Hotel Luise

Love for living things

The future has been built at Hotel Luise, with its rooms constructed from wood and straw, and some made from 100% recyclable materials. However, it’s not just the renewable hotel rooms that showcase sustainable design. The approach extends throughout the entire hotel.

• Renewable hotel rooms that are 100% recyclable or biodegradable:
  • Rooms designed according to the Cradle-to-Cradle® principle
  • Construction using straw bale panels
  • Carpeting made from recycled PET bottles
  • Natural art made from dried plants
  • Use of modern, energy-saving technologies during construction
• Biophilic design throughout the hotel:
  • Visible and invisible references to nature, such as real green plants in the hotel and natural scents in the spa
  • Different air and temperature conditions (e.g., an open glass corridor between buildings with climatic transitions)
  • Use of regional materials, such as straw building boards, and connection to nature, for example, through the roof terrace with a roof garden and windows with a view of the garden
  • Use eco-friendly paints and plaster
  • Consistent use of natural and sustainable materials throughout the hotel

Energy constantly reimagined

Although it sounds contradictory, technology in harmony with nature is consistently implemented at Hotel Luise. Thanks to intelligent solutions, local partnerships, and constant innovation, you can enjoy a resource-saving stay without sacrificing comfort.

• Use smart radiators and controls that adjust the room temperature based on occupancy and weather
• “Astronaut showers” in renewable hotel rooms (up to 80% energy savings)
• Timers throughout the hotel
• Identification and elimination of heat and cold leaks using our thermal imaging camera
• Use of energy-efficient electrical appliances and LEDs
• Electricity from our own photovoltaic system
• Use of green electricity and climate-neutral district heating from Erlangen’s public utility company
• Supporting member of “Energiewende ER(H)langen” to support the local energy transition

Every drop counts

Water is life – that’s why Hotel Luise uses it carefully. From its own garden and microforest to cleaning and the hotel rooms themselves, water is conserved and used as efficiently as possible.

• Around 90% less water consumption in sustainable hotel rooms thanks to “astronaut showers” (compared to conventional showers)
• Water-saving fixtures in all hotel rooms
• Sustainable watering of trees with watering bags (drip irrigation for efficient water use).
• Use of rainwater from our own cistern
• Efficient water heating using a heat exchanger
• Cleaning with micro-dry steam whenever possible (very low water consumption with hygienic cleanliness; no chemical cleaning agents)

Creating value instead of throwing things away

At Hotel Luise, many items are given a second life. Thanks to creative ideas and a consistent commitment to waste avoidance, recycling, and upcycling, old things are transformed into new treasures. This allows existing resources to be used instead of creating new waste.

• Furniture and design elements made from recycled or upcycled materials (e.g., tables made from old refrigerators, lamps made from bottles)
• Testing new products for repairability
• Use and refurbishment of flea market finds, such as an apothecary cabinet that now serves as a mini hotel shop.
• Wooden key cards and door hangers made from recycled materials to avoid plastic waste
• Waste separation throughout the hotel, including in the rooms, using appropriate bins
• Collection and reuse of surplus cables, sockets, and other materials during conversion and renovation work
• Use of large containers for cleaning products to reduce packaging waste

Conscious and fair (organic) enjoyment

The Hotel Luise shows how culinary enjoyment and responsibility can go hand in hand—an approach that even extends to the hotel’s forecourt (and its food vending machines).

• 24/7 food vending machine in front of the hotel, stocked exclusively with regional and/or organic food
• “Tiny Shop” with homemade, regional, sustainable, or organic food and alcoholic beverages
• Free drinking water for guests
• Zero-waste breakfast with a strong focus on avoiding food waste
• Hotel’s own honey from beehives on the premises
• Food used: regional, Fairtrade, and/or organic

Together as one

Sustainability encompasses more than just materials, food, and resources. At Hotel Luise, social interaction is also a focus—with employees, the city, and guests alike.

• Collection and donation of used clothing (which guests can also contribute) and other material donations
• Support for the Generation Restoration Initiative
• Member of the Fairtrade Steering Group Erlangen
• Member of Greenpeace
• Support for regional campaigns and associations (e.g., sponsorship of the SSG Swimming Club Erlangen)
• Closing a supply gap in the neighborhood with food vending machines

A hotel for everyone

The Hotel Luise wants everyone to feel welcome. This attitude extends to both guests and employees.

• Inclusive workplaces and collaboration with Access to provide better working conditions for people with disabilities
• Barrier-free rooms
• Barrier-free access to the roof terrace, loft, breakfast room, and conference rooms
• Barrier-free design of the food vending machine in front of the hotel, where possible
• Inclusive business
• Cooperation with inclusive businesses

Green on the road

Your sustainable mobility is part of the Hotel Luise’s concept, and it is supported to the best of the hotel’s ability.

• Bicycle parking and battery charging stations
• An air filling station for bicycles in front of the hotel
• Two e-charging stations (Wirelane) for electric vehicles
• Rental bikes for guests and the option for employees to lease a job bike
• One electric hotel car; otherwise, use bikes or cargo bikes financial support for employees for monthly bus and train tickets

More than half of the hotel grounds are green spaces. This benefits you as a guest, the environment, and the urban climate.

• Use of natural cosmetics in shower gel, shampoo, and soap
• Natural garden on the hotel grounds
• A microforest in the hotel garden with over 100 native trees
• Low outdoor lighting to avoid light pollution
• Several watering holes for animals and insects, as well as insect houses
• Certification with the EU Ecolabel
• Green Meeting Concept

Yes, dogs are welcome at Hotel Luise. There is a daily fee of €20 per animal. Please note that pets are not allowed in the breakfast room or the spa.

No, Hotel Luise does not serve lunch or dinner. However, thanks to its central location in Erlangen, there are many dining options outside the hotel. The staff is happy to provide recommendations.

Yes, the zero-waste breakfast buffet is available to guests from outside the hotel, too. It costs €21.00 per person. Please note that advance registration is required. The buffet offers a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. If you follow a strictly vegan diet, please notify the team in advance so they can prepare accordingly.

Yes, there are several free parking spaces available in front of the hotel. Alternatively, you can reserve a spot in our underground parking garage for €16 per night. Just let the front desk know when you check in.

It’s very easy to donate your clothes at Hotel Luise: simply place the wooden coin found in your room on the item you wish to donate. The hotel will then ensure the clothes are sent where they are needed.

Yes, the hotel offers free bicycle parking with an electric charging station. As an ADFC-certified Bett+Bike establishment, it is perfectly equipped for cyclists. For example, it provides an air-filling station.

Yes, the hotel has a spa area with various saunas, a fitness area, and an “ice cave.” You can also book the private spa exclusively for you and a loved one for EUR 49.00 for two hours. Massages are also offered, including the unique beer massage experience. The spa area is also available to external guests by prior arrangement.