As a luxury hotel brand steeped in history, Kempinski is well-known for its “old world” hospitality with a refreshingly contemporary flair.
ALSO READ: Kempinski Hotel in KL – Blending Malaysian Heritage With European Flair
While Swiss standard five-star service form the foundations of Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, it is also the infusion of local cultural flavours that has distinguished Kempinski and its 80 plus hotels in 36 countries and across four continents.
And with the 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur to come – which will be the first hotel for the group in Malaysia – here are 8 things you should know about Kempinski.
The hotel group celebrate 125 Years of Kempinski in 2022 (Photo: Kempinski)
125 Years of Kempinski – The elegant restaurant that started it all
The year was 1897 in Berlin, the turn of the 20th century marked by elegant audiences queueing outside theatres and restaurants, and a vibrant dining scene. Among them was the wine restaurant owned by Berthold Kempinski in Leipziger Strasse 25, whose beautiful dining halls saw frequent diners indulging in wines by the glass and seasonal delicacies such as lobster and crayfish. Good service and affordable luxury for everyone became the hallmark associated with the Kempinski name, which celebrated 125 years of that spirit in 2022.
View from Kempinski The Spa at Kempinski Palace Engelberg (Photo: Kempinski)
World best in wellness
Last year, nine Kempinski Hotels around the world received awards for being the Best Hotel Spa and Best Resort Spa in their respective countries. Notably, the World Spa Awards recognized hotels such as the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Cairo in Egypt, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea in Jordan, Kempinski Palace Engelberg spa in Switzerland, Grand Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana in Cuba, Kempinski Hotel Fuzhou and more. They were judged based on the quality of its therapists, facilities, and services among others.
Introduced more a decade ago, the Lady in Red ambassadors greet every guest who arrive at a Kempinski hotel (Photo: Kempinski)
Lady in Red – Ambassadors of refined service
At the forefront of each Kempinski hotel are their Lady in Red brand ambassadors, the local experts who ensure guests have a personalised experience and who offer a sense of home for their guests, no matter which Kempinski hotel they step into in the world. They are recognisable by their striking red attire, and since 2021 these iconic ambassadors would be seen in a pair of exclusive Salvatore Ferragamo red Vara shoes – following a strategic partnership of both brands.
The iconic Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, perched on the edge of Yanqi Lake in Beijing (Photo: Kempinski)
Awakening the red dragon to European hospitality
Kempinski was the first European hotel group to enter China, and to date has 21 hotels across the country. Among them is the landmark Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, an architectural icon on the edge of Yanqi Lake, Beijing. In 2021, the opening of Kempinski Hotel Jinan marked the latest in an expansive journey that has seen the best of East-meets-West influences, with its design nod towards the traditional ‘Six Arts’ of rites, music, archery, chariot-racing, calligraphy and arithmetic, as well as a colour palette inspired by the natural surroundings of the City of Springs that is Jinan.
Guests can shop online for a range of products found in a Kempinski hotel and more (Photo: Kempinski)
Bringing the Kempinski experience home
In 2021, the hotel brand also launched its online boutique, where guests can buy signature items from the cosy bathrobe to the pillow, bed linen, fragrances and perfumes by Ferragamo as well as the Ferragamo Convivio haircare and body sets, or even the high-quality bed you might have come to love during your stay.
An artist’s impression of Kempinski Floating Palace in Dubai (Photo: Kempinski)
World’s first – A floating palace
Said to open this year is a first-of-its-kind floating resort in Dubai, the Kempinski Floating Palace, which consists of a hotel, overwater helipad and standalone houseboat villas. Anchored in the exclusive Jumeirah Beach area, the resort’s main building will house 156 rooms surrounded by 12 exclusive villas that can be moved around. Gourmet restaurants, a spa, multiple pools, boutique shops and banquet facilities make up the rest of the offerings, which most uniquely – is designed to allow large yachts to drive through the center of the building.
The hotel group regularly tops ‘Best Employer’ lists within the hospitality industry (Photo: Kempinski)
Good hospitality starts within
Kempinski regularly tops hospitality lists as a world-best employer. In 2021, Forbes named Kempinski Hotels as the number one employer in the travel and leisure industry from an independent survey. They further ranked in the top three again in 2022. This year, the hotel group also took home the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for the second time, recognising the strength of their employee engagement and culture.
A digital rendering of the 8 Conlay integrated development. 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel will be the taller tower on the left.
The tallest Kempinski Hotel in the world
Set to become the tallest Kempinski Hotel in the world is the upcoming 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Part of an exclusive three-tower integrated development that includes the YOO8 serviced by Kempinski branded residence, the hotel – located in the heart of the city centre’s main lifestyle, retail and business district – will be 68-storeys tall, with 260 rooms and 300 suites. Besides a rooftop bar and potentially the world’s first-ever hotel durian lounge, the hotel will incorporate Malaysian culture in the form of artworks by local artists as well as a “kopitiam” inspired eatery with a contemporary twist.
If you’re looking to invest in the best of freehold properties in the heart of Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 8 Conlay is set to house the first YOO-designed twin branded residence in Malaysia, YOO8 serviced by Kempinski, with interiors designed by award-winning global stars Kelly Hoppen and Steve Leung. To find out more, contact us here.