Hotel amenities for German business, trade-fair and spa hotels

Harrods Health manufactures private-label hotel toiletries for German business, trade-fair, spa and wellness hotels, mostly in dispensers and 5 L refills. Labels are printed in German, and we supply the INCI list and manufacturing documentation your EU Responsible Person needs for the safety report and CPNP notification.

For the regional overview, see our Europe hotel amenities hub.

How German hotels differ

Germany has a large base of business hotels in the major cities and a strong trade-fair calendar that fills rooms in waves. Alongside them sit spa and wellness hotels, spa-town properties, Alpine and Black Forest resorts, North Sea and Baltic coast hotels, and many privately owned, mid-sized hotels. Guests and buyers tend to read labels closely and ask practical questions about ingredients and waste.

Who buys

Groups usually buy through central procurement and run tenders with detailed specifications. Private hotels often buy through hospitality wholesalers or purchasing cooperatives. Both expect documentation on request and stable quality across repeat orders. MOQs are quoted per item, so a wholesaler can start with a focused range.

Climate, skin and scent

Long, cold winters and heated rooms dry the skin, so body lotion and conditioner matter more than in southern Europe. Many German buyers prefer clean, fresh or herbal scents such as green tea, lemongrass, verbena, pine, chamomile or a light citrus, and some ask for low-fragrance options for guests with sensitive skin. Formulas can be supplied as dermatologically tested, with test reports on request.

EU rules that apply

Hotel toiletries sold or supplied in Germany are cosmetics under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Before they reach rooms, an EU-based Responsible Person must hold a Product Information File with a Cosmetic Product Safety Report and notify each product on the CPNP. The label must give the required information, and in Germany that means German; many hotels add English for international guests.

Harrods Health is not a Responsible Person. Your hotel group, importer, wholesaler or a specialist service provider takes on that role, and we supply the formula information, INCI list and manufacturing documentation they need.

Packaging and sustainability

German buyers often lead on waste reduction. The EU's PPWR restricts single-use plastic packaging for small toiletry portions in hospitality from 2030; check the final thresholds and any national or regional rules, which may go further. Most German hotels we speak to already prefer dispensers and refills.

The REACH restriction on intentionally added microplastics has transition periods for rinse-off cosmetics; we can formulate without intentionally added microplastics. EU rules are also tightening on vague claims such as "eco-friendly", so keep bathroom signage specific and backed by evidence. The EU Ecolabel for rinse-off cosmetics is an option some groups consider; we do not hold it. Our custom packaging team can source and decorate dispensers and refill containers in-house.

Shipping to Germany

Goods usually go by sea to a North Sea port, either a German port such as Hamburg or Bremerhaven or a nearby hub such as Rotterdam or Antwerp, and then by road or rail. The importer of record clears goods with an EU EORI number, and the Incoterm in your contract sets who carries freight, insurance and duty. Plan orders ahead of the trade-fair calendar and winter season. See fulfilment and export for documents and palletisation.

How a German project usually runs

Tender-led buyers often ask for a specification sheet, an INCI list and samples first, then a trial in a few properties before a portfolio decision. We send samples, agree German and English artwork, and hand over the documents your Responsible Person needs so the safety assessment and CPNP notification run alongside production rather than after it. That way stock is not left waiting in a warehouse while the paperwork catches up.

Supplying properties elsewhere too? Compare our pages for the UK and France.

Our credentials

We manufacture in a GMP-compliant, ISO certified facility with a state FDA cosmetic manufacturing licence, an AYUSH licence and US FDA registration, and we are Halal certified. Details are on our quality and certifications page. Browse the hotel amenities collection or read about our hotel toiletries service. Always confirm current rules with your Responsible Person, importer or a regulatory consultant.