InterContinental-owned boutique chain Hotel Indigo has opened its first property in continental Europe.

The Hotel Indigo Berlin opened its doors February 3, marking the brand’s first entry into Europe outside of the United Kingdom.

Designed with Hotel Indigo’s trademark ’boutique’ feel, the property contains 81 rooms, which are finished in light wood and white but have been individualized with color to give them the feel of an ‘artist’s studio’.

Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz is to play a major role in Germany’s forthcoming air hub, Berlin Brandenburg International, when it opens in June.

A partnership between Mercedes and Berlin Brandenburg will leave passengers in no doubt that they have landed in the home of luxury cars when they land at the new airport, with Mercedes-Benz featuring prominently across the new airport.

Airport authorities said this past week that a ‘star tower’, topped by an eight-meter-wide Mercedes star, will be constructed on the route into the airport.

German luxury sportscar maker Porsche is putting up for sale a Bavarian castle snapped up for six million euros ($8 million) in 2006.

“We are parting company with this estate,” a spokesman told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, after the paper said Porsche was selling Schloss Bullachberg, near the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

Porsche had purchased the castle five years ago, hoping to transform the 180,000-square-metre, building into a luxury hotel.

Dubai-based luxury hotel chain Jumeirah has opened its first property in mainland Europe.

The brand, which operates several high-profile properties in the Middle East including the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the ‘seven star’ Burj Al Arab,

Jumeirah welcomed its first guests to its new Frankfurt property August 1, ahead of the official opening in September.

Karl Lagerfeld has designed a pop-up hair salon and concept store for Schwarzkopf in his home town of Düsseldorf, reports WWD today.

The German city – also home of the Schwarzkopf hair care brand – will play host to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in April.

The Lagerfeld’s Schwarzkopf Lightbox by Karl Lagerfeld, which will stay open for four weeks from April 16 before moving on to Milan and Paris.

Celebrity Cruises has announced that the naming ceremony for its new ship Silhouette will be held in the booming German port of Hamburg.

The ceremony, which is scheduled for July 21, is the first time that one of Celebrity’s 122,000 ton Solstice-class ships has been named outside of the United States or United Kingdom and reflects the European character of Silhouette.

In a statement January 26, Royal Caribbean’s Tom Fecke said that the selection of Hamburg was a “clear commitment to the German cruise market.”