Issue from 19.4.2024
It's got it all: win-win for IHG and Novum. Super-rich and laggards.
Dear Insider,
The high of the week: the deal between IHG and Novum Hospitality, a very skilful move, well thought out. The low of the week: the IHIF in Berlin, an investment conference in decline because it simply flies too high with a regular entrance fee of 4,000 euros. The sun is shining in Brussels: a market with great potential, as the new hotel association president Willem van der Zee reveals in an interview - and more.
There have always been super yachts, but now Four Seasons, Accor, Aman and Ritz-Carlton are working on launching (more) multi-million euro small ships on the high seas. Fittingly: The small, fine Oetker Collection with its super-sharp luxury profile is opening its first "Masterpiece" hotel in the USA. Will Travel Charme survive after the takeover? We simply asked. Our sections (VIP News, Market News and today also IHIF News) are well-stocked, entertaining features are once again offered by "Picked" and our HITT should arouse your curiosity - only two months to go until Amsterdam! Are you already a participant? By the way, we are sticking to fair prices.
The highlight of the week was the deal between IHG and Novum Hotel - an obviously well thought-out, multi-layered move with a win-win character that goes far beyond a sales and marketing deal. IHG will double its presence in the difficult German market overnight, and Novum secures its economic future. Mario Maxeiner, Managing Director Northern Europe at IHG, and Novum-CEO David Etmenan share the details with us in an exclusive interview.
It was also the only exciting news at the IHIF investment conference in Berlin this week, which has clearly passed its peak. The announced 2,500 participants must have been wearing camouflage in the large InterConti corridors, many well-known exhibitors were missing, you needed a strong lens to spot an investor, the investment conference appeared to be just the beauty test for global operators. There was no low, just the one high and yet the IHIF was party talk: A regular ticket cost € 4,000! Whoever the conversation was with, they vented their anger. That's why our review today will unfortunately not be a hymn of praise.
Willem van der Zee is setting us up again today: He is the new president of the Belgian Hotel Association, to which 90 percent of hoteliers in Brussels belong. A voice of the industry! The market still offers many opportunities, from hybrid hospitality models to bleisure offers. But only the sky is pink. This article complements Sarah Douag's Benelux market overview from last week.
Would you like to stay in an 898 square meter suite that unfolds over four floors in a glass chimney - and moves on the high seas? Super-expensive luxury yachts are the latest projects from Four Seasons, Accor, Aman and Ritz-Carlton. Sylvie Konzack's overview is breathtaking. The super-rich with their feet on the ground might prefer to spend their time at the Oetker Collection. Their collection of ultra-luxury pearls will soon open its first hotel in the USA. More will follow as CEO Timo Gruenert follows the guests. An update for a precisely tailored luxury hotel profile that works around the world.
From hyper-luxury to upscale resorts: CEO Karl Pojer is not (yet) able to answer whether the Travel Charme Hotels brand will remain after the takeover by DSR Holding. We simply asked him. While resort guests like to stay longer, short-stay is now increasingly driving the Serviced Apartment sector, which was once geared towards long-term guests, as the latest market study shows.
The Dehoga survey for Germany has once again revealed few positive results: Guest consumption is falling, even though the number of overnight stays rose in February. In a city analysis, Berlin even comes last in the ranking of overnight stays.
And from the low to the high again: The Global Hotel Alliance, which celebrated its 20th birthday in Berlin this week, once again posted robust figures for the first quarter (see Financial Results). Among our "Picked" news this week, you will find wine instead of WhatsApp, a robot kitchen in Dresden, cannabis consequences for the catering industry and a lot of praise for the Falkensteiner Hotels, which distinguish themselves among Austria's top employers.
Last but not least: In just under two months, on 17/18 June, we will be celebrating our Think Tank premiere in Amsterdam! Have you seen the latest programme update? With its "in-depth" sustainability topics and the innovation concepts that we will be breathing life into. Yesterday, by the way, the very last panel was organised, which is about the circular economy and the new transparency of materials. Very interesting for the supply chain, construction and interior design! Details coming soon.
By the way, we are sticking to fair prices, even in small groups! We want to bring hoteliers, hotel owners, experts and their partners together, not drive them apart. For 1,400 euros, you will experience two high-calibre themed days, a get-together the evening before, a river cruise on day 1 and a closing event in the beer garden. So get into the programme and continue to the booking form! www.hitt.world
Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief
New President Willem van der Zee about Brussels and the Hotel Association
"We have size and size matters when it comes to speaking as one to the city council or the government," says the new President of the Brussels Hotel Association, Willem van der Zee. BHA unites more than 90 percent of Brussels hoteliers. The industry has been seeing more hybrid lodging solutions in the past, the rise of boutique hotels and more. Today, Bleisure continues driving the positive development. But there are challenges.
Four Seasons, Accor and Aman embark on promising cruise years
From terra firma to the windy seas: in 2026, Four Seasons and Accor will launch their own luxury yachts costing millions and billions, followed by the Aman Group in 2027. Ritz-Carlton is already in the business. With super suites of a new dimension and a rejuvenated guest experience, the hotel groups want to show the established cruise companies what top-level hospitality looks like.
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