Experiential meetings in Schaffhauserland

The new congress hotel in Schaffhausen is the centerpiece of the equally new "urbahn bleiche" district behind the train station.This article was published as the cover story in the current issue of our special "Meetings & Events". More exciting information about Arcona Living and other conference venues is available at here.-------------When people in Schaffhausen ask about the "urbahn bleiche," they get questioning looks. Not all locals are yet familiar with the name of the new urban district behind the train station, but that is soon to change. On October 1, 2014, an urban center with apartments, a parking garage, offices, retail and commercial space opened here.Heart of a new urban districtThe architectural centerpiece is a new congress hotel, the Arcona Living Schaffhausen, which stands out for its playful façade architecture with windows protruding to different extents. The 4-star hotel, designed by the Berlin architects Seeger Müller, is the first Swiss hotel of the Rostock-based Arcona Hotels & Resorts Group. This group operates 15 hotels in Germany, including five franchises for Steigenberger. "With the Arcona Living, we are filling a gap in the market in Schaffhausen," says Dutch General Manager Ferdinand Hoekstra, who already managed the pre-opening. Until now, the "city of oriels" had not really had a conference hotel, but now it was possible to welcome business travelers and corporate clients who had previously gone to Zurich or Germany.The Arcona Living Schaffhausen appeals not only to business guests and conference clients, but also to city travelers and long-term residents. It includes 112 modern double rooms, 18 apartments with kitchenettes and a 500-square-foot convention area. Some of the rooms have connecting doors, making them suitable for families, and two each are handicapped-accessible and equipped for allergy sufferers. The design of the rooms, which are decorated in blackberry red or arcona green, is well thought-out and functional. For example, opening the bathroom cabinet door above the free-standing washstand creates a spacious makeup or shaving area that disappears again with a flick of the wrist.A comfortable bench seat is integrated into the deep parapet of the surface-mounted window elements, from which one can watch the comings and goings at the nearby train station. And without any distracting accompanying noise - all hotel rooms are soundproofed. An energy-efficient fan coil system allows for a controllable flow of cold or heat, with 60 to 70 percent of heat from the hotel kitchen being recirculated, among other benefits.Relaxed lifestyle"Urbanity and modernity are at the forefront throughout the hotel," says Hoekstra. Guests should feel at home and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. This philosophy is reflected in the expanding hotel and serviced apartment brand Arcona Living, which together with the Arcona Hotels and Arcona Resorts brands is combined under the umbrella brand Arcona Hotels & Resorts. "Arcona Living Hotels are modern city hotels that are oriented to the history of the respective location and cultural figures of past centuries and cultivate a very unique living culture and atmosphere," explains Hoekstra. In the case of the latest hotel, he says, inspiration was drawn from the new "urbahn bleiche" district of Schaffhausen, where modernity and history meet. That's why everything here revolves around the theme of "time and zeitgeist. Accordingly, "time" can be found in the most diverse ways in the various areas of the hotel. Accents of muted colors and light create an open atmosphere. According to Hoekstra, the decoration was deliberately discreet so that each room could speak for itself.Central daysThe simple elegance of the interior extends to the 500-square-meter, light-flooded congress area. Its five divisible function rooms and two boardrooms with daylight can accommodate up to 340 people and are equipped with the latest technology and W-LAN. Portable 55-inch screens are available for presentations, which can be used in addition to the screen for larger events.Soundproof partition walls allow several events such as training courses, meetings or workshops to be held simultaneously. Ventilation and heating function autonomously and can be individually regulated in each room. The conference rooms are framed by a foyer with coffee machines, which can be used for breaks and stand-up lunches. In the conference lounge with seating landscape, a wall-sized painting traces the 24 hours of a day in undulating movements. On the floor and ceiling of the conference room, colorful circles evoke the spreading of drops on a sheet of water. This motif is repeated on the carpet in the floor corridors and accompanies the path to the rooms.According to Hoekstra, the congress hotel benefits from its close proximity to the railroad tracks and Schaffhausen's old town. The advantages also include the parking garage with 483 spaces.Asia Spa and Wine BarThose looking for relaxation after a strenuous conference will get their money's worth at the leased-in Asia Spa. The wellness oasis known from Zurich's Sihlcity opens its first branch at Arcona Living and is open to both hotel guests and the general public. Saunas with special infusion ceremonies have been specially created for Schaffhausen on 1200 square meters, including one that is only open to women. Also new is the Asian hamam. An elevator leads directly from the room floors to the spa area, and hotel guests benefit from special rates.The Weinwirtschaft Lounge & Restaurant with show kitchen and sun terrace also provides enjoyment. Austrian chef Roman Pauswek focuses on seasonal cuisine with natural products. Mediterranean dishes are combined with regional specialties. Two- to three-course business lunches are offered at lunchtime, and à la carte in the evening. The wine list includes 100 positions, of which about 30 are by the glass. Not only hotel guests will be interested in the wine boutique, which sells wine at fair prices from the alley around the clock.www.schaffhausen.arcona.chJust one month after its opening, the four-star congress hotel is able to accept the award in the category "Design & Lifestyle". The Arcona Living has successfully passed the classification procedure at hotelleriesuisse and meets all criteria in the specialization category. Author: Denise Weisflog