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Ankommen statt Einchecken

English translation: Come as a guest - leave as a friend

13:36 Jan 30, 2014
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Tourism & Travel / copywriting/boutique hotel
German term or phrase: Ankommen statt Einchecken
This is the motto for a boutique hotel in Germany that is striving for a chic, laid-back, unconventional image. The meaning behind the motto is 'Der Gast soll sich nicht als Fremde auf der Durchreise fühlen sondern als Teil der Familie'.
So far all I've come up with is 'Don't check in - come home' and the client said he wanted something more positive. He doesn't like the 'don't' and suggested something with 'rather than' which I find a bit prosaic. My next attempt was
'Why check in - you're home?'. No reaction yet.
My feeling is we may have to abandon any attempt to translate the snappy little German motto and its double meaning and try and convey the message in a catchy little English version.
Any bright ideas? At the moment my mind is going round in circles!
Slindon
Germany
Local time: 02:16
English translation:Come as a guest - leave as a friend
Explanation:
Wäre noch ein Vorschlag, obwohl das dann doch sehr auf das Hotelkonzept ankommt (eher modern oder gemütlich gehalten). Ansonsten finde ich Cilian's Vorschlag sehr clever.
Selected response from:

Berit Kostka, PhD
Türkiye
Local time: 03:16
Grading comment
I chose this because it confirms my suspicion that it's better to focus on the message the hotel aims to convey and not attempt to find a catchy English version of 'Ankommen anstatt Einschecken'. Some of the attempts are inspiring but overall I think their effect is a little bland, bearing in mind that the reader will not be familiar with the German version and therefore unimpressed by the translators's creativity. The client found Berits and my own attempt 'cool' but the jury is still out. Thanks to everyone!

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2Hospitality, not formality
Sarah Bessioud
5Welcome home - rather than checking in
Claudia Hoffmann
4Check-in can wait. Make yourself at home.
philgoddard
3 +1Come as a guest - leave as a friend
Berit Kostka, PhD
4"Make yourself at home. We'll take care of the rest."
Jonathan Smith
3More than a welcome mat
Michael Martin, MA
3Check in with some friends
Mark Flynn
3Welcome home away fom home
Nicole Schnell
3Come in, come in [or come on in] (- our home is yours)
Alison MacG
3Simply arrive, we'll do the rest
Ramey Rieger (X)


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Hospitality, not formality


Explanation:
Just an idea to set balls rolling….

Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 02:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Patrick John Burhorn: In my humble opinion the best suggestion. I would definitely go for this because it simply sounds nice and reflects the sense perfectly!
16 hrs
  -> Thank you, Patrick
agree  Ramey Rieger (X): To please the client, who wants an only positive slogan, 'instead of/less/before/'. Nice one!// You, too! Atrocious? Marketing!
20 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ramey. Personally, I find this suggestion atrocious, but it may just satisfy the customer ;-) Have a good WE! // Your suggestions are good, but what about "Hospitality without formality?"
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
More than a welcome mat


Explanation:
By the sounds of it, this place could be like the Hotel California. They'll let you check out eventually but will they let you leave..?

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 20:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 46

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jonathan Smith: haha! "hotel california." that is hilarious, thanks for the laugh. :)
1 min
neutral  Yorkshireman: Nice! We always stay at the Hotel California in Berlin (Ku'Damm) - it's not all that bad.
26 mins
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Check-in can wait. Make yourself at home.


Explanation:
I don't think the German is to be taken too literally, as no matter how laid back the hotel, you still have to check in at some stage.

philgoddard
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Come as a guest - leave as a friend


Explanation:
Wäre noch ein Vorschlag, obwohl das dann doch sehr auf das Hotelkonzept ankommt (eher modern oder gemütlich gehalten). Ansonsten finde ich Cilian's Vorschlag sehr clever.

Berit Kostka, PhD
Türkiye
Local time: 03:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
I chose this because it confirms my suspicion that it's better to focus on the message the hotel aims to convey and not attempt to find a catchy English version of 'Ankommen anstatt Einschecken'. Some of the attempts are inspiring but overall I think their effect is a little bland, bearing in mind that the reader will not be familiar with the German version and therefore unimpressed by the translators's creativity. The client found Berits and my own attempt 'cool' but the jury is still out. Thanks to everyone!
Notes to answerer
Asker: I chose this because it confirms my suspicion that it's better to focus on the message the hotel aims to convey and not attempt to find a catchy English version of 'Ankommen anstatt Einschecken'. Some of the attempts are inspiring but overall I think their effect is a little bland, bearing in mind that the reader will not be familiar with the German version and therefore unimpressed by the translators's creativity. The client found Berits and my own attempt 'cool' but the jury is still out. Thanks to everyone!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ventnai
28 mins
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Check in with some friends


Explanation:
My effort.

Mark Flynn
Germany
Local time: 02:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Welcome home away fom home


Explanation:
Another possibility.

Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 17:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 58
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Come in, come in [or come on in] (- our home is yours)


Explanation:
Come in, come in! (i.e. come in - don't check in, just come in)
Come on in!

are phrases that might be used when greeting the arrival of an old friend. Something like our home is yours or our home is your home could be added if you don't think they convey enough of the part of the family idea.

Alison MacG
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Welcome home - rather than checking in


Explanation:
Welcome home - rather than checking in

Claudia Hoffmann
Germany
Local time: 02:16
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Simply arrive, we'll do the rest


Explanation:
not so easy with all these wonderful suggestions

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 02:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 56
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"Make yourself at home. We'll take care of the rest."


Explanation:
So many great potential translations here! I'll be curious as to what your client decides ... perhaps you'll update us?

Given that it is a "boutique" hotel, the emphasis here is on luxury, to my mind, i.e. being "taken care of," not having to worry about the details. In this way, I think references to "friends" is not quite apt--a little too familiar, if that makes sense.

Jonathan Smith
Canada
Local time: 21:46
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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