"Oscar of the German conference hotel industry"

This year's "Oscar of the German conference hotel industry" goes to Dr. Berthold Uphoff from Tagungszentrum Schmerlenbach. The TOP Conference Hotelier 2023 award was presented at the "TOP 250 Germany - The Best Conference Hotels in Germany" awards ceremony at the GenoHotel Baunatal. Uphoff was selected from numerous nominations by a jury consisting of the TOP 250 project's team of editors and authors as well as the award winners of the previous five years. The laudator for the 15th award was last year's winner Olaf Feuerstein. "This year's award is more than just for the best conference hotelier," says TOP 250 project manager Reinhard Peter. "Dr. Berthold Uphoff receives the industry award for his life's work, which focuses on the successful transformation of the Schmerlenbach conference center from a traditional church education center of the Würzburg diocese into a modern conference center at star level." At the same time, Uphoff distinguished himself by accompanying numerous colleagues from other church conference centers on the same path.

Education center successfully transformed into conference hotel

Uphoff initially studied Catholic theology and education, completed a doctorate in church adult education and trained as an organizational consultant and developer. Experienced as a trainer, seminar leader and education manager, he was a conference leader and specialist consultant at the Schmerlenbach Conference Center for many years before being appointed its director in 2002. In this responsible position, Uphoff started a pioneering process of change towards professional hospitality. Today, Schmerlenbach is both a spiritual place and a modern conference hotel where the focus is on people. "To drive forward and continue such a transformation process from a church education center to a classic conference hotel over a period of a good two decades is an outstanding achievement," says Peter. "Outstanding occupancy figures and top rankings in the elections for the best conference hotels in Germany over many years speak for themselves."

Working as a crisis manager beyond retirement

Since the end of 2020, Uphoff has also proven to be a successful crisis manager. At that time, the diocese of Würzburg decided to close some of its conference centers and, at best, to look for a new owner for Schmerlenbach. Uphoff postponed his retirement, which was due to begin in May 2022, for the future of his life's work at Schmerlenbach and continued to work. He developed new usage scenarios, prepared company figures and kept the hotel business on course for success, even against the backdrop of a downsizing workforce. As a result, Uphoff will be able to hand over a flourishing and economically sound hotel before he finally retires at the beginning of 2024.