Not everyone gets to live like a King or Queen in this lifetime. Yet, those who spend time at Schloss Arenfels get particularly close. High ceilings, four-poster beds to make a König (German for King) proud, and regal staircases with flickers of gold. 

Benedikt Feltens grew up with a view of Schloss Arenfels, so when the person working on renovations at the time offered him the opportunity to manage it and later own it, he took the chance. We’re taking you to Bad Hönningen, West Germany, to a space that has watched over the town since the 13th century. And as always, time changes everything. Today, Benedict manages Schloss Arenfels with his business partner John Sauvourel. Together, they operate Schloss Arenfels as a boutique hotel with 15 individually designed rooms. 

What inspired you to start hosting?

John: “Originally, we planned to host weddings and other events exclusively at the castle. We launched the business on January 1st, 2020, and only a few weeks later, the pandemic hit us with full force. Since we were unable to hold events, we used the time to convert several rooms inside the castle into hotel rooms. I wanted to create a historic place where people can experience special moments, from romantic weekends to family getaways and overnight stays, combined with events. The history and atmosphere of the castle fascinated me from the very beginning and inspired me to open this place to guests. Schloss Arenfels is more than 800 years old and sits beautifully above the Rhine River. The combination of history, nature, and its idyllic location makes the place truly unique.”

Did you face any challenges getting started? What helped you push through?

John: “The biggest challenge was transforming a historic building into a modern and comfortable hotel operation. While doing that, we had to build new structures, find staff, and establish processes. What kept us going was our passion for the project  and a  team that shares the same vision.”

How is the journey going?

John: “Since 2020, we’ve expanded our offerings step by step. Today, Schloss Arenfels is not only a hotel but a venue for special experiences, events, and cultural programs. The journey continues to evolve, and that is exactly what makes it so exciting.”

What experience do you want guests to have?

John: “To me, hospitality means giving people the feeling of genuinely being welcome and caring for them as if they were friends. Authentic, warm, attentive, yet never intrusive. We want our guests to enjoy a real break from everyday life, relaxed, personal, and full of thoughtful little details. Staying in a castle should always feel a bit magical. Many guests say that staying with us feels like taking a small journey into another time.

We’ve had several couples get engaged at the castle, usually a surprise for the partner. Being part of these moments is always unforgettable. We’ve also made true friends out of some guests who return to visit us.”

And how did you start working with Smoobu?

John: “Before Smoobu, we had to coordinate bookings, calendars, messages, and invoices manually, which was time-consuming and prone to errors. Smoobu has automated many processes, especially calendar synchronization, significantly reducing errors and saving us a great deal of time in our daily operations. Direct bookings integrate through Smoobu, so everything remains centralized.

The channel manager, automated messages, and the central booking overview are the most valuable features for us. We’ve eliminated nearly all internal coordination errors. Additionally, we save several hours of administrative work each day, time we now spend improving guest experiences and developing the castle further.

If you want to become a host, you need to be passionate, stay flexible, and keep your guests at the center of everything. Choose good systems early on, before things get chaotic. Smoobu is the perfect partner for that.”

What are you looking forward to?

John: “What does the future hold? Growth, quality, and experience. We’re currently planning further renovations in the castle to bring even more historic rooms back to life. Most recently, we transformed one room into a “Harry Potter”-inspired guest room.”

Ready for support that feels like a co-host?

If you’re ready to halt things before they get chaotic or even while they are,  start your free 14-day Smoobu trial today.

Ready to sleep like a König(in)?

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