The InterContinental Berlin, a landmark hotel in the city, has been a symbol of luxury since it opened in 1958 and joined the InterContinental Hotel Group in 1978. InterContinental Berlin has consistently renovated itself to stay current and uphold its reputation as a modern and luxurious hotel. The recent renovation of InterContinental Berlin perfectly captures the new concept of ‘Luxury of Space’ for meetings and events. Located in Central Berlin, the hotel emphasises its commitment to providing expansive, state-of-the-art facilities for meetings and events.
The most recent renovation, completed from 2019 to March 2023, involved a €64 million investment. This extensive renovation modernised 558 rooms, the Marlene Bar, the Michelin-starred restaurant Hugos, the lobby, the Club InterContinental Lounge, and the event spaces, incorporating new designs and the latest technology.
Sustainability at InterContinental Berlin
Along with its extensive renovations, InterContinental Berlin has also focused on implementing major sustainability practices.
During my recent visit, I interviewed Sebastian Germershausen, General Manager at InterContinental Berlin. I asked him about the sustainability initiatives implemented during the renovation.
‘During the renovation, we exclusively used sustainable products, which contributed to the building achieving LEED certification.’ LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is a globally recognised certificate of excellence in green building. LEED certification ensures energy savings, reduced carbon emissions, and healthier environments.
‘In addition to this, we have implemented comprehensive waste and water management practices across all areas of the hotel. These efforts led to our recent achievement of the Green Key certification in March 2024. This is a leading sustainability standard in the hospitality and tourism industry.’
Luxury of space in central Berlin
I interviewed Maria Hoffmeister, Director of Sales & Marketing to uncover interesting event stories from this iconic property.
One memorable event at the hotel was a state visit coinciding with a major international lawyers’ conference. The heightened security required for the state visit led to interesting interactions with guests. Despite the high security measures, when the guests checked out they said ‘we are going to book you again next time because we felt very safe and we experienced a once in a lifetime thing.’
Events like these demonstrate the hotel’s unique ability to manage and deliver exceptional experiences for two very different events simultaneously. The hotel’s luxury of space and expert staff enable it to handle diverse and complex events with ease.
For this reason, the InterContinental Berlin is an ideal choice for a buyout. It allows event organisers to reserve the entire property exclusively for their group, offering the luxury of space for meetings and events in central Berlin.
If you seek a private and customised experience, InterContinental Berlin provides the flexibility to fully utilise and brand all its facilities for your exclusive use.
Accommodation
The InterContinental Berlin has 558 newly renovated and spacious rooms, ideal for accommodating guests during large events. I stayed in a Premium Room, which provided large space and included a comfortable seating area. My favourite feature was the large mirrors, which enhanced the room’s sense of space.
I also had the chance to spend time at the Club InterContinental Lounge, which adds comfort, privacy, and luxury to your stay.
The lounge offers breakfast and afternoon tea. It provides a space to work or relax before, during, and after your event. Large windows fill the room with natural light. What stood out to me was their exceptional selection of leaf teas, a fantastic alternative for those who prefer not to drink coffee. I often struggle to find good coffee alternatives, so this made a strong impression on me at the InterContinental Berlin.
Dining options
I explored the dining options both on a non-event day and during an event, and the variety greatly impressed me.
Let’s start with the regular restaurants.
Breakfast at L.A. Cafe is officially my favourite in Germany. The restaurant is impressive with its striking glass dome. The breakfast selection is outstanding, catering to a range of tastes with a substantial vegan section, Asian dishes, and a variety of options from the Chef’s table, including eggs Benedict and shakshuka. The fresh smoothies were another highlight for me. The L.A. café is undergoing a major renovation as I write this article. The brand-new look will be launched before October 2024.
Marlene Bar & Restaurant
The newly renovated Marlene Bar & Restaurant features sleek, modern décor, making it an ideal spot for a casual dinner or drinks. The menu offers a diverse selection of both international and local dishes, including Berlin curry sausage, and elevates classic favourites like French fries with Grana Padano, truffle, and truffle mayonnaise.
For those with vegan preferences, the restaurant provides excellent options such as the Vegan Marlene Cheeseburger and Vegan Miso Zucchini. Another highlight is their impressive range of alcohol-free cocktails and non-alcoholic gin, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a refreshing and sophisticated drink.
Hugos Restaurant & Private Dining
Michelin starred Hugos Restaurant has maintained its Michelin star since 1999 and is currently led by Eberhard Lange, one of Germany’s most innovative chefs. Situated on the 14th floor of the hotel, it offers breathtaking views of the city, allowing guests to enjoy the sunset and watch the city come alive while experiencing one of Berlin’s premier dining experiences.
For smaller groups of 6-12 people, the restaurant offers exclusive cooking classes. Participants can learn insider tips and professional techniques from a Michelin-starred chef, which they can use in their own kitchens. The dinner will conclude with a four-course dinner accompanied by a personal wine recommendation and attentive service from the restaurant’s Sommelier.
In addition to the main restaurant, Hugos has three Private Dining Areas, ideal for hosting exclusive dinners or events for 10 to 180 guests.
Events and Meetings at InterContinental Berlin: Luxury of space in central Berlin
The InterContinental Berlin offers over 6,200 m² of event space across 55 versatile rooms, making it perfect for various events, offering luxury of space for meetings and events in central Berlin. Whether it’s an intimate board meeting, a conference for up to 2,500 delegates, or large-scale exhibitions and banquets, the hotel’s extensive facilities and state-of-the-art technology can meet all event needs.
Some of the standout rooms at InterContinental Berlin include:
- Potsdam 1, 2, and 3: These rooms form the largest event space at the hotel and feature the largest ballroom in Berlin without columns. Covering a total area of 1,500 m², it can accommodate up to 2,500 people for a reception.
- Wintergarten: Connected to the Pavillon and L.A. Café, this space can be adapted to host breakfast and lunch events. It benefits from abundant natural daylight, offering additional space and flexibility for your event.
- Pavillon: With its own entrance, this versatile space can be customised for various needs and accommodating up to 600 guests for a reception. The case study section of the IHG Ignite will cover more details about its use.
Buyout benefits at InterContinental Berlin: Luxury of space for meetings and events in central Berlin
InterContinental Berlin offers a unique opportunity for a hotel buyout, providing exclusive access to all event facilities and offering the luxury of space for meetings and events in central Berlin.
This option delivers significant benefits that can bring your brand to life and leave a lasting impression on your attendees. With a buyout, you can enjoy branding throughout all public areas of the hotel, including the lifts, and use the lobby for exhibitions and breaks. You’ll also have flagpoles and branding in front of the hotel, branded keycards, and service staff in branded aprons. The Marlene Bar is available for catering and events, with exclusive use of Marlene until 11 pm. Additionally, you can opt for exclusive access to Hugos and the Spa. To take advantage of these benefits, organisers must ensure a minimum of 600 event participants and reserve 556 guest rooms for 3 days, along with a 3-night guarantee.
The unique advantage: Decades of expertise at InterContinental Berlin
With this comprehensive infrastructure in place, there is one intangible quality that sets the hotel apart: its deep expertise.
This is something you need to experience firsthand. Many staff members have been with the hotel for 20 to 30 years, while younger talents join for its renowned excellence. By choosing InterContinental Berlin, you can be confident your event will set benchmarks.
A Benchmark Event: The 2017 InterContinental Hotel Group General Managers Conference at InterContinental Berlin
Maria told me about one of the most memorable events for InterContinental Berlin.
In 2017, the InterContinental Hotel Group General Managers Conference took place at InterContinental Berlin. It lasted a week, with preparations starting a year in advance, involving everyone across all departments.
The hotel hosted 250 ambassadors of the InterContinental Hotel Group. The transformation was so complete that you wouldn’t immediately recognise it as InterContinental Berlin. Every IHG brand was represented, with each meeting room uniquely themed for each brand. It was impressive to see how flexible the space was and how every square metre was utilised.
This was one of those events that you either find exhilarating and want to experience again, or it leaves you feeling that it’s not quite your thing. Fortunately, many employees were eager to repeat the experience.
The event received a fantastic response in the Berlin market, attracting the attention of many agencies. It demonstrated what’s possible at this hotel and served as a powerful example of what can be achieved and must be experienced.
Fast forward to 2024, and in June, the IHG Ignite, the most important annual international event for the InterContinental Hotel Group, took place at InterContinental Berlin.
Case Study: IHG Ignite
IHG Ignite is the top annual event for InterContinental Hotels, uniting global sales representatives and top clients for three days. This year, InterContinental Berlin hosted the event, marking its first time in Europe.
The event offered a combination of education, inspiration, networking, exhibition and fun activities.
Over 2,500 guests attended the event.
Event planning and execution
With months of meticulous planning leading up to the event, expectations were exceptionally high.
Hosting an event for event professionals is a big challenge, as these experts demand exceptional service and innovative experiences.
The event ran from Tuesday to Thursday, welcoming guests from around the globe. It featured activities both within the hotel and throughout Berlin, and concluded with a closing party at Charlottenburg Palace.
The InterContinental team played an important role in logistics and customization during the planning process. They collaborated closely with external suppliers and the Global IHG Trade Shows team to tailor the event spaces to event needs. The team paid meticulous attention to detail, building and dismantling many spaces within a 24-hour window.
The seamless execution of the event was the result of a collective team effort, from initial planning to final implementation. The teams worked around the clock to ensure that the schedule was adhered to without any delays.
Unique requests and challenges were successfully addressed:
- Built a temporary wall to hide the usual breakfast area.
- Set up multiple food stations for the first evening.
- Created a football viewing area, which was dismantled overnight and transformed into a coffee break area by the next morning.
- Designed and executed a memorable trade show experience at the Pavillon
- The Potsdam stage was set with special LED lighting.
Venue experience
The event wasn’t a buyout, but a large part of the event spaces and rooms at InterContinental Berlin were reserved for the event, offering luxury of space for meetings and events in central Berlin.
A dedicated check-in desk in the lobby, complete with full event branding, greeted attendees upon arrival, adding an extra layer of personalisation.
The Potsdam room
The Potsdam room hosted the main conference, showcasing an impressive layout, lighting design, and advanced technology. Every attendee had a clear view of both the screen and the stage. I also appreciated the added comfort of small tables in front of each chair, ideal for coffee or personal items.
Wintergarten
Wintergarten was the central meeting point during the conference where the breakfast and lunch took place. Henning Drenkhahn, head Chef of InterContinental Berlin prepared an exceptional catering throughout the event that varied for each meal and included lots of fresh, healthy and international dishes.
They set up a greetings wall in the Wintergarten, allowing attendees to share their thoughts and testimonials about the event. This was a great way to personalise the experience and encourage attendees to engage.
The Pavillon
The team elegantly set up the Pavillon for an exhibition featuring booths from all InterContinental Hotels Group brands. At the entrance, a reception desk greeted guests, alongside a station offering light snacks and barista coffee. I particularly loved the design of the space, with its dominant blue hues and vibrant plant displays that added a lively touch to the space.
Meeting rooms
The team reserved the meeting rooms on the 2nd floor (Check, Bishop, King, Queen, Knight, Chess, Rook) for executive meetings. Meanwhile, the meeting rooms on the ground floor (Tiergarten, Charlottenburg, Köpenick, Bellevue, Tegel, Dahlem, Glienicke, Schöneberg) hosted client sessions.
Hugos Restaurant & Private Dining
Hugos hosted the dinner on the first night, featuring spectacular sunset views over Berlin and exquisite catering. It was the perfect setting to kick off IHG Ignite and set the tone for the event.
Marlene Bar & Restaurant
On the second night, the Marlene Bar & Restaurant served as the central hub for attendees returning from city tours and dining experiences. A live band welcomed the guests, while the staff served light snacks like truffled French fries and Berlin curry sausage. A custom drinks menu offered a range of cocktails, including non-alcoholic options. The group exclusively reserved the restaurant, and with top weather, many guests enjoyed the terrace. It was a perfect conclusion to the second day of the event.
Visiting the hotel twice—once on a non-event day and once during an event—highlighted the full range of possibilities the spaces offer. The transformation was remarkable, turning the venue into a dynamic setting that successfully hosted one of the most complex and demanding events for the InterContinental Hotels Group.
10 Top reasons why host your event at InterContinental Berlin
- Luxury of space at InterContinental Berlin: The hotel offers over 6,200 m² of event space across 55 versatile rooms, accommodating meetings and events for up to 2,500 delegates in central Berlin.
- Largest pillar-free ballroom: The Potsdam rooms form the largest ballroom in Berlin without columns, covering 1,500 m² and accommodating up to 2,500 people for a reception.
- Buyout option: The hotel offers a unique buyout opportunity, allowing exclusive access to all facilities and extensive branding possibilities throughout the property.
- Decades of expertise: Many staff members have 20-30 years of experience, ensuring top-notch event execution backed by deep expertise.
- Versatile venues: The hotel features a variety of spaces including the Wintergarten, Pavillon, Marlene and Hugos restaurant, offering flexibility for different event components.
- Culinary excellence: With options ranging from the Michelin-starred Hugos restaurant to casual and international catering choices at the Marlene and L.A. Cafe, as well as dedicated event catering, the hotel provides exceptional dining experiences across its three restaurants.
- Accommodation capacity: 558 newly renovated rooms can comfortably house large groups of event attendees.
- Prime location: Situated in central Berlin, the hotel offers easy access to city attractions for off-site activities or post-event exploration.
- State-of-the-art technology: The recent €64 million renovation included updates to event spaces, incorporating the latest technology.
- Proven track record: The hotel has successfully hosted high-profile events including hosting Heads of States, the IHG General Managers 2017 and 2024 Conference and IHG Ignite 2024, demonstrating its capability to manage complex, large-scale events.
These unique selling points come together to showcase a hotel with deep historical roots in Berlin, while its recent renovation ensures it remains up to the highest standards for corporate events.
Conclusions
I’ve known about InterContinental Berlin for many years as it’s a landmark hotel well-known in the events and tourism industry. However, visiting and attending an event there introduced me to its newly renovated spaces, which I had not experienced before. Specifically:
- The luxury of space and flexibility
- The depth of expertise from the team members
- The impressive transformation capabilities for events
At InterContinental Berlin, the hotel’s infrastructure and event team excel at supporting complex, large-scale events. This facilitates high-profile event planning and fosters innovation.
What particularly impressed me was the seamless integration of branding and customization options. One of the hotel’s greatest strengths is its ability for a buyout to host diverse event components all under one roof. From the largest pillar-free ballroom in Berlin to the Michelin-starred Hugos restaurant, and the more casual Marlene, the variety of spaces caters to all aspects of a multi-faceted event. This internal flexibility is complemented by its prime location in one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals.
Nice article about venues, good to know..