For over 50 years, the Birkenhof in Bad Soden-Salmünster has stood for honest hospitality. Built in 1968 by Maria and Hugo Grauel as a spa home, the hotel has developed step by step into a modern hotel that today welcomes guests from near and far.
The Birkenhof is managed by Stephan and Ursula Grauel, who have shaped the family business with a great deal of experience and personal commitment and continue to actively support it. Together with the next generation – Kerstin Hilss and Clarissa Grauel – the hotel is now run by the third generation and is being further developed for the future. The fourth generation is already part of the lively everyday family life at the hotel and contributes to the special, authentic atmosphere.
Supported by a strong team, the Birkenhof combines tradition and modernity – with the aim of providing guests with a pleasant stay, whether for business trips, conferences, vacation stays or group travel.
Stephan Grauel has known the Birkenhof since day one – when his parents founded the hotel, he was already part of it. Today, he runs the hotel as the owner and has played a key role in shaping it for many years.
As head chef, he is the culinary heart of the house. With his expertise – especially in classic French cuisine – he has raised the restaurant to a new level and has provided many impulses over the years. Guests can feel his passion for good food in every menu that comes out of his kitchen.
Ursula Grauel has a degree in ecotrophology and is actually a teacher – but her passion led her to the family business. She has been a mainstay at Birkenhof for many years and shapes the hotel in her own special way.
With her flair for figures, she keeps an eye on all economic aspects. At the same time, she brings taste and style to the design of the rooms and ensures that guests immediately feel at home in the lovingly furnished surroundings.
A special project close to her heart is her in-house patisserie: from Black Forest gateau to her legendary gooseberry meringue and fine nut cakes – she bakes everything herself with love and skill.
As a true hostess, she lives warmth and personal attention – whether at the reception, during a conversation in the restaurant or with small attentions that make the stay unforgettable.
Kerstin has been back home since 2010 and is shaping the hotel with her passion for the grand hotel industry. After studying at the renowned Swiss hotel management school SHL, she gained valuable experience at hotels such as the Kempinski Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg and the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel in Switzerland.
At the Birkenhof, her focus is on organization: from the booking process to looking after the staff and personally welcoming guests. With her organizational skills and sense of hospitality, Kerstin ensures that every stay runs smoothly and warmly.
As the youngest daughter, Clarissa brings a breath of fresh air to the Birkenhof. After training as a chef, she gained experience in renowned restaurants such as the duck with Michael Kammermeier and Victoria Fuchs at Spielweg. With a degree in business administration and a Master of Science in International Management, she combines culinary skills with business know-how.
Clarissa has been back in the family business since 2025 and is responsible for the kitchen and marketing – always with the aim of harmoniously combining tradition and modernity.
The fourth generation is also already hard at work at Birkenhof: Lena and Gregor, Kerstin’s children, are still at school but help wherever they can.
Gregor loves to be out in the garden – whether mowing the lawn or picking apples and plums. Lena enjoys helping out in the kitchen and in service.
With their curiosity and laughter, the two bring life into the house and show that the Birkenhof will continue to be in good hands in the future.
