Gateway Gardens at Frankfurt Airport: A Green Business District with an International Mix of Industries

When Karsten Slawik, Managing Director of Sales, Business Development & Marketing at Aramark Germany, is asked about the greatest advantages of his new German headquarters at Gateway Gardens, the first thing that comes to mind is his role as a host. “Here, right next to Frankfurt Airport, we simply get so many more visitors than at our previous location. This allows us, as one of the world’s leading full-service caterers, to demonstrate anew every day what inspires and drives us,” says Slawik. On the ground floor of the modern office campus, Aramark has implemented various publicly accessible dining concepts to showcase the full range of its offerings. Businesspeople from the many surrounding offices, travelers staying at nearby hotels, and business partners of the caterer—which specializes in corporate cafeterias, stadiums, and healthcare facilities—come together here in a chic, relaxed atmosphere.

Thanks to the location’s excellent international connections, extraordinary events are sometimes possible: Take, for example, the spontaneous stopover by Aramark COO Carl Mittleman from the U.S., during which he created a typical German schnitzel meal in the showroom restaurant together with some of the 200 local employees. “Afterward, he was back at the terminal in just a few minutes and was able to catch his next flight right away—that’s obviously a unique locational advantage,” says Slawik.

In its day-to-day operations, the industry giant also benefits from its central location in the heart of Hessen, Germany, and Europe. From here, the company can not only optimally manage its approximately 7,000 employees and another 9,000 temporary workers for the German market alone but also drive its international business forward: Most recently, the company expanded into the Austrian market from Frankfurt. “We also serve as our group’s international hub. I currently have two colleagues from the Czech Republic visiting, and soon I’ll be traveling myself to a meeting at our international headquarters in Philadelphia, USA—Frankfurt’s sister city,” says Karsten Slawik.

Before that, however, he gives two local visitors a tour of the various restaurant areas: Dr. David Eckensberger, Head of International Business Relations, and Project Manager Nicolas Gräßlin from Hessen Trade & Invest (HTAI), which is responsible for economic development at the state level on behalf of the Hessian state government and supports international companies in their establishment and long-term development. “We are happy to take this opportunity to strengthen our extensive networks through in-person meetings and get to know the many international companies based in Hessen better. This allows us to identify their needs even more precisely and provide targeted support in collaboration with the Hessian Economic Development Agency’s network,” says Dr. David Eckensberger.

Gateway Gardens is a home game for the HTAI: Part of the team is based across the central park at the House of Logistics & Mobility (HOLM), where a network of established industry representatives, innovative startups, and diverse clusters is shaping the future of logistics and mobility—in a location that itself boasts unique connectivity. Gateway Gardens is not only located in the immediate vicinity of Frankfurt Airport, with some dedicated access points for aviation companies based there. Right next door, the A3 and A5—two of Germany’s most important highways—intersect, connecting to the European highway network. The airport’s nearby ICE long-distance train station and its own S-Bahn station also make this modern business district easily accessible by rail.

The optimal infrastructure is rooted in the history of this extraordinary location: Originally established as a housing complex for the U.S. Armed Forces and known as the “Gateway to Europe,” Frankfurt’s newest district emerged here beginning in 2010 as a sustainable brownfield development. The district is currently home to more than 150 international companies and eleven hotels. Upon its planned completion in the 2030s, over 25,000 people are expected to call Gateway Gardens home. The approximately 35-hectare site is being developed by Gateway Gardens GmbH, a consortium comprising airport operator Fraport AG, Groß & Partner Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft, OFB Projektentwicklung, and the City of Frankfurt.

“We have deliberately established a diverse mix of tenants to facilitate a wide range of connections. That’s why you’ll find the German airlines Condor and Lufthansa here, as well as the Swiss airline caterer Gategourmet, alongside the Japanese automation expert Keyence, the French supplier of industrial gases Air Liquide, and the German technology conglomerate Siemens,” explains Christoph Cellarius, authorized signatory of the company in charge of the land development, Grundstücksgesellschaft Gateway Gardens GmbH.

Due to the phased development of this large-scale project, there is still space in the northern section for approximately 300,000 m² of floor area for future developments—offering a rare opportunity in the booming Frankfurt Rhine-Main region to develop large, contiguous parcels according to one’s own vision. “For smaller businesses, we also offer ready-to-use office space based on the ‘plug-and-play’ principle, integrated into the existing buildings. So we’re very flexible and adapt to the needs of our clients, who often want to implement their own unique concepts,” says Christoph Cellarius. “Thanks to the mix of industries, new companies can quickly connect with existing clusters and networks to leverage synergies. This is particularly interesting for innovative and research-intensive sectors such as medicine and life sciences.”

Getinge, a leading international medical technology company, is already represented at Gateway Gardens. The Swedish company employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide and develops solutions for hospitals, life sciences, and research institutions in more than 135 countries. The Getinge Experience Center in Frankfurt is part of a global network of modern customer experience and training centers and serves as a central platform for hands-on exchanges, product demonstrations, and international events.

A very special showroom was created on approximately 1,000 square meters: Here, customers experience a nearly realistic hospital environment featuring innovative medical technology, two hybrid operating rooms developed in collaboration with Siemens and Philips, an outpatient facility, two intensive care units, a medical device reprocessing unit, and a life sciences area. “Our Getinge Experience Center allows us to showcase complex medical technology in a realistic setting while also offering ideal conditions for meetings, workshops, and events right next to Frankfurt Airport. This enables our customers to take advantage of not only extended visits but also brief stops during their travels. Since 2022, we have already welcomed more than 27,000 visitors,” says Kathrin Hopkins, Senior Experience Center & Global Events Manager.

Gateway Gardens also offers employees a high level of well-being within walking distance. In addition to numerous restaurants, an open-air beach club, and a bilingual daycare center, the business district stands out as an exceptionally green urban space: the development is grouped around a 2.2-hectare park with mature trees, and to the north, the area merges directly into the vast Frankfurt City Forest. “It’s the unique combination of the green setting near the airport, a modern neighborhood, and a high-caliber business network that makes us so special,” says Andrea Loh, Community Director of the Gateway Gardens Community. More than 40 companies have already joined forces in this location initiative. Together, they strengthen networks and create a work environment that attracts talent. The Gateway Gardens Community serves as the central point of contact for its members and is gradually expanding its role and structures with the support of the company in charge of the land development, Grundstücksgesellschaft Gateway Gardens GmbH. “We organize community events, bring the neighborhood to life, and make it easier for expats and new employees to settle in—here, you’ll quickly find your place.”

The Gateway Gardens Community is increasingly becoming a key location factor for Gateway Gardens, and its community structure enhances the business district’s appeal. Looking ahead, it is expected to gradually take on district management responsibilities and, as a result, increasingly serve as an interface between the community and political and administrative bodies.

As a farewell, she once again shows the group of visitors from the Hessian Economic Development Agency a bird’s-eye view of Gateway Gardens: From The Roof restaurant on the 12th floor of the b’mine Frankfurt Airport Hotel, the view stretches from the bustling airfield and the busy highways, past the office towers of Gateway Gardens and the endless Stadtwald, all the way to the Höchst Industrial Park and the high-rise skyline of downtown Frankfurt. “That’s ‘Hessen in a nutshell’: exceptional infrastructure and connectivity, a strong and diverse economy, and, last but not least, a region with a high quality of life,” says Dr. David Eckensberger of the HTAI. “With the Hessian Economic Development Agency’s network, international companies also have strong partners at their side to quickly find the right contacts and build personal relationships—Hessen thus offers an optimal overall package for successful business.”