Sometimes bad news is followed by good news, and in this case it is exactly the same: Even if Hans-Jürgen Laumeister and Daniela Schwarz cannot continue the Schlosshotel Rettershof in Kelkheim after more than ten successful years, a successor was found.

Dominik and Valeska Benner will continue in their tried and tested manner where the Laumeister-Schwarz family left off.

Andrea Diener

Correspondent in the Main-Taunus district

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You leave behind a healthy, newly renovated house - two weeks before the Corona lockdown in March 2020, the last renovation was completed.

The following pandemic years were not easy, but we got through them, also thanks to tireless personal commitment.

Until eleven weeks ago, Hans-Jürgen Laumeister became nauseous while mowing the lawn – a heart attack, the emergency doctor determined.

And Laumeister had to admit that he couldn't go on like this anymore.

"As a boss, it's horrifying not always being able to help," he says.

So a decision had to be made.

Expressed interest early

The fact that the Benners get their chance is also thanks to a letter Dominik Benner wrote to Laumeister two years ago.

If you ever thought about selling the hotel, the Benners would be interested, it said.

Benner had just taken over a restaurant in Wiesbaden and was looking for something timeless, something classic, as he says, to expand his portfolio.

Of course, at that time, Laumeister had no thoughts of giving up.

But the early expression of interest bore fruit, and people remembered him.

Benner comes from a shoe shop family in Hofheim, comes from the region and already runs the restaurant "Benner's" in the Wiesbaden Kurhaus and two restaurants in Frankfurt with his wife.

Benner's company has 250 employees, and now there are about 50 more in Kelkheim.

The Benners have three children, Marie-Christine, who is only a few weeks old, is the youngest newcomer and can be present at the signing of the contracts this Wednesday afternoon.

Because the Benners cannot be there every day because of their restaurants, they looked for reinforcements.

Pia Weber, a trained hotel manager and most recently working in marketing, is looking forward to being able to work again as operations manager in a well-known establishment.

Otherwise, apart from minor modernizations, everything remains the same.

Alexander Furtwängler remains in management, the employees are taken over.

And hopefully more employees will be found.

After the pandemic is over and the house is full, the shortage of skilled workers is currently the biggest challenge, as everyone confirms.

Hardly any staff to be found, the market swept empty.

If you do find someone, the authorities make it difficult for you.

Daniela Schwarz reports,

that she has been on the phone a lot with immigration authorities in recent weeks about an Egyptian employee she would like to hire, but work visas are hard to come by.

Even if the future employer calls.

As long as the situation does not improve, the hotel's restaurant will have to remain closed for the time being.

Meanwhile, the clientele has changed significantly.

Up to now it was mainly private guests who came, but now company events dominate in the hotel.

And the store is booming.

September, says Laumeister, will be one of the strongest months ever.

"It was hard for me to say goodbye," admits Hans-Jürgen Laumeister.

There is a lot of heart and soul in this house, and he will have to digest it for a while.

Until then, he will support his successor in word and deed – but no longer in day-to-day operations.

It worked out right away, and after a few months of working together, everyone is certain: "Here is someone who is always ready," says Managing Director Furtwängler.