Hotel Rennschuh
From Yesterday to Today
Sometimes it takes courage, entrepreneurial foresight – and the confidence to take the next step at the right time. In 1972, Helmut Rennschuh made just such a decision. He left his parents’ business in the southern Harz region to strike out on his own in Göttingen. Independent, forward-looking and guided by clear values.
On 1 May 1972, on a patch of farmland just outside the town, he laid the foundation stone for the ‘ Hotel Rennschuh ’. Without much capital, but with a great deal of personal effort and tireless dedication, a hotel was built step by step that to this day stands for genuine hospitality, fair prices and genuine warmth. One of his guiding principles was: “Save – for the guest’s sake.”
Even back then, it was clear to him that if you offer a guest a little more than they expect, they will return. This philosophy continues to shape our hotel to this day.
Helmut Rennschuh was a man with a big heart. He was an entrepreneur by conviction – forward-thinking, responsible and always people-oriented. Prestige was never his goal; rather, it was to create a place where guests feel welcome. Our hotel still bears his hallmark today – in the way we work, the way we treat one another, the way we welcome our guests and look after them: honestly, warmly and with respect.
The decision to choose Göttingen was both bold and wise: a central location, motorway access, and proximity to academia, business and culture. Right from the start, guests came from a wide variety of backgrounds – business travellers, tradespeople, academics and tour groups.
In October 1991, his daughter Katharina Schüle-Rennschuh took over the hotel – aged just 23. After studying in Munich and Geneva, returning home was a challenge, but also a matter close to her heart. The responsibility was great, but the family’s solidarity and her father’s values gave her direction.
Her early projects included the introduction of modern computer systems, training young people and investing in areas that are now taken for granted: sustainability, energy efficiency and the responsible use of resources.
What began in 1972 with 40 rooms grew organically over the decades: this was followed by the construction of a swimming pool, new guest rooms, an extension for seminars, lifts, an expanded restaurant and regular refurbishments. Throughout it all, the hotel has always remained true to itself – a family-run business with a heart, where people matter more than figures.
To this day, the motto at the Hotel Rennschuh remains: “For us, it’s the person that counts – not their background, not their position, not their title.”
Our team embodies an open, respectful and warm culture – both towards guests and amongst themselves. Here, hospitality is not merely a service, but an attitude: honest, attentive and on an equal footing. Today, just as in the past, our hotel stands for genuine hospitality, a commitment to responsibility and family-like warmth – a place where tradition and the future go hand in hand.
Because even after more than 50 years, one thing remains true: this isn’t just about staying the night – it’s about feeling at home.