Villa Kennedy

Rocco Forte's Villa Kennedy celebrates its first birthday and a very proud General Manager and his team of over 160 people can be assured of a triumphant first year. The former Villa Speyer, giving the hotel its unique charm of the turn of the century with a combination of the elegance of the neo-gothic additions, is now the meeting point of business people, stars and residents in Frankfurt.

The first year was really successful for the Villa Kennedy: with an average occupancy of about 50% and a net average rate of barely 100 euros more than the rate of the competitive set in Frankfurt, the Villa Kennedy has taken a very strong position in the market.

Executive Chef Dario Cammarata of the restaurant "Gusto" takes a positive glance at the future, the start of a new menu series "Ispirazione" coming out every month based on fresh ground products has proven itself: "… through the originality of theses concepts we also want to develop a stronger future presence in Frankfurt." In addition to culinary highlights, cookery courses and baking classes for children, goose to go and afternoon tea in autumn and winter are a special delight to many guests in Frankfurt and the neighbourhood of the hotel.

In the first year also the figures of the restaurant were very positive: about 40,000 covers (breakfast 15,000, lunch 10,000 and dinner 15,000) were listed. Over one ton of lobster and sole eaten and in the JFK's bar 359 bottles of Gordon Dry Gin enjoyed.

In the Banquet department the figures increasing the impression that no time was wasted: 110,000 serviettes folded, 54,600 cubs during coffee breaks served, about 2200 bottles of champagne opened, 10,000 coats received, 9000 candles lighted, 2500 bistro tables set up, silverware of value of 500,000 euros polished and 30,000 welcome waters in the rooms drunk.

In the C&B department as well, high expectations were accomplished: at the grand opening ceremony in mid-may 2006 over 2500 guests were received - a high standard was set, which ranges over the whole year without exception. The Who is Who of the financial industry, fashion and jewellery houses, automobile presentations right up to private dinners and weddings: the Villa Kennedy, offers a capacity for meetings of up to 700 people and still fulfilling individual needs, has an ambitious range of events accomplished. Anne Müller, C&B Manager: "We hope to organize more and more private events: on weekends we do welcome many families and children in our house… our hotel program proves the wide range of possibilities and we love to attract our neighbours and Frankfurt guests. We are very pleased about the positive reaction."

Villa Spa is just another example of the exclusive hotel services: a multifaceted catalogue of treatments, fitness, health checks, personal trainers, Pilates and Yoga are offered to the guests.

Receiving the qualification from "The Leading Spas Hotels of the World" and over 35 treatments supports this concept. Bestsellers 2006 were the JFK Deluxe Package, Deep Tissue Massage and the Stone Crop Eminence Facial - in total 3500 treatments were booked. The Hungarian cosmetic line Eminence and its use of natural essences, compliment's perfectly the holistic philosophy of the Spa. Heather Blankinship, Spa Manager from the US: "… we offer luxury on a holistic level. A balance between body, mind & soul, nutrition & fitness is what we want to provide for our guests. A particular highlight 2006: Training of the German national football team in the fitness area of the spa.

The core philosophy of customer service and guest relations are fundamental to all of the employees in this 5-Star superior property. Of the 100 employees who opened the hotel in March 2006, 80 of them are still a part of the team. With such a small turnover, loyalty and continuity is carried out by the employees and guaranteed to the guests. Today the hotel has over 160 employees, a team of 26 different nationalities.

Kim Lutz, Quality Manager: "Important for us was to find individual personalities but simultaneously setting very high service standards. We reached that through accurate training and continuous quality management. The centrepiece of our success can be seen in our team spirit, fun and high motivation; characteristics which have to be lived and activated continuously."

"We receive a lot of extraordinary requests: at one stage a young husband wanted to undertake a flight over the river Main with a hot-air balloon, which was a challenge, another day we organized the weekend edition of the New York Times, which does not exist in Germany. It was flown in directly by airmail from the US" resumes the Chef Concierge Stig Arnberg. The experienced concierge, being Clef d'Or member since one year, knows how essential it is to actively recognize the needs and wants of his clients.

The guests of the Villa Kennedy come from all over the world: primarily they are travellers from Germany (35%), UK (23%), USA (13%) followed by Japan, Switzerland and the Middle East. Over 150 can be counted as regulars of the hotel already. They can be assured to receive a welcome letter by the director and special VIP treatments in the suites. Additionally, a special guest recognition program will make the stay an unforgettable experience. The team also emphasizes on comments and criticism by guests, which are being discussed on a daily basis. Although the main part of the guests are "business travellers", the leisure groups amount to 25% , there is also a rising percentage of celebrities in the hotel: Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Cher, Joseph Fiennes and Liza Minelli, just to name a few.

The Hotel director states: "We started off on a very high level and due to the positive development in occupancy and rate, we can also continue with our strategy. Predominantly, we are a business hotel but we do have many more relationships with our guests in Frankfurt as well as our neighbours. i.E. our first apprentices organized a raffle at our Christmas party and its proceeds were donated to a children's hospital in Frankfurt."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Rocco Forte Collection was established in 1996 to create a collection of luxury hotels in Europe. The hotels have individual styles, with each hotel reflecting its nationality and location. The collection is linked together under the The Rocco Forte Collection brand, which guarantees attention to detail, quality and service delivery.

The The Rocco Forte Collection collection includes: - Hotel de Russie, Rome
- Hotel Savoy, Florence
- The Balmoral, Edinburgh
- The St David's Hotel & Spa, Cardiff
- The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
- Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg
- Hotel Amigo, Brussels
- Brown's Hotel, London
- Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt
- Hotel de Rome, Berlin
- Le Richemond, Geneva (closed for refurbishment, will open summer 2007)
- The Charles Hotel, Munich (will open summer 2007)

Future openings: Prague - 2008 Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily - 2008

For further information and online reservations, please visit the The Rocco Forte Collection website: www.roccofortecollection.com

Angleterre Hotel, St Petersburg, is a deluxe four-star sister to Hotel Astoria. For information and reservations, please visit www.angleterrehotel.com.

For further information, please contact:

Sue Heady
Director of Communications
Tel: 020 7766 3107
E-mail: sheady@roccofortecollection.com

Romina Kennedy
Communications Executive
Tel: 020 7766 3121
E-mail: rkennedy@roccofortecollection.com