Crises and AI, hot topics and the HITT

Dear Insider,

Airlines are changing their routes; these changes are affecting destination markets; in the Middle East, hotel occupancy rates are falling sharply, in Greece, bookings are reportedly stalling; and the governments of Dubai, Cyprus and Egypt are beginning to provide financial support to hotels and tourism companies. The chaos and tension surrounding the Iran conflict continue.

This makes the brief item in today's News Mix all the more baffling, to put it politely: The city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania is preparing the first stage of planning permission for a Trump Tower comprising 250 apartments and a 150-room luxury hotel.

Despite the crisis, business carries on as usual, as Susanne Stauss and I gathered from our many conversations in Berlin. International chains continue to adapt their strategies, sometimes in a rather dull way, sometimes in a lively one. We listened to Hyatt, Minor, Leonardo, the Vienna Tourist Board, Accor, Marriott and UBM. Everyone wants to fill every niche. The craze for brands continues, as does the appeal of franchising.

The chains are now desperate for independent hotels and want to make their soft brands even more flexible. Villa Viva might well have fitted into this category – hotels as "social guesthouses", a perfect, alternative product for investors and operators keen on niche markets, such as Stephan Gerhard. But franchise is not his cup of tea.

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Iran conflict: The industry is re-adjusting

27.3.2026

Dear Insider,

The mood at the IHIF in Berlin this week was subdued, with hotel investors and operators expressing serious concerns. The unpredictable US-Iran conflict is once again taking a heavy toll on the industry. What do the global and regional CEOs of major chains have to say? There are no longer any safe markets; new travel trends are winding their way through new landscapes; holidays in the Middle East are shifting to the Far East… The industry is re-adjusting but is responding with a level head. It has learnt from the Covid pandemic.

During the day, the IHIF venue felt rather empty; those who hadn’t bought tickets gathered outside the InterContinental to have a chat, and in the evening, the "family" ended up meeting up at a number of events around town. Unfortunately, Revo Hospitality’s long-running and popular party did not take place… Incidentally, interested investors are today submitting their bids for the insolvent Revo hotels.

Radisson CEO Federico González, for his part, does not wish to demonise any operator. With 75 contracts, Germany is the largest lease market, he has nothing against that. It's all a question of details and honest dealing. And a good mix! Radisson manages 50% of its properties itself, refines its 10 brands without needing to create new ones, and only operates in locations where the owner has paid a realistic price for the property. In an interview with me, he also explains why Jin Jiang’s two subsidiaries, Radisson and Louvre, will not be merging.