonard Cernko, The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin

The best managers are often those who know all aspects of an industry. Leonard Cernko is undoubtedly one of them. His career in hospitality began in the traditional way as an apprentice to a top chef. But the kitchen soon became too small for him. He was drawn to the hotel industry. He wanted to create an excellent guest experience not only on the plate, but throughout the house. After working in Russia, China and Kazakhstan, his path led the Austrian native to Germany. He has been in charge of the prestigious The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin since June 2024. Cernko knows that it's the details that make the difference - from personal touches for guests, to 28 types of champagne by the glass, to Green Key certification.

Sustainability & Innovation

Naturresort & Spa Schindelbruch, Southern Harz

The hotel can confidently be described as a pioneer in terms of sustainability, as it was the first wellness hotel in Germany to achieve a fully offset CO2 balance back in 2009. This claim still characterizes the wellness resort in the Harz Mountains today. Photovoltaics, geothermal energy and a biowastewater treatment plant are just as much a part of the concept as green electricity and natural products from Vinoble Cosmetics. Even the table water comes from their own spring. For guests, this means a green conscience with the same high level of comfort.

As a special accent Meissen art runs like a red thread through the entire hotel.

Best Wine Hotel

Schwarzer Adler Oberbergen, Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl

The Kellers are winemakers and wine merchants - but above all they are passionate hosts. Accordingly, the fine wine plays the leading role in the hotel. In addition to the wines from their own traditional vineyard, the wine list includes around 3,000 top international wines, many of which are impressively deep and mature. They accompany the Michelin-starred Baden-French cuisine of the Schwarzer Adler, which has been known far beyond the country's borders since 1969. Regular events such as exclusive wine evenings or vintage presentations enrich your stay just as much as the cozy rooms and the surrounding nature.

Best Chalet

Alpzitt Chalets in the village, Burgberg im Allgäu

The Gilb family has created a place that feels a little like the old days: time seems to pass more slowly, the peace is deeper, the atmosphere friendlier. It is no coincidence that guests feel so at home here. You spend the night in spacious chalets made of light-colored wood and natural materials, which offer plenty of space for retreat. New since fall 2025 are the spa chalets: three of them are located directly on the water, two have a private garden and their own water access.

In the morning, breakfast with regional ingredients appears on the chalet table as if by magic, in the evening you can meet for fine dining in the Genusswerk - or have the delicacies served directly in your personal vacation retreat.

Lifework

Dietmar Müller-Elmau, Schloss Elmau, Elmau

Very few people can claim what Dietmar Müller-Elmau can: he is both the owner of the castle and the hotel manager. As such, he has been responsible for the fortunes of the family business since 1997. Under his aegis, the luxurious hotel underwent a comprehensive realignment. Today, it is considered a hideaway that combines art, music, culture and relaxation and has repeatedly played host to important personalities, including political leaders. You can always tell that the castle is particularly close to his heart. Müller-Elmau was born here as the grandson of the builder. Its guests enjoy sports events, yoga retreats, concerts, a high-quality spa and the powerful nature all around as well as absolute privacy and top service.

Best Design Hotel

Hotel Telegraphenamt, Berlin

Berlin defies simple descriptions. "Multifaceted" is probably the best way to describe it. How is it possible to capture the essence of such a dazzling city? The multi-award-winning design studio Dreimeta took on this task and accomplished the feat; behind the historic walls of the main telegraph office, which was built between 1910 and 1960, 97 unique rooms, maisonettes and suites were created that combine elements of the 1920s and 1970s. There are repeated subtle references to the history of the building not far from Museum Island.

Culinary must-tries include Chef Ryota's signature sushi and a visit to Dieselhaus, which brings Bavarian classics to the capital.

Best Business Hotel

Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich

Luxury and business are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, the Bayerischer Hof shows how harmoniously the two can be combined. Forty exclusive function rooms, from historic to modern, offer the ideal setting for conferences, seminars and events that are second to none. Thanks to the hotel's many years of experience, every event runs smoothly - from the reception to the farewell of the guests and the culinary accompaniment in between. A well-coordinated team in the background ensures discreet perfection down to the last detail. Business travelers appreciate the hotel's own hairdressing salon as well as the opportunity to work with a personal trainer or relax in the hotel's cinema.

Best Value

Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center, Berlin

Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstraße, Gendarmenmarkt, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall Memorial are just some of the sights that are within easy reach of the Courtyard Berlin City Center. In addition to its central location, the hotel offers renovated rooms, studios and apartments equipped with kitchenettes. The style is minimalist, the color palette deliberately reduced. The dedicated team ensures a pleasant stay from check-in to breakfast.

The fitness studio is equipped with modern cardio equipment and is open around the clock. The offer and ambience in the Kitchen & Bar with its regional and international dishes and in the cozy Café #Hashtag are particularly successful.

Hotel Icon

Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden

The traditional house was recently extensively renovated over a period of two years. Today it is even more refined and modern, without denying its roots. Since its opening in 1872, the castle-like hotel in the Black Forest has stood for first-class service, closeness to nature, relaxation, adventure and enjoyment. You can indulge in the latter at the Fritz & Felix restaurant, for example, which serves fine seafood and dishes from the charcoal grill as well as vegetarian cuisine. Contemporary haute cuisine is served in the conservatory.

The spa, which specializes in holistic concepts, also promises pampering moments; high tech meets high touch. There is a lovingly designed kids' club for the youngest guests.