Dorint Hotel in Bremen to Close at Month’s End Following Contract Dispute

The Dorint Hotel Bremen, located on Hillmannplatz in the city center, will cease operations at the end of March following a contract termination by the Dorint hotel group. The closure impacts 230 rooms and has sparked a dispute with the hotel’s owner, Michael Grothe.

Unexpected Closure and Contractual Disagreement

Employees and suppliers were reportedly informed of the closure this week. Dorint cites “long-term defects that have not been remedied by the owner” as the reason for the extraordinary termination of the lease, making a safe and qualitative continuation of hotel operations impossible according to reports from Weser-Kurier and Radio Bremen.

Owner Disputes Claims

Michael Grothe, the owner of the property, vehemently denies the allegations made by Dorint, calling their portrayal “simply false.” He maintains that the termination is not legally valid and has engaged legal counsel as reported by Buten un Binnen. Grothe also accuses Dorint of failing to meet contractual investment obligations.

Impact on Employees and Guests

Dorint has stated it is working to identify alternative employment for affected staff, offering positions at the Parkhotel Bremen, another hotel within the Dorint group, and other locations. Trainees will be offered continued employment at the Parkhotel Bremen as reported by Europesays.com. Guests with existing reservations are being contacted and offered accommodations at the Parkhotel Bremen at the same price.

Hotel History and Current Situation

Dorint has operated the hotel since 2019, taking over from Accor, which previously ran the hotel under the Swissôtel brand. The building itself was constructed in 1985. As of Thursday, bookings were still being accepted on the hotel’s website, but guests are now being redirected to the Parkhotel Bremen according to Europesays.com.

Industry Concerns

Detlef Pauls, chairman of the Bremen regional association of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association, expressed surprise at the closure, noting that the hotel industry in Bremen is already facing challenges with increasing bed capacity and competitive pricing as reported by Buten un Binnen. He expressed concern about the impact of the vacancy on the city.