Situated opposite the city's famous Chocolate Museum on Holzmarkt Strasse, the hotel will offer 210 guestrooms, restaurant and bar, outdoor terrace, meeting rooms, fitness centre and private car parking.

Construction of the new-build €45m hotel begins this autumn, in the city's midtown Reinau Port development which will also comprise private housing, a leisure centre and sports facilities after its extensive 217,000 square-metre regeneration. Being positioned on the Rheine side of the development, the hotel will afford picturesque views of the river and the architectural landscape that includes the countless museums and attractions of Colognes Old Town.

Micha Polak, Senior Vice President and Head of Development comments on the hotel's impressive location, "I am thrilled to have found such an ideal position for our forthcoming art'otel in Cologne. The views across the water and overlooking the city will provide guests with a tranquil setting in what's become a busy and developing metropolis. With its numerous attractions and striking architecture, Cologne has always been a prime target for an art'otel and I am delighted to bring this new hotel into our collection."

The unique setting on the waterfront has attracted prominent architects and designers to the area to such an extent that a competition was held to decide the architect that should win the new art'otel contract. Official representatives of the city, along with Park Plaza Hotels Europe and other private investors have reached a decision that can be revealed during ITB Berlin.

As tradition with the art'otel concept, one artist's work will be featured throughout the hotel and a young Korean-born artist, known only as SEO, has already been selected. SEO is a master pupil of German artist Georg Baselitz - whose work is featured at the company's art'otel berlin mitte - and despite her young age, has already achieved international acclaim with inspiring, intensive combinations of European and Asian traditions.

art'otel cologne will be the sixth art'otel in Germany for Park Plaza Hotels Europe, joining those in Dresden, Berlin (3) and Potsdam and their art'otel budapest in Hungary. The company have aggressive plans to expand their art'otel collection, with projects soon to be announced in Vienna and London.