Hamburg, 16th July 2026

At the Empire Riverside Hotel we don’t just celebrate special nights above the rooftops of St Pauli, we celebrate special people too. This year’s graduation event for our apprentices was all about appreciation, togetherness and a generous dose of Riverside spirit.

We are bidding farewell to six remarkable individuals who, over the past years, have enriched our hotel as well as our sister property, Hotel Hafen Hamburg, with their energy, curiosity and passion: Ann Marie Borgmann, Thi Nhu Quynh Nguyen, An Ngoc Nguyen, Thi Huong Tra Ho, Hong Anh Le and Mariell Matlik.

Together, we raised a glass on the 20th floor, looking out across the harbour, the Kiez and the River Elbe. Between warm words, small anecdotes from their training and plenty of smiling faces, it quickly became clear: each one of them has left a mark.

Whether in service, in the kitchen or at reception, they all helped shape and evolve the Riverside vibe. For that, we say: thank you. And of course: go for it – the world out there is waiting for you.

We are especially delighted that two of our graduates will continue their journey with us and remain part of the Riverside crew.

We wish our graduates every success as they begin their next chapters and hope they’ll find their way back to us from time to time, whether for a drink in the Skyline Bar 20up or simply to catch up with the team.