Issue from 19.12.2025
In the whirl of the headlines... hospitalityInside turned 20
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.
Gather energy and inspiration over the Christmas break. Dream of new projects. Two real estate experts are reinventing Branded Living: They want to create new ecosystems from thousands of ghost villages in southern Europe, self-sufficient living in the countryside, underpinned by luxury brands. This is thinking-out-of-the-box.
Our Christmas edition today still contains many good ideas, but also momentous decisions: Following the ruling from Berlin, Booking.com must pay 1,000 German hoteliers compensation for the best price clauses! And the ruling could strengthen the mass action brought by the 15,000 hoteliers. The Spanish government is also punishing Airbnb harshly; 65,000 holiday homes will disappear.
The Mercure Westbahnhof Berlin is a mystery under the Christmas tree. It is to become a Premier Inn, as has already been publicly stated. But it doesn't want to be a Premier Inn. Take a look at the starry sky, but not for too long... Three hotels in Spain have been specially certified for "protecting the night sky". Things are less romantic on earth: Europe's Christmas markets generate a billion euros in sales. Travellers still like to tip. And AI will be mixed in with everything - 2026 will be THE year of AI, says Mews.
In 2005, we also got involved - as a new medium in a crowded media market. I was motivated by 13 of the 15 media outlets I was writing for as a freelancer at the time: "Nice idea, Maria, but you'll never make it." This year, 2025, hospitalityInside turned 20! For us, it feels like 10 years. It has been a turbulent, colourful, motivating and also crisis-ridden time.
We are still small, focused and consistent. And still independent. We are proud to be an opinion leader among the European hotel trade media. The very first editorial confirms how clear our vision was back then. I would repeat every sentence all over again!
It all began with a triple somersault. Read it for yourself on our Page 1, climb up our timeline, in which there are many "premiers". HospitalityInside has become a "media company", a versatile communication channel with content, events and strong networks.
By the way, our next event is HITT 2026 in Brussels in May. Today (on the HITT page) we introduce you to the new moderator team of Prof. Graham Miller and Prof. Dr. Alexander Schmidt. The high calibre think tank has become our jewel because it has embodied what our foundation has been since day one: in-depth content, plain language, fairness, respect and collaboration.
A toast to all the people who believed in us!
A heartfelt thank you to you all.
We wish all of you, our readers, business partners and employees, a happy holiday season surrounded by family and friends, and a healthy start to the new year!
Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-chief
Our office will be open again on 12 January; the next issue of hospitalityInside will be published on 16 January 2026.
Lack of transparency grows, credibility shrinks: Observations of the editorial team
The year 2025 has not been easy for the hospitality industry, especially in Germany. Europe's engine is stuttering, the chassis is trembling. More insolvencies are looming at the horizon as well as higher costs and zero profit. But the industry still finds time to celebrate itself. The ego is back – in parts – instead of transparency and credibility.
Two real estate experts discuss a new form of Branded Living
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?
A personal review - Thank you!
Dear Insiders, Friends and Foes - HospitalityInside ends the year 2025 with a personal review of 20 years of hospitalityInside.com. We are still small, focused and consistent. And proud to be an opinion leader among the European hotel trade media today. It all began with a triple somersault.
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