Hospitality for Insiders

Insolvencies, fakes, manipulations: Christmas with some enormous packages

Dear Insider,

This week's biggest package comes from the German Lindner Hotels AG: News is that it will send 13 problem hotels (from a portfolio of 41 in total) into self-administered insolvency. The hope is that the hotels will be rehabilitated within just months. Christmas brings calm to a difficult and confused situation. The first meetings with creditors is set to take place on 6 January. Susanne Stauss and I have collected snippets. The Lindner case is the third insolvency (in self-administration) of a major German group, after Achat Hotels (in November) and arcona Hotels in 2023; the latter are back on the market after being restructured. They all suffered and still suffer - presumably - from the same cause: excessive lease agreements. Germany's old drama, but always home-made. ... More

Magazine

HI+Fake Mafia in Science

500.000 publications per year are fake? Prof Dr Sabel becomes an activist

The biggest academic fraud of all time is rolling over us, largely unnoticed by the public. Hundreds of thousands of fake publications are produced and published every year by a profit-hungry Mafia. Academic publishers look the other way or play down the problem. An interview with Professor Dr Bernhard A. Sabel, author of the book "Fake Mafia in Science".

HI+A leisure city close to Athens

In Greece, Ellinikon arises as the biggest urban development in Europe

Ellinikon is the most massive and costly urban development project currently underway in Europe. In some respects, its size and complexity evoke the mega-cities under construction in Saudi Arabia, but with some important differences. The site of the former airport close to Athens features a large park - residences, hotels, schools and more will follow.

HI+Honest, real and in small steps

The start-up stay awesome makes old hotels sustainable

At first, three university friends from Kassel operated 15 Airbnb apartments successfully, then a hackathon made them change their minds: They decided to operate honest, sustainable serviced apartments and hotel rooms in old and already existing buildings. Where the locals go out. And where family offices can see their capital transform into alternative energies and recycled chairs. The young company is named stay awesome.

HI+Lindner Hotels AG insolvency: many questions and assumptions

Lindner Hotels AG filed for insolvency under self-administration this week. It concerns 13 of 41 hotels, which are apparently buckling under the weight of rents and costs. Nevertheless, many questions remain unanswered.

HI+Austria: More winter sports instead of skiing holidays

Snow is not everything. That's why the Austrians are targeting non-skiing families as well as Chinese and American guests in the upcoming winter season. The classic skiing holiday is set to become a broader-based winter sports holiday.

HI+Criticism of OpenAI: Former employee dead

Former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji has been found dead at the age of 26. Even if it was presumably suicide, the whistleblower, who severely criticised OpenAI, must have been under massive pressure.

HI+VIP News from 20.12.2024

Robert Mc Dowell / Mikael Hulqvist / Udo Merting / Mohamed El Aghoury / Moritz Klein, Sin-Han Thiede, Thomas Nenning / Nadine Al Bulushi / Friedrich von Schönfeldt, Charlotte Holtmann, Florian Woithe / Christian Burkhard, Adriano Michel Votta, Güler Bozkiraç, Laurent Schenk, Heike Schmidt, Jan Stiller / Frédéric Meyer, Luc Zimmerli / Marco Tauscher / Friedrich Marrenbach / Simon Seis / Dr. Konstantin Kortmann, Jan Eckert / IHA Advisory Board

HI+News Mix from 20.12.2024

Abba/Berlin, Accor/Expansion, AFI Popular/Meliá, B&B/Openings, Blu Hotels/Fiscal Year, BWH Hotels/New Additions, Calimala/Milan, Casa Brera/Milan, Citygrove/Premier Inn Hannover, Dertour/Spain and taly, Elbtower/Sale Negotiation, Four Points/Emilia-Romagna, HNH/Fiscal Year, Hyatt/Flims, ipartment/Munich, Marriott/Outdoor Collection, NH Collection/Piedmont, Pacini/Rome, Scout24 SE/takeover, Stiegn'haus/Hochkönig, Therme Group/takeover, The Standard/Singapore, TUI/Asia, Valsana Arosa/SLH, Waldhotel Bürgenstock/repositioning

HI+GenZ: Yes to mobility, but climate not a priority

Based on Fridays for Future, "CEOs for Future" was founded in Austria in 2019 as a cross-industry platform for intergenerational dialogue. A mobility survey showed once again that everyone is talking about the consequences of climate change, but hardly anyone is acting accordingly.

HI+Fitness check for Austria's hotels

Banks have to pass a stress test. Austria's hotel industry voluntarily undergoes an annual fitness check - using well-founded key figures based on 800 establishments in the 3 to 5-star category. The GOP is not fit.

HI+PIF establishes its own hotel management company

The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF is structuring its hotel activities. It has now announced the establishment of its own international hotel management company. The CEO of Adeera is Stefan Leser.

HI+VIP News from 13.12.2024

Mark Kirby, Mattheos Georgiou, Paul Baker / Stella Koerber / Spiridon Sarantopolus / Danilo Iovieno, Andrea Prevosti, Francesca Gori / Al Kabir Thupsee, Daniel Mani / Dieter Prachner, Sebastian Ömer / Caroline Fonzino, Heiko Kain / Elisabetta Fabri / Giacomo Nicolodi

HI+News Mix from 13.12.2024

Accor/Pipeline, Amonti/Ahrntal, Bzar/Tuscany, Capella/Pipeline, Design Hotels/new additions, Deutsche ZeitWohnen/Phil & Max, Four Seasons/Greece, Prague; Gekko Group/Berlin, Gruppo UNA/Sicily, Hilton/Pipeline, Hyatt/Pipeline, Italy/self-check-in prohibited, LHW/new additions, LVMH /deal, Mandarin Oriental/Paris, Amsterdam, brand rights; Maritim/Calabria, Marriott/Moxy Dubai, Prague; Melia/Pipeline, Minor/Africa, Miramis/new brand, Motel One/Cloud One Gdansk, Novum & IHG/Candlewood Suites, Radisson/Tunis, Galway; The Chedi/Hegra, Tribe/Pipeline, U-Visionary/Venice, voco/Jeddah, Wyndham/Pipeline. Renovations: Hilton Garden Inn Innsbruck

HI+Steigenberger transformation: gemstone or diamond?

H-World and Steigenberger Hotels GmbH have entered the next stage of the company's transformation: An industry unknown is to do the things that Oliver Bonke can no longer do because he is always on a plane and will also be a member of the Supervisory Board from 1 April 2025.

HI+CEO: AccorInvest is growing again after the crisis

"We have not yet completed the transformation, but everything is on track." After years of crisis and crisis management, CEO Gilles Clavie spoke in public again for the first time in Paris. He reported on how AccorInvest was able to absorb the economic crash.

Content Partner

A chef is not a concept

F&B Heroes: Rethinking successful gastronomy

A gastronomy and food concept must be a complex and strategic decision to achieve sustainable success. It's not about personal taste, says Tim Plasse, Managing Director of F&B Heroes. Only the guests and investors need to be pleased by the result.

News Mix overview

HI+News Mix from 20.12.2024

HI+News Mix from 13.12.2024

HI+News Mix from 6.12.2024

Althoff/LHW, Amapa/Davos, B&B/Alba, Choice/Vienna, Harry's Home/Graz, Hotel Roccaverde/Breno, Jumeirah/Africa, Maison Heler/Metz, Marriott/Serbia, Motel One/Antwerp, Numa/Rome, Park Hyatt/Sicily, Oetker Collection/St. Tropez, Premier Inn/Expansion, Radisson/Madrid, Lancashire; Ruby Stella London/Sale, SLH/Members, Soges Group/Florence, Terra Saar/Vorreiter Hospitality, The July/London, The Social Hub/New Openings, Vivion/Femina Palast, Waldorf Astoria/New York, Westmond Hospitality/Grupo Lar

HI+News Mix from 29.11.2024

Adler Spa Resorts/Lago Maggiore, B&B/Aalborg, Blackstone/Grand Hyatt Athens, Britannique Hotel/Naples, Casual Hoteles/Naples, Dekus/Foundation, Ennismore/25hours Khobar, Isleten Project/Sawiris, Libere Hospitality/Urban GL Piraeus, Pellicano Hotels/Orvieto, Radisson Blu/Cluj-Napoca, Ruby/London, Splendido/Portofino, Tribute Portfolio/Apulia, Zel/Punta Cana

Marketplace

Climate targets in a country comparison

20.12.2024

A study on climate neutrality compares 30 countries in terms of targets and performance. Scandinavia and Spain lead the way, others are lagging behind. Nevertheless, 20 countries are well on the way towards a circular economy.

Sawiris family wants to take over Orascom completely

20.12.2024

Orascom Development Holding AG (ODH) is to be delisted from the Swiss stock exchange. This is in line with the Sawiris family's wish to run the company entirely with the family in future.

Bad omens for the winter holiday

13.12.2024

There has been a lack of snow in many places in the Alps over the last two winters, but not a lack of holidaymakers. Now the first signs point to fewer guests in the new season. This is not due to climate change.

EU Task Force: Meeting of the collaborators

13.12.2024

More cross-industry collaborations should help to provide transparency and assistance to even the smallest companies in tourism. This is why the new EU Tourism Commissioner met with ten European travel and tourism organisations.

Dear Readers,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025!

Thank you for your loyalty and the interaction with the editorial team, thank you to all our business partners and friends!

The office team will be back on 7 January and the next issue of hospitalityInside.com will be published on 17 January 2025.

Best regards,
Publisher and editorial team

HOT Paris postponed

New Date: "Hotels Tomorrow" now in June 2025!
Save the new date! We must postpone the planned Europe-focused conference Hotels Tomorrow - The HOT Unconference in Paris, from mid-February to 16/17 JUNE 2025! Due to the bureaucratic difficulties in issuing VAT IDs by several EU member states... Unbelievable, but true. The good news is we have more time for the program, the formats and the fine-tuning of the content. We receive new tips and topic suggestions from the market almost every day. The first draft is already online but will be constantly updated. Marius Gomola, Marc Werner and Maria Puetz-Willems, the organisers of HOT, remain fully motivated. Register for the special price for 16/17 June 2025 and keep an eye on the updates at www.hotelstomorrow.eu

Financial Results

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Robust demand for hotels

TUI Group FY 2024: Demand for travel remains strong and the Hotels & Cruises segment achieves record figures with higher operating earnings and increased rates.

Significant increase in EBITDA expected

MHP Hotel AG FY 2024: The company, which is listed in the m:access quality segment of the Munich Stock Exchange, is successfully continuing its development plans.

Successful expansion of the luxury segment

Meliá Hotels International Q3 2024: The Spanish hotel group presents a very positive third quarter - especially in Spain, which scores with a strong summer season.

Strong brands drive growth

H World Group Limited Q 3 2024: The Group announced its unaudited financial results with both revenue and hotel turnover showing growth. The brand IntercityHotel has performed exceptionally well in China.

Strong operational results

Aroundtown SA 9M 2024: The German commercial real estate company reports a net loss of 154 million euros, mostly due to negative property evaluations.

Balance sheets at a glance

Events to come

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HOTCO 2025: Planned and creative revenues

"How to make money in the hospitality industry’? The next edition of HOTCO 2025 in just four weeks - on 20-21 January in Vienna - aims to draw up a blueprint for 2030. The 8th Hotel Investment Conference will focus geographically on Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

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HITT 2025: Biodiversity and infrastructure

Nature sounds the alarm. Green switches to red. How can biodiversity, infrastructure and tourism investment be reconciled? The HospitalityInside Think Tank (HITT) in Brussels will be looking for solutions on 26-27 May 2025. Many people are not yet aware of the topic itself, including investors and developers in the hospitality industry.

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HOT, The Unconference

Hotels Tomorrow? This is knowledge about where the industry is drifting, where it sees new concepts and profits, thinks outside the box and wants to discuss. Simply HOT. The website for the new Europe-focussed investment conference in a new format is now online, including the topics. Save the date for a relaxed event format with in-depth content: "Hotels Tomorrow - The Unconference", on 17/18 February 2025 in Paris. (This date has since been postponed to 16/17 June 2025, editor's note).

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Expo Real 2025 with a power package

The most important dates have already been noted in the 2025 calendar. The 27th Expo Real in Munich will take place from 6-8 October. The hospitality cluster is growing and networking is becoming increasingly important. This time, the joint stand "World of Hospitality" will feature two Get-together events.

Save the Date! HITT 2025
26-27 May, Brussels

Picked

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China: Delivery service by drone

Coffee and snacks "to fly" instead of "to go": In China, delivery drones and air taxis are conquering the skies. Despite minor turbulence, the economy is booming above people's heads. This is also due to help from the very top.

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Sustainable packaging: straw instead of polystyrene

The transport of many products requires packaging that is impact-resistant and temperature-resistant. Styrofoam has these properties, but is a plastic. Two Bavarian entrepreneurs have developed a sustainable alternative.

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GPT for children four years and older

In an increasingly digitalised world, there is now also an app called KinderGPT - it is designed to give children from the age of four access to the technology that is increasingly finding its way into our everyday lives and to help with homework or research.

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Where can you still travel safely?

The new year is approaching and planning for holiday and business trips is in full swing. Where will it still be safe to travel to in 2025 and in which regions should particular caution be exercised? A risk map of the world provides information.

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