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Three armed forces hotels in Europe to close early

by Harriet E. Rice

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, April 1, 2003) -- Three Armed Forces Recreation Center hotels in Germany - two at Lake Chiemsee and one in Garmisch - will close a year earlier than planned, Army officials announced.

Remaining AFRC-Europe facilities in Garmisch will stay open while the new 330-room hotel on Sheridan Kaserne is under construction and proceeding on schedule to open in October 2004, when the Army originally planned to end all operations in Chiemsee and the hotel operations in Garmisch.

"Because of the world situation, we've had to adjust our operations," said Pete Isaacs, chief operating officer at the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center, which operates four Armed Forces Recreation Centers.

"Many of our customers in Europe are deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and their families are taking care of business at home. Understandably, vacations are on hold. As a result, current and predicted occupancy has fallen dramatically," Isaacs explained.

The Von Steuben Hotel in Garmisch will close on April 15. The Chiemsee Lake and Park Hotels will remain open through Labor Day and close permanently Sept. 2. This will allow for a full summer of Lake Chiemsee operations, which will be heavily promoted for those who look forward to one last chance to enjoy the lakeside resort, officials said.

"We know this is a disappointment to those who love Lake Chiemsee, but we can't continue to operate at a substantial financial loss," said Isaacs, who was stationed in Germany while on active duty and is well aware of the sentiments attached to the historic hotel and grounds.

Another factor that impacts operations is increased force protection, which also tends to reduce vacation travel. "And we've had to deal with a 19-percent devaluation of the dollar against the Euro, which is the currency used to pay for 50 percent of our operating expenses," Isaacs added.

Like the other three AFRCs in Orlando, Hawaii and Korea, money to sustain operations and fund new construction is derived from customer income. None of the AFRC hotels are funded with taxpayer dollars, officials said, explaining that they must be financially self -sufficient.

The closures will reduce the number of available AFRC-Europe guest rooms from 343 to 119.

"During peak seasons, if we need additional rooms, guests will be referred to commercial hotels in Garmisch at rates comparable to those of the AFRC hotel," said Isaacs.

In Garmisch, the Patton Hotel, the Alpenblick Golf Course, the outdoor recreation equipment checkout center, tours, and the campground will remain in operation.

The adjustment will also affect dozens of employees, who will be separated with severance pay or provided return transportation to the United States in accordance with personnel policy, officials said.

"We deeply regret having to separate employees, both Germans and U.S. citizens, who so capably and enthusiastically serve the customers of AFRC Europe," Isaacs said. "We will do everything possible to assist them with their relocation needs. I am confident that our new hotel will achieve the kinds of operating efficiency and customer appeal that will ensure financial stability to support the military community stationed in the European theater of the future," he said.

The Armed Forces Recreation Centers are open to all Department of Defense ID-card holders, active duty, reserve component, retirees and their families.

(Editor's note: Harriet Rice is the public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center in Alexandria, Va.)