NOVUM Hospitality has announced the permanent closure of the Crowne Plaza Frankfurt hotel in the Niederrad district. This decision was taken as the safe and responsible continued operation of the property could no longer be guaranteed due to substantial structural defects. NOVUM Hospitality stated that the protection of guests' and employees' health and safety was their top priority.
Despite intensive efforts to find a consensual solution, no agreement could be reached with the building's responsible owner regarding the implementation of essential renovation measures. The identified defects affected various safety-critical areas, the remediation of which would have been indispensable for continued operation. This ultimately led to the necessity of closure.
Background to the Decision and Structural Defects
The decision to close was based on serious structural deficiencies. These included, among other things, fire protection, the structural fastening of façade elements, and the operational safety of the lift systems. Another critical point was the safe handling of proven asbestos-containing building materials within the building. The cumulative effect of these defects made it impossible to maintain hotel operations under responsible conditions.
Crucially, the immediate closure was also prompted by the notification that the existing insurance cover was no longer considered adequate from the date of the announcement due to the identified defects. Without comprehensive and adequate insurance cover, NOVUM Hospitality saw no possibility of reliably continuing hotel operations. Such circumstances strip operational activities of the necessary legal and financial security.
Samira Etmenan, Chief Executive Officer of NOVUM Hospitality, commented in this context that the decision was extraordinarily difficult. The Crowne Plaza Frankfurt had been a significant part of the portfolio and an important property in Frankfurt-Niederrad for many years. She regretted that no other responsible decision could be taken under the given circumstances.
Employees and Future Prospects
Regarding the collectively bargained employees, NOVUM Hospitality is currently in constructive discussions with the competent employee representation. The aim of these talks is to collaboratively develop responsible solutions for all affected colleagues and to manage the transition phase in the best possible way.
- —Defects affected fire protection and façade fastening.
- —Operational safety of the lifts was compromised.
- —Handling of asbestos-containing building materials required measures.
- —Adequate insurance cover was no longer in place.
