Schutzhütte enters the final phase

The new design and lifestyle hotel in Willingen opens in December 2026. Together with Sandra and Marc Vollbracht, hotel director Benjamin Schwenk is preparing the house, its structures, and the future host team for the launch.

The opening of Schutzhütte is drawing closer: in December 2026, the new design and lifestyle hotel in Willingen will open its doors. While the final months before completion have begun on the construction site, the future hotel operations are also taking increasingly concrete shape.

With Benjamin Schwenk, the hotel director for Schutzhütte has already been appointed. Together with owners Sandra and Marc Vollbracht, he is working on the structures, workflows, and processes of the new establishment and overseeing the development of the future host team.

“We deliberately didn’t want to bring Benjamin into the fold just a few weeks before the opening,” says Marc Vollbracht. “A new hotel needs time to develop its own signature style. That is exactly what we are working on together now. The coming months are the phase
in which a construction project step by step becomes a living hotel.”

Developing a new hotel together

Schutzhütte is being created as an owner-managed hotel with a clear identity of its own. Sandra and Marc Vollbracht remain closely involved in the development and management of the house. As hotel director, Benjamin Schwenk takes over operational responsibility and shapes the setup of the hotel operations together with the owners.

“Schutzhütte is a passion project for us,” explains Sandra Vollbracht. “That’s why we don’t just want to transfer existing structures, but rather develop a hotel together that fits this house, Willingen, and above all, our future guests.”

For Benjamin Schwenk, too, the special appeal lies in the opportunity to help shape the hotel even before its opening. “Schutzhütte is an extraordinary project where architecture, design, nature, enjoyment, and wellness come together,” says Schwenk. “What is particularly exciting for me is not just joining a finished operation, but being able to help develop the structures, culture, and hospitality philosophy from the very beginning.”

Experience from various areas of the hotel industry

Benjamin Schwenk brings more than ten years of experience in the hotel industry. Since 2019, he served first as an assistant to the management and most recently as deputy hotel manager at Schlosshotel Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe Betriebs GmbH, where he was co-responsible for two hotels with a total of 228 rooms.

His responsibilities included acting as deputy hotel manager, controlling operational business, quality and process management, as well as coordinating various hotel departments and external partners.

Previously, Schwenk worked as management assistant and F&B operations manager at the Romantik Hotel FREUND & SPA-Resort in Vöhl. He began his career there in the reception area, while simultaneously completing a dual study program in hotel and tourism management.

“I have gotten to know the hotel industry from various perspectives, from reception to food & beverage to the organization and management of a hotel operation. Being able to bring this experience into the setup of a completely new house now is a special task for me,” says Schwenk.

Schutzhütte opens in December 2026

With Schutzhütte, Sandra and Marc Vollbracht are developing a second, independent hotel concept in Willingen following the successful Familotel Sonnenpark. The new house is aimed at couples, friends, active vacationers, foodies, and families, combining modern design with wellness, culinary delights, and active offerings.

Facilities include 69 rooms and nine chalets, a spacious spa area with saunas and an infinity pool, a fitness area, a conference room, and bike and ski storage.
Culinary-wise, guests can expect two different concepts: the “Naschmarkt” focuses on grill and buffet cuisine with live cooking. The “Deli” focuses on light dishes and sharing.

Another special feature of Schutzhütte is the direct tunnel connection to the neighboring Lagunenbad, which hotel guests can use free of charge.

In the coming weeks, the final areas will be completed step by step, staff will be trained, and the workflows for hotel operations will be prepared.

“The past few years have been characterized by planning and construction,” says Marc Vollbracht. “Now begins the phase we have been working toward for a long time: Schutzhütte is getting its team, its processes, and increasingly its own life. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the first guests in December.”

About Schutzhütte

Behind Schutzhütte are Sandra and Marc Vollbracht, who have been managing the multi-award-winning Familotel Sonnenpark in Willingen since 2012. With Schutzhütte, they are developing a new hotel concept that combines design, nature, wellness, culinary delights, and activity, aimed at couples, friends, active vacationers, foodies, and families.

The hotel features 69 rooms – from double rooms to family rooms to spacious suites with their own sauna – as well as nine chalets. The offer also includes a spa with saunas and an infinity pool, two restaurants, a fitness area, a conference room, and bike and ski storage. The neighboring Lagunenbad is accessible to hotel guests free of charge via a direct tunnel. The opening is planned for December 2026.