The Spanish hotel group Barceló has signed a distribution deal with Kempinski Hotels, but only for certain properties within the Kempinski portfolio. There is a strange strategy behind this restriction.
Issue from 20.3.2026
Back to reality
Dear Insider,
The Iran conflict is leaving its mark every day, all over the world. MIPIM in Cannes was noticeably quieter than usual, and the Arabian Travel Market (essentially the Arab equivalent of ITB) has been rescheduled from May to October. We are keen to see how many investors, operators and other hospitality stakeholders will be attending the IHIF investment forum in Berlin from Monday. We report.
Today: Beatrix Boutonnet describes the "new" real estate sector – one that is returning to reality and discovering new opportunities: Standard financing options are a thing of the past, but there are new alternatives. The yachts in Cannes are also adjusting to the reality: They’ve become smaller, there are fewer parties, and people are being more cautious again. Amazing: Germany and the hotel asset class were viewed thoroughly positively.
The new brand Nook aims to establish itself as a "non-hotel" through crowdfunding: This is a spiritual place for like-minded people, for social gatherings and off-site events. The similarity to the former Selina concept for digital nomads is no coincidence. Behind this are German hotel chains, hostels and co-living hoteliers.
Satya Anand won’t be leaving anything to chance in the US either. Marriott’s President for EMEA will be leaving Europe next week to take over as Group President of the world’s largest hotel chain’s biggest region – 7,000 hotels stretching from Canada through the US to South America. It was lovely that he still had time to look back on things with us. As always, quietly, without the noise. Satya, we'll miss you here!
Kempinski CEO Barbara Muckermann certainly doesn’t want to make a fuss either. She has just signed a distribution agreement with Barceló, but not for all their hotels – perhaps just a dozen. A strange Kempinski strategy.
News from the world of brands: Hilton has secured an exclusive franchise agreement with the lifestyle-focused Yotel group, the first on its new "platform" called Select by Hilton. This functional name will soon come to represent a collection of newly revitalised boutique hotels. In other words, the next "Collection" copy has arrived.
Despite all the crises, real estate valuers and investors remain committed to the hotel sector, particularly in Europe. Let’s hope these forecasts prove accurate. This is also reflected in the Germans’ travel trends: They prefer to travel by ship or plane, and to go far, far away. Perhaps to the Far East? In its 2025 annual report, the Chinese giant H World reports steady progress at its subsidiary Legacy-Deutsche Hospitality.
Less exciting: Business trips are not package holidays; the EU has finally made that clear. By contrast, the number of restaurant insolvencies in Germany has risen in waves: 11,000 – the highest figure since 2011.
Our Public News looks to the future and does so with a focus on sustainability: JUNG, a long-established company, is right on trend with forward-looking building technology, particularly with its range of recycled switches. The dolphins in the Adriatic operate on a completely different level: If you spot any, you can report them via the app and help protect them. The internet is doing good here – which isn’t the case everywhere. It is shocking that more and more countries are seeking to restrict internet freedom in general.
We’ll help you delve deeper into sustainability and put your questions to leading experts! Please take a look at our Hospitality Think Tank programme. HITT shows you how to ensure performance and profit even in a world in crisis. Welcome to the reality! Click here for the program and registration. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the content.
And here is some important information regarding Expo Real: next week, stand spaces will be allocated, including at the "World of Hospitality". If you would like a space at our shared stand in October, please register immediately. Our Expo team will be happy to advise you. Click here for the Expo page, content and contact numbers.
Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief
Satya Anand is leaving Europe to take up a new role in Marriott's largest region
Satya Anand is one of the quiet, unassuming executives at the world's largest hotel chain, Marriott International. Originally from India, he now considers himself European and, on 28 March, will take charge of Marriott’s largest region, the Americas. Time to look back. As always, quiet, not loud.
The Nook Spirit: a space for like-minded people, social gatherings and off-sites
With Nook, a new type of accommodation for corporate retreats and community-focused concepts has established itself in the Berlin area, and its founders now have their sights set on bigger things. The venture brings together a team of former hoteliers from chain hotels, co-living spaces and hostels. They are securing funding through alternative channels.
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Expo Real 5. - 7. October 2026
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