Expansion across four structurally stable german cities
The newly acquired assets contribute 585 rooms across cities with distinct demand profiles.
Freiburg strengthens Leonardo’s position in a hybrid leisure–corporate destination with strong regional tourism.
Erfurt, where the group will now operate two hotels, deepens its footprint in a state capital characterised by administrative activity and MICE demand.
Magdeburg provides access to a growing economic hub supported by industrial investment and recent infrastructure developments.
Nuremberg, where Leonardo will now run three hotels, reinforces the group’s presence in a trade-fair and manufacturing ecosystem with high business travel flows.
Yoram Biton underscored the impact of the acquisition:
“The acquisition of these four hotels marks a major milestone in our growth strategy. Freiburg and Magdeburg open up new doors to exciting destinations, and the launching of a second presence in Erfurt will deepen our commitment to the location. We are also delighted that the venture in Nuremberg will even be our third operation in the city. All of this consolidates our brand profile and strengthens our market footprint in Germany, where we now run 73 hotels.”
Renovation programme and operational integration
All four hotels will remain operational while undergoing a phased modernisation plan. Works include full guest-room refurbishments, bathroom upgrades and targeted redesigns of public areas. Leonardo intends to retain high-quality architectural elements while updating selected zones to align with brand standards and enhance performance potential.
According to Jan Heringa, Vice President of Development, the hotels will transition to the Leonardo brand upon completion of renovation works, ensuring consistent service delivery, design coherence and operational alignment across the portfolio.
For Steigenberger Hotels GmbH, this transaction concludes a multi-decade operational cycle. Managing Director Dr. Stephan Hungeling noted that the properties exit the company’s portfolio after more than 30 years, following their sale by DWS Alternatives GmbH. a move aligned with leonardo’s european development path The acquisition is consistent with Leonardo’s wider expansion trajectory across Europe, where the group continues to pursue selective acquisitions, targeted refurbishments and concept innovation. Recent developments include its multi-country growth programme and the opening of Posthouse Berlin under the Limited Edition concept.
These initiatives reflect a competitive environment where operators seek to optimise scale, reposition assets and diversify product offerings in response to shifting corporate and leisure demand patterns.
By expanding to 73 hotels in Germany, Leonardo enhances its distribution reach, operational efficiency and brand visibility in a stable, high-volume hotel market. The acquisition and renovation programme strengthens the group’s ability to serve both business and leisure segments while reinforcing long-term resilience in a market undergoing progressive consolidation. The move positions Leonardo to capture future demand and optimise performance across one of its most important European geographies.
