A visit to Claudia Reichelt
Sylt is more than just an island, Sylt is a promise. The unique landscape and a light that only breaks through the clouds there determine the atmosphere of “the island”. The Fährhaus Sylt is located on the mudflats in Keitum. A historic place, as this is where guests arriving by ferry first set foot on the island 125 years ago. Claudia Reichelt welcomed us on the iconic white wooden terrace of the historic building and took us to the Marasand room, where a sensational view over Wattenmeer and the marina awaited us.
You have been working in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. What tipped the scales in your favor? What fascinates you about hospitality?
My grandparents had a restaurant where everything fascinated me as a child. The choice of what to do after school was always between my parents' professions - teacher and hotel manager. Today, I am happy that I can live both professions in the hotel industry and at the university as a lecturer.
Your professional profile is very broad, including in the areas of business development and interim management. You are also a business facilitator and process management consultant - among other things. Why did you choose this path and to what extent do you benefit from it in your role as Hotel Director of Fährhaus Sylt?
I am interested in everything that helps me move forward and improves my work. Standing still is not an option. I love the exchange with the students and the fact that we learn from each other. For me, theory and practice simply belong together in the hospitality industry and so I have chosen my training in such a way that my environment and I benefit from it in our daily lives. In the past and now at the Fährhaus, I can see how important and wonderful it is to form a team with empathy and attention, to develop and implement ideas, to design processes and to give our guests an enjoyable stay.
You have been working in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. What tipped the scales in your favor? What fascinates you about hospitality?
My grandparents had a restaurant where everything fascinated me as a child. The choice of what to do after school was always between my parents' professions - teacher and hotel manager. Today, I am happy that I can live both professions in the hotel industry and at the university as a lecturer.
Your professional profile is very broad, including in the areas of business development and interim management. You are also a business facilitator and process management consultant - among other things. Why did you choose this path and to what extent do you benefit from it in your role as Hotel Director of Fährhaus Sylt?
I am interested in everything that helps me move forward and improves my work. Standing still is not an option. I love the exchange with the students and the fact that we learn from each other. For me, theory and practice simply belong together in the hospitality industry and so I have chosen my training in such a way that my environment and I benefit from it in our daily lives. In the past and now at the Fährhaus, I can see how important and wonderful it is to form a team with empathy and attention, to develop and implement ideas, to design processes and to give our guests an enjoyable stay.
You started as Director of Fährhaus Sylt in May 2024. What was your vision of the hotel back then?
The vision was to awaken the Fährhaus from its slumber and make it fit for the future. We have started on this path in recent months with small, fine events and a lot of fun and we still have a lot planned (laughs).
When I visit you today, where do I discover your “signature”?
... definitely on the welcome card in your room. I like to “get involved everywhere” with the floral decorations, the menu and wine list, the renovations and technical issues. The exchange with the department heads and employees is extremely important to me.
What does Fährhaus Sylt have that other hotels in this segment don't?
...the 125-years of history that began at the former ferry port, the unique location on the Wadden Sea, other hotels don't have our staff (laughs), hotels in our segment differ, in my opinion, mainly in terms of location and history. The facilities should be target group-oriented and the quality of our own services is a prerequisite that should be lived.
You started as Director of Fährhaus Sylt in May 2024. What was your vision of the hotel back then?
The vision was to awaken the Fährhaus from its slumber and make it fit for the future. We have started on this path in recent months with small, fine events and a lot of fun and we still have a lot planned (laughs).
When I visit you today, where do I discover your “signature”?
... definitely on the welcome card in your room. I like to “get involved everywhere” with the floral decorations, the menu and wine list, the renovations and technical issues. The exchange with the department heads and employees is extremely important to me.
What does Fährhaus Sylt have that other hotels in this segment don't?
...the 125-years of history that began at the former ferry port, the unique location on the Wadden Sea, other hotels don't have our staff (laughs), hotels in our segment differ, in my opinion, mainly in terms of location and history. The facilities should be target group-oriented and the quality of our own services is a prerequisite that should be lived.
The Fährhaus Sylt is not only a hotel, but also vacation homes and apartments. This diversified offer is now more common in the luxury hotel segment. Do you see a trend here?
In addition to the Fährhaus, our Fährhaus Collection here on the island includes the Hotel Aarnhoog, the Kontorhaus in Keitum, the Bett & Bude boarding house and several vacation homes and apartments. This reflects the diversity of the island. Just as Sylt can offer something for everyone here on 100 km2, we are also broadly positioned. I wouldn't call this a trend. In the past, many private and chain hotels have also recognized that our guests choose different accommodation depending on the reason for their trip (private or business; travelling with the family, as a couple or with friends or colleagues) and have adapted their portfolio accordingly.
Who are your guests? Golfers, connoisseurs, wellness fans...?
All of the above; golfers: as we have four golf courses between 3 and 12 kilometers away, connoisseurs: we offer an excellent variety of dishes from the sea, the meadows and the forest in our hotel and our Teekontor in Keitum and the sister hotel Aarnhoog also stand out with excellent breakfasts and teatime on the island. For wellness fans, we have a cozy area with various saunas, a swimming pool and treatment rooms. Here our guests can relax and unwind. But there is also plenty for sports enthusiasts. In addition to our fitness room and a surfing and sailing school 100 meters away, a morning run on the mudflats and through the Braderup Heath is the perfect start to the day for me. If you're looking for peace and quiet and a relaxing break, you've come to the right place. But small family celebrations and conferences are just as popular with us as health workshops.
Once again to you. How do guests experience you at Fährhaus Sylt? Are you very present in day-to-day operations or do you see yourself more as the manager behind the scenes?
I am very present in the hotel. I'm interested in how our guests feel, what we can do better, what help the staff need to enjoy working here at the Fährhaus. I step in when help is needed.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
...the variety; no two days are the same and I love being a hostess!
Is there a particularly wonderful experience at Fährhaus Sylt that you would like to share with our readers?
As I could name so many things here at the Fährhaus, from the sunrise over the Wadden Sea to the evening in the restaurant, it's much easier if all our readers just come along and we can share some wonderful experiences together.
Last question: Can you tell us your favorite place here at Fährhaus Sylt?
...the view over the Wadden Sea from our Victorian terrace at sunrise is unbeatable!
YOUR HOST AT FÄHRHAUS SYLT
You can contact Sebastian Steuber at www.faehrhaus-sylt.de or by e-mail at info@faehrhaus-sylt.de .
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