Jörg Selan derblauweisse
Apr 2026
★★★★★
Dates: March 6-8, 2026
Price: €700 for 2 nights with breakfast in Orania, 25 m², 4th floor, room 406
Restaurant: €304.26
Bar: €110
Other extras: €29.44
Tips: €60.56
Total: €1,204.26
I have to admit, Philipp and Jennifer Vogel's concepts sound enticing. One could almost get the impression that two geniuses are at work here. The marketing magic of the Vogels' concepts contains a considerable degree of arrogance and audacity, considering all our experiences and the reality they represent.
The first questions I asked myself were:
Do the claims and reality match up?
What do the marketing statements mean for the guest? How does the guest experience this new definition of luxury, where the guest is no longer king, but rather a relationship between guest and staff as equals?
What new value propositions arise for the guest, and what are the resulting business realities for the family that runs the hotel?
Quotes:
"...Orania.Berlin is, to a certain extent, a hybrid; the concept is actually difficult to define, it's simply different."
"...In the past, the guest wanted to be king, but that's no longer the case."
"...We have all sorts of information about our guests in our system: what books they read, whether they're vegan, what flowers they love, etc. That's the magic that makes the difference. Guest relations is definitely my passion. For example, every guest receives a handwritten letter sealed with wax. It's time-consuming, but we take this homework very seriously. At Orania.Berlin, we celebrate personalized attention."
=> Our experience: There was no welcome letter!
``` => The hotel still hasn't remembered my wife's birthday!
"...Ultimately, we appeal to people for whom enjoyment and a certain aesthetic are paramount. So, neither just the stylish and trendy, nor the expected comfort of a classic luxury hotel."
=> My request for a soft-boiled egg for breakfast led to an unpleasant confrontation with the waitstaff.
"We consider ourselves part of the modern hotel industry: The Orania.Berlin is a luxury hotel in the 5-star segment with very high-quality amenities. We embody this luxury, …".
=> No, the hotel doesn't have any official stars!
"...but rather understatement. Coupled with authenticity and normalcy, we create something special, and our guests experience a pleasant sense of well-being…"
"...We communicate with our guests as equals, not as if they were king. This approach is the future of the hotel and restaurant industry."
"...Orania Berlin: 'We don't stand for this classic luxury'
=> Salt and pepper should always be available either at the table or at the buffet." Having salt and pepper shakers only on some tables is generally a no-go.
=> Bringing every cup of coffee fresh from the machine to the table is, of course, "high-quality," but then the request for sugar and creamer should also be accommodated.
I also find it inappropriate when staff members audibly refer to me at breakfast as "the room service guest."
The extra charge for a "to-go" coffee, which I wanted to enjoy outside at around 10:50 a.m., still during "breakfast time," along with my morning cigarette, was embarrassing! Yes, I smoke! Yes, I indulge in this pleasure exactly three times a day, always after meals!
But the most questionable quotes come from the annual financial statements:
The sole limited partner has made a non-binding commitment to the company to provide further liquidity. The generous owner, who has committed himself non-bindingly to assuming the debts amounting to... The company, which has pledged approximately €2.9 million, is also over 80 years old. Without this continued financial support, the company's existence would be jeopardized…" According to publicly available annual financial statements, the lease expires on August 31, 2027!