No other German city attracts as many visitors as Berlin, especially young visitors. Even in 2009, the height of the economic crisis, the number of visitors to the city rose by almost five percent on the year to 8 point 3 million. As a result, new hotels are springing up all over Berlin. 30 new projects are planned or under construction. Investing in the capital still pays off for hotel operators.That’s the case although the grand hotels are suffering from a dearth of wealthy visitors. Some established five-star hotels are voluntarily giving up a star to attract more guests. But the low-budget end of the market is thriving, like the Meininger hostels. Our reporter Linda Vierecke visited the chain. Meininger has just opened its seventh hostel on the Spree River.