Our staff will welcome you with a smile in authentic Black Forest costume. At the beginning of your stay we will spoil you with a welcome drink. Grandpa Dünnebacke always said “Not being at home and still feeling at home” and we live and work by that. Wherever you go, you will see the Black Forest.
We are proud to be able to offer you six unique accommodations that have been designed with great attention to detail. You can find out more about our range on our overview page.
At the Schlehdorn family, our employees take center stage and their opinions and ideas are very important to us. Together, we want to shape the future of the hotel industry. Every single voice in our team is proof of the uniqueness and diversity that we value so highly in our company.
My name is Zakaria. I come from Morocco and have been training as a chef with the Schlehdorn family since 2024. In my home country, working conditions are often difficult and good training opportunities are rare. That's why I decided to come to Germany to build a better future for myself.
Training as a chef takes three years and I learn something new every day - not just about cooking, but also about the German language and culture. Cooking is my passion and I always want to develop myself further so that I can be successful in my profession later on.
With the Schlehdorn family, I have the opportunity to gain different insights into 2 different kitchens, the one in the Hotel Schlehdorn and the one in the Köhlerei am See.
I've found a great team here that supports me and helps me to settle in.
As a native of the Black Forest and a trained chef and master chef, I can look back on a proud 35 years of work experience. During this time, I have worked for numerous employers, but none were like the Schlehdorn family. As head chef at the Köhlerei, I have the opportunity to pass on my love of cooking to young talents. In my job, creativity and emotionality, but also discipline and ambition are crucial. At the end of the day, it's all about making the guests happy. I still remember the words of a guest who once said to me: "A chef is like a conductor, you have to be able to put everything together, people and ingredients." These words inspire me every day and show me that my work is much more than just preparing food - it is an art that connects people and makes them happy.
I still remember my first day as a trainee at the Hotel Schlehdorn. I had just finished school, was away from home for the first time, excited and unsure, but the warm welcome I received from the Dünnebacke family and my colleagues immediately made me feel that I was in the right place. After three years, I had successfully completed my Bachelor's degree and was faced with the decision of what to do next. The Schlehdorn family had offered me so many opportunities and I had learned so much that there was no question for me that I wanted to continue my professional future here. I now have the opportunity to accompany other employees and especially our junior specialists on their journey as Head of Training & Further Education. It's a huge responsibility, but also an incredibly fulfilling task.
Since summer 2023, I've also been responsible for organizing and running events in our Schlehdorn family, which I really enjoy. I am grateful for the support and the trust placed in me. I don't just feel part of a company here, but part of a family. The Schlehdorn family has shown me that you can achieve great things together. I am looking forward to the coming years in our company and am excited about what lies ahead.
I am now almost a fixture at the Hotel Schlehdorn - I have been working here for over 25 years. I started out as a kitchen assistant under Martin and Susanne Dünnebacke, and later worked in the cold kitchen and in the wellness area. Over time, I wanted to develop further and completed various training courses to become a wellness therapist.
Over the years, I have witnessed countless changes and yet I have always stayed - because the Hotel Schlehdorn is more than just a place of work for me. It is my second home. The guests and the team are close to my heart and that's what makes my work here so special.
It's hard to imagine the Hotel Schlehdorn without me as an all-rounder - and that's exactly how it should stay.
I fled political persecution from Eritrea in the summer of 2015 without speaking a word of German. I arrived in Halle an der Saale, where I first took part in a German course and then completed my training as a hotel manager. After a few years in Halle, the desire for new experiences led me to Lake Constance, where I worked for a season. My goal was to find a place where I could work all year round and that's how I came across the Black Forest. I was warmly welcomed by the Schlehdorn family. The family atmosphere is particularly important to me, as family is invaluable to me. I have not only found a job here, but also a home. My colleagues are not only my neighbors, but also my friends, and together we use our free time to explore the beauty of the Black Forest. Thanks to the Schlehdorn family, I can continue to develop my passion for wine. They help me to expand my knowledge and offer me various training opportunities. For example, I was able to take part in the "Nature Park Host Wine" training course, which lasted several days.
I come from Latvia and took the step of moving to Berlin in 2011. As a single mother, it was a challenge, but also an opportunity to gain a foothold in a new environment. After 10 years in Berlin, I decided to move to southern Germany, not only because of the beautiful landscape of the Black Forest with its mountains and lakes, but also because friends of mine already live here. When planning my move, it was particularly important for me to find an employer who would also provide accommodation. The Schlehdorn family offered the perfect solution here: they not only offered a job, but also a home, and it was no problem that I was a single parent. For me, the Schlehdorn family means more than just an employer; the word "family" has a profound meaning here. It is a community spanning several generations that supports each other and lives with heart. You can always rely on the Dünnebacke family, and that creates a sense of security and belonging that I really appreciate.
– Cordiality and friendliness are the principles of our actions and are much more important than being able to do everything perfectly.
– High quality is the basis for our success.
– Everyone contributes their own personality and respects that of others.
– We live and love the Black Forest and create enthusiasm for our hotel, the industry and the region.
– Our guests are at the center of our attention and have priority – each of us is a host!
– Everyone is equally valuable and welcome – diversity is what sets us apart!
– We are a team and help those who need help – together we are strong!
– We treat each other as equals – every position in our company is important!
– Mutual understanding starts with the language we use, which is why we mainly speak German at work.
– Openness, respect and mutual trust are the prerequisites for constructive and objective feedback.
– Praise and criticism drives us on, motivates us and allows us to grow, regardless of our position.
– You learn from your mistakes, especially if you talk about them.
– Our actions make a significant contribution to the success of our company and we are aware of this.
– We handle our company’s resources with care.
– Those who give a lot can also expect a lot.
– We are also aware of our responsibility towards our employees and the industry as a whole and therefore pay particular attention to training and further education.
– Nobody is perfect, but we work every day to become a little better.
– We are open to new ideas and face challenges with motivation.
– Everyone should recognize potential, contribute ideas and implement them together.
– Decisions can be questioned – it is allowed to be smarter today than yesterday!
