MEININGER Hotels is consolidating its presence in Cologne with a second property, scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2029 on Barbarossaplatz. Following the MEININGER Hotel Köln West, which opened in 2023, the hybrid hotel group is thereby establishing a new address in the heart of the city, at Luxemburger Straße 1-5.
The project reflects a broader trend in the German market: the conversion of vacant office assets into accommodation, a movement also seen in Berlin, where a&o Hostels is converting an office building into Europe’s largest hostel.
An office conversion led by Avison Young and Alfons & alfreda
The future hotel will occupy a six-storey office building owned by a Canadian pension fund and managed by Avison Young Investment Management, the real estate investment management platform of the Avison Young group. To lead the refurbishment, the manager has appointed Alfons & alfreda, a Düsseldorf-based real estate developer, as execution partner and service developer — the same team that previously delivered the MEININGER Köln West project. Avison Young Germany acted as lead broker on the transaction, alongside the owner.
“Twelve years after acquiring this building, we are delighted to give it a significant new role. Located on Barbarossaplatz, one of Cologne’s key transport hubs, it lends itself perfectly to placemaking: we are breathing new life into a well-located building and reimagining it to meet the needs of the city centre”, says Amy Erixon, President of Avison Young Investment Management. Founded in 2012, the platform now manages a portfolio worth around CAD 700 million (approximately €433 million at current exchange rates), comprising office, residential, industrial, retail and life sciences assets across North America and Europe.
Cologne, a leading business and cultural destination
The city on the Rhine welcomed around 4.25 million visitors in 2025, generating more than 7.22 million overnight stays, a record. Cologne has more than thirty museums and around a hundred galleries, and is home to Koelnmesse, one of Germany’s leading international trade fair venues.
Barbarossaplatz, where the new hotel will be located, provides a central gateway on foot to Hohenstaufenring and its bar scene, as well as to the city centre, the old town and Cologne Cathedral. According to Ajit Menon, CEO of MEININGER Hotels, the location “offers excellent connectivity and is ideally suited to our hybrid concept and to different travel occasions”, in a German market he describes as a priority for the group.
A flexible room offering for a diverse clientele
The MEININGER Barbarossaplatz will feature 305 rooms and up to 1,160 beds, split between double rooms and multi-bed rooms. This configuration targets families, solo travellers, school groups and business guests alike. Thirty parking spaces are planned, at least four of which will be equipped with EV charging points.
MEININGER continues its European expansion
This new Cologne project adds to an active European pipeline. Following recent openings in Barcelona and Edinburgh, MEININGER plans new addresses in Tel Aviv in 2026, followed by Strasbourg in 2027, where the group will open its fifth French address opposite the main railway station, ahead of Madrid, Porto and Dublin in 2028. The group thus confirms the continued growth of its hybrid concept across the continent.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Milestone: MEININGER Hotels to open a second Cologne property on Barbarossaplatz, converted from a six-storey office building
Opening targeted for Q2 2029
305 rooms, up to 1,160 beds
30 parking spaces, at least 4 with EV charging
Owner: a Canadian pension fund, managed by Avison Young Investment Management; execution partner: Alfons & alfreda
Second Cologne asset after MEININGER Köln West (opened 2023)
Upcoming pipeline: Tel Aviv (2026), Strasbourg (2027), Madrid, Porto and Dublin (2028)
