An unforgettable start to the new year: New Year's Eve 2023/2024

We bid a fitting farewell to 2023 with three glittering New Year's Eve celebrations at our hotel. With exquisite food, live music and a spectacular view of the fireworks, our guests experienced a New Year that will live long in the memory.

Focus on sustainability: Second Sustainability Day

Sustainability remains an important topic for us. At our second Sustainability Day, we exchanged ideas on how we can make our hotel operations more environmentally friendly. The day provided the perfect opportunity for employees to learn about sustainable practices and develop innovative solutions together. Our aim is to create a sustainable hotel operation step by step, where environmental awareness and comfort go hand in hand. The Sustainability Day showed us that a lot can be achieved through joint efforts and creative ideas. We are motivated to continue along this path and look forward to sharing our progress with you in the future.

A breath of fresh air in the team: new trainees in February

In February, we were delighted to welcome our new apprentices. With their enthusiasm and curiosity, they have brought a breath of fresh air to our team and have since enriched the various departments of the hotel.

Delicious spring greeting: Easter jam production on 23 February

Tradition meets indulgence: production of our popular Easter jam began at the end of February. The homemade speciality "Hasenfrühstück" (bunny breakfast) was very popular with our guests and brought the taste of spring into the house.

Living values: Our values workshop

A workshop that reminded us what our hotel is all about: together we defined our values and how we can live them in everyday life. 10 values were defined for our hotel and discussed in detail and related to the hotel.

A special evening: Charity Goes 20up

A glamorous charity event at 20up. On 14th April, the Skyline Bar 20up hosted a special event with live performances by LOANA and Jan Salander. Emotional songs were presented with cocktails and a view of the harbour.
The campaign supported the association "Zeit für Zukunft - Mentoren für Kinder e.V.", which supports children and young people. The event raised €1,105.00 in donations. Further information can be found in the hotel's sustainability blog.

Spring awakening: Apple blossom in the "Alten Land"

On 6th May, the apprentices and their trainers visited the Alte Land to sponsor apple trees of the varieties "Topaz", "Rubinette", "Welland" and "Sweetie". The aim of the trip was to enjoy the spring weather and gain a better understanding of sustainability and local agriculture. At the partner farm, they learnt more about the history of the Altes Land and the processes of an apple orchard - from blossom to harvest. The day ended with apple pie under the blossoming trees.

Out and about together: HafenCity Run

In May, some of our employees took part in this year's HafenCity Run full of vigour. A day full of team spirit, exercise and fun, which shows how important team spirit and sporting ambition are at our hotel.

Celebrating together: summer party and AfterWork

A summer full of highlights culminated in our big summer party and after-work events. Here, the teams from the various departments came together to celebrate the community and daily collaboration and to escape the daily work routine for a little while.
This year's summer party was not just about having fun: we collected donations for the KINDsein foundation and thus set an example for social commitment.

Even more reinforcement: new apprentices in August

We also welcomed new apprentices to our team in August. We look forward to accompanying them on their professional journey!

Fit and motivated: Cross-training

Our team enthusiastically took part in several cross-training sessions. Fun and team building took centre stage here. The cross-training day allows employees to spend a day familiarising themselves with the tasks of their colleagues from other departments. This broadens their horizons, gives them new perspectives and promotes variety in their day-to-day work. Recently, the reservations department and the accounting department swapped roles: Reservations learnt sales tactics in the Sales department, while Accounting gained insights into event planning in Convention Sales. The participants particularly appreciated the insight into the processes of other departments and showed great enthusiasm for future cross-training days.

Safety first: Fire drill

On 4th September 2024, the Altona Volunteer Fire Brigade and ASB Hamburg West e.V. held an exercise at the Empire Riverside Hotel. The scenario was an accident with several casualties in the hotel's ventilation centre. Eight extras were rescued and treated by the rescue service. The aim of the exercise was to improve cooperation between the fire and rescue services. Both organisations work on a voluntary basis and we would like to thank them once again for their daily work and commitment.

Experience art: Art Empire" art exhibition

On 15th September 2024, we hosted the "Art Empire" charity event to combine art, culture and social commitment. Our hotel became a meeting place for artists from the neighbourhood - such as Klaus Barkowsky, Fiete Frahm, Volker Hämmerling, Agnieszka Pasek and the Millerntor Gallery. Visitors were able to immerse themselves in the art world free of charge.
The donations collected went to the "Schlumper" studio, which supports artists with disabilities, and to the Millerntor Gallery, which campaigns for social justice and diversity. The event used the power of art to connect people in the neighbourhood.

Team adventure: Trainee trip to Prague

Our apprentices enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Prague. The trip promoted team cohesion and provided many exciting impressions.

Indulgence for wine lovers: an unforgettable evening with winegrowers

Our winegrowers' evening was a feast for all the senses and a highlight for wine lovers! In an atmospheric setting, we invited our guests to taste an exquisite selection of wines carefully put together by renowned winemakers. During the tasting, guests learnt fascinating stories about the origin, production and special features of the fine wines.

We conclude this review with a grateful look back at the past year and look forward with confidence to a new year at the Empire Riverside Hotel. May it also be characterised by success, innovation and unforgettable moments. We look forward to continuing on this path together with you and shaping new chapters. Here's to a successful and inspiring new year!