Hospitality for Insiders

In the whirl of the headlines... hospitalityInside turned 20

Maria Pütz-Willems
Maria Pütz-Willems

Dear Insider,

after such an exhausting year, I wanted to give our last issue today a more relaxed tone, but then sober reality caught up with us. This week, Union Investment put the Pullman Schweizerhof Berlin up for sale and intends to part with the tenant Revo Hospitality, the largest white-label operator in Europe. The operator is already taking legal action against the termination and plans not to move out. I have spoken to everyone involved. Positive: An experienced hotel manager joined Revo a few weeks ago as Chief Transformation Officer. Will she be the new CEO? Ruslan Husry continues to work intensively on consolidating the company.

Negative for Treugast, regardless of current events: The Munich-based consultancy had removed Revo Hospitality from its investment ranking at Expo Real and commented on this. It has now signed a cease-and-desist declaration against Revo Hospitality.

The rumours will abound again today. Stay cool! Use the Facts & Figures as a guide. The German hotel market is under more stress than it has been for a long time, for many reasons. The result: more opacity, less credibility. The fast-paced media, but also PR agencies pushed into a corner, contribute to this. My colleagues Susanne Stauss, Sylvie Konzack and I have found examples. ... More

Magazine

Two real estate experts discuss a new form of Branded Living
Transforming ghost villages into luxury ecosystems
19.12.2025

Why would a luxury brand buy a ghost village in rural Spain? Could this be the start of a trend where ultra-luxury hotels become curated ecosystems that discerning guests can immerse themselves in during their stay?

Hotel market outlook better than expected?

HI+Hotel market outlook better than expected?

"Where others see leaves, we see growth," said a real estate specialist recently, referring to the development of the hotel market next year. Such optimism also caused surprise among the participants.

Ruling from Berlin: Booking must pay damages

HI+Ruling from Berlin: Booking must pay damages

On 16 December 2025, a landmark ruling was handed down by the Berlin Regional Court, backing German hotels in their fight against the best price clauses used by Booking. This is an important signal for the ongoing class action lawsuit against the OTA.

Strange Mercure

HI+Strange Mercure

Is it an April Fool's joke in October? Or a winter joke in December? Premier Inn wants to turn the Mercure Wien Westbahnhof into a Premier Inn. But Mercure knows nothing about this. A bizarre story.

"Unfair practices": Spain takes action against Airbnb

HI+"Unfair practices": Spain takes action against Airbnb

Airbnb must now delete around 65,000 holiday home listings. The Spanish government is cracking down hard. The accommodation is being denounced in Spain as a driver of the housing shortage.

VIP News from 19.12.2025

HI+VIP News from 19.12.2025

Nicholas Cadbury / Nicolas Dimopoulos / Dirk Burneleit, Peter Wennel / Veit Stelljes / Susanne Lawall / Elisa Barral / Malte Wallschläger, Cathrin Schwartz

News Mix from 19.12.2025

HI+News Mix from 19.12.2025

Accor/Oléron, Buongiorno Hotels/Asiago, Bergamo/Una Hotel, B&B/Dresden, Coffee Fellows/Steigerwald, Dorint/Wiesbaden, Hilton/Marbella, Hotel Momentum/Blatten, IHG/Marrakesh, Ipartment/Cologne, Jayasom/Amaala, Kempinski/Brazzaville, Kokomo Capital/Rottach-Egern, Marriott/Cape Town, Melia/Italy, Minor/Riad, Premier Inn/Duisburg, Sicon/Hamburg, Starhotels/Lugano, Stayery/Berlin, Villa d’Este La Collezione/Lago di Como, Vorreiter AG/Bremen, Wyndham/Corfu

Insolvencies in Germany at 10-year high

HI+Insolvencies in Germany at 10-year high

The number of insolvent companies in Germany reached its highest level in more than ten years in 2025. Over the course of the year, 23,900 companies had to file for insolvency. The creditworthiness of the hospitality industry has reached the bottom of the scale.

Soundbites from the South

HI+Soundbites from the South

A statistical survey of European countries reveals interesting differences. Hoteliers in southern Europe are benefiting significantly from weak supply growth. More mature markets in central Europe are fluctuating more strongly, but the Nordics are rejoicing again.

Event Hotels acquire German portfolio from Blackstone

HI+Event Hotels acquire German portfolio from Blackstone

At the beginning of September, German Event Hotels purchased the Keystone portfolio of 17 Accor-branded hotels (2,021 rooms) from US private equity group Blackstone.

Interest in sustainable construction is declining

HI+Interest in sustainable construction is declining

Despite increasing global climate pressure, the market momentum for sustainable buildings is declining. America is seeing the biggest decline in "green real estate". Europe remains a pioneer but is stagnating with significant implementation gaps.

HospitalityInside Think Tank HITT

Content Partner

The Krallerhof & the star architect: why risks and visions secure the future
A spa artwork leads the way
12.12.2025

"From the very beginning, we thought in terms of generations, not quarters." A statement that shows attitude. Star architect Hadi Teherani lives by it, as does the Altenberger family, owners of the Krallerhof wellness hotel in the Salzburg region. The result is the 5,500 sqm ATMOSPHERE Spa, a monument to relaxation, a work of art. Only courage and vision can change the hospitality industry.

An investment in quality of life

An investment in quality of life

Luxury guests are willing to pay for exclusivity. But they expect perfection, says Corinna Döpkens, an expert in luxury travel. Digital structures ensure that hotels remain competitive.

The key to competitiveness

The key to competitiveness

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing tourism – and offers enormous opportunities for hotels that are prepared to use data intelligently. 125 hoteliers, experts and industry representatives needed to talk.

"Redebedarf": Benefiting from change with AI

"Redebedarf": Benefiting from change with AI

Artificial intelligence and data are changing the rules of the game in the hotel industry. How can hotels use this development to inspire guests and steer them successfully into the future? Answers can be found at "Need to talk". Participation is free of charge.

Climb onto the shark

Climb onto the shark

"The modern world meets traditional trade": Dietmar Dahmen is one of Europe's most sought-after futurists. He delivers his message about transformation, technology and radical customer centricity on stage like a rock star. As a visionary, he knows how companies need to reinvent themselves – including in the hotel industry. 

News Mix overview

Marketplace

Europe's Christmas markets generate almost 1 billion euros
19.12.2025

Mulled wine, bratwurst and roasted almonds - these things can be really lucrative. The most visited Christmas markets in Central Europe are in Germany and France and will welcome over 17 million people in 2025 - mainly day trip tourists.

AI window: 2026 is the decisive year
19.12.2025

By 2035, most hotel discoveries and bookings will happen through a single AI conversation, at least half of back-office tasks will be automated, and most routine guest requests will be handled by AI agents. Human staff will be left to do what algorithms can't.

The room key in your digital wallet
12.12.2025

The Welcome Hotel Darmstadt has launched a pilot project. Together with Hotelbird and Vingcard, NFC-based wallet keys have been introduced in the hotel. These work without a separate app – and even when your smartphone battery is flat.

US authorities want to check tourists' social media accounts
12.12.2025

US border guards want to scrutinise the social media profiles of short-term visitors, such as tourists and business travellers from Europe. What is behind this data collection?

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20 years HospitalityInside


Financial Results

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TUI grows and pays dividend

TUI FY 2025: The travel group exceeded its EBIT forecast for the full year 2025 and will pay its shareholders a dividend again for the first time since the coronavirus crisis.

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Growth continues to build

H World Group Q3 2025: Hotel turnover* increased 17.5% year-over-year to RMB30.6 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Excluding Steigenberger Hotels GmbH and its subsidiaries (DH, or Legacy-DH), hotel turnover increased 18.4% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025.

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20% of transactions are hotels

Aroundtown 9M 2025: With a stable net rental income and a hotel portfolio share of 22%, the group starts into the last quarter of the year.

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Broadly stable TRevPAR

Motel One Q3 2025: The German budget design hotel group maintained stable volumes and pricing, which it attributes primarily to the strength of its premium locations and the favorable Bleisure mix.

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Investments minimise turnover

Minor Hotels Q3 2025: For the international hotel group based in Thailand, operational efficiency and disciplined financial management deliver stronger margins amid volatile operating environment.

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Solid performance and confirmed offer period

PPHE Q3 2025: The UK market delivered a solid performance, while trading in the Netherlands and Germany was more subdued. Meanwhile, PPHE Hotel Group has also confirmed that it is currently in a bidding period.

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Strong global growth

Choice Hotels Int. Q3 2025: The group accelerates momentum in its international business where it is on a good track to double profitability by 2027.

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Exhibitor packages for the World of Hospitality now available!

The next Expo Real will take place in Munich from 5 to 7 October 2026. Europe's leading trade fair for commercial real estate and investment fills seven exhibition halls; In 2025, around 42,000 participants from over 70 countries attended, with 1,742 companies from 34 countries exhibiting. HospitalityInside will be back again with its joint stand.

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HI+Expo Real 2025: Review and statements

There was a slight sense of optimism, but no one expected miracles: Expo Real 2025 breathed realism, and the hotel industry followed suit. The resilience of the industry is viewed positively, but fluctuations remain within the industry.  

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Subdued expectations, polarising trends

The results of the 2025 Investment BAROMETER survey reflect a complex and nuanced mood within the industry. While the outlook for individual companies and the industry as a whole has improved slightly compared to last year, uncertainties remain, particularly regarding hotel revenue development. Accordingly, the Operations Index remains under pressure, while the Development Index has risen significantly, easily offsetting its losses from the previous year. 

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HI+Expo Real News from 10.10.2025

Barceló/KanAm Grund Group, Cocoon/Munich, Dorint/Halle, Horwath HTL/Hotels & Chains Report, IHG/Reykjavik, Motel One/Flemings, Novum/Financial Year 2024, Pan Am/Hotels

Save The Dates!

HOTCO

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HospitalityInside Think Tank, edition 9

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Hotels Tomorrow, edition 2

Picked

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"Starlight Reserve": Certified hotels protect the stars

A total of three hotels worldwide are permitted to call themselves ‘Starlight Accommodation’ (Alojamiento Starlight). This curious award is particularly interesting for professional stargazers and amateur astronomers.

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Tipping is no longer a matter of course

Tipping is becoming less common in traditional sectors such as the taxi industry and skilled trades. At the same time, the digital ‘tip button’ is fundamentally changing the psychological contract between guests and service staff.

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Art and curiosities: the history of souvenirs

Boxes full of souvenirs: around 300 years ago, young English aristocrats went on the "Grand Tour". They collected souvenirs from their travels and turned them into a trend. Selfies were also popular back then – just in a different way.

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Milan bans key boxes for holiday apartments

Key boxes for checking into holiday apartments will be banned in Milan in future. The municipal council has passed a regulation on this effect. The ban will come into force in January.

Media Partner

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The other network

Tourism meets technology. That is the guiding principle of TIS, the Tourism Innovation Summit, which is already one of the most important events in Seville. Hotel exhibitors are rare. The priority is networking between destination managers, event organisers and tech professionals. Not a bad combination. 

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A new era of relevance in tourism marketing

Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2025, to be held at the FIBES conference and exhibition centre in Seville from October 22 to 24, will address how tourism brands are reinventing the way they connect with travelers in an increasingly digital and experiential environment. HospitalityInside is accompanying this summit as a media partner for the first time.

Archive

In the HOSPITALITYINSIDE ARCHIVE you will find 35,000 specialist articles from 25 years on the hotel industry in Europe and global trends (access via the current issue in the magazine). "Those who know the past can understand the present and shape the future."

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