“With the Kempinski, Berlin returns.”

Dr. Frederic W. Unger didn’t let times of unrest stop him. In 1951 the only surviving grandchild of the Kempinski family laid the foundation stone for a new hotel. It was one of the first major investments in post-War Berlin. In doing so, he breathed new life into the building land of his family at Kurfürstendamm 27. Yet the symbolic value for the divided city was much greater – it represented a piece of hope. In 1952, at the hotel opening, a local newspaper had the headline, “Kempinski means Berlin is returning.” With this, also came the memory of the Jewish Kempinski family which had been expropriated by the National Socialists and forced to emigrate. The new hotel has given new life to the Kempinski name as well as giving Berlin something back from its identity. A brass plaque by the hotel lobby reminds visitors of the fate of the family: “their famous hotel was aryanized in 1937 and was sold against their will; family members were killed or had to flee.”

Company history

1862
Wine store and bar opens at Friedrichstraße 176 and soon became Berlin’s biggest wine cellar and later a restaurant.

1872
M. Kempinski & Co. is founded / entry in commercial register.

1889
Opening of Kempinski main establishment in the Leipziger Straße.

1926
Opening of a second establishment on the Kurfürstendamm, corner Fasanenstraße: Restaurant and delicatessen "Kempinski". At that time, the Ku'damm was still an idyllic residential road with gardens and a riding track through the middle.

1928
Takeover of the "Haus Vaterland" at the Potsdamer Platz with an exciting and new concept – entertainment catering as Berlin had never seen before.

1932
First hotel of M. Kempinski & Co./ Schloss Marquardt is leased at Lake Schlänitz.

1939 - 1945
Aryanization and destruction of the Kempinski establishments.

24.2.1951
The founding stone was laid at Kurfürstendamm/corner Fasanenstraße. The hotel joint stock company appropriates 100 per cent of M. Kempinski & Co. Today it is known as the Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin or as the "Kempi". It still welcomes guests from all over the world and is one of the group’s flagships.

29.7.1952
Official opening of the Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin for guests.
The company acquires the equally traditional Atlantic Hotel in Hamburg, known as the "Weiße Schloss" (White Castle). Thanks to innovative and technologically advanced fittings, the luxury hotel, which opened in 1909 and is directly by the river, quickly became a “temporary home” for passengers of the Hamburg-America ship route.

1958
The Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin expands to offer guests more comfort. Ten years later, the 12-storey tower receives air conditioning, 63 further guest rooms and a Presidential Suite.

1970
The company acquires a 50 per cent share of the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich (the Four Seasons) and establishes a partnership with Lufthansa which is also a shareholder in the hotel. At the general shareholders meeting it is decided to give the company a new name: "Kempinski Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft" (joint stock company).

1972
Swimming pool is built – the first hotel pool in Berlin.

1977
New name change to “Kempinski Aktiengesellschaft”. Kempinski secures its fourth German destination – the Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch in Frankfurt.

1993
Renovation of the entire ground floor and all public areas. Also addition of garden hall, conservatory, shopping area, business centre and Bristol Bar. Renovation of almost all the rooms.

1994
Dusit Sindhorn Co. Ltd. acquires major shares of Kempinski Hotels & Resorts. This leads to a new, internationally orientated, expansion strategy within the group.

1997
100 years Kempinski
Europe´s oldest luxury hotel collection celebrates 100 years of history.

2006
Renovation of the whole event area "Bel Etage" and "Kempinski Eck".

2006
Accommodation of the new world champions - Italy.

2007
Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin celebrates its 55th birthday
To mark its 55th birthday, 55 cakes from hotel´s own patisserie were given to sick children and teenagers in Berlin´s paediatric clinic.

2007
The German Travel Management Association (VDR) awarded the Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin both seals of approval, “Certified Conference Hotel” and “VDR Certified Business Hotel”. With this certification, the VDR awards hotels which have specialised in the needs of business travellers and conference guests.

2007
The latest edition of the Gault Millau guide, eagerly anticipated by gourmets everywhere, has honoured Thomas Altenberger of the Bristol Bar of the Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin with the award “Barkeeper of 2008”.