Editorial

Dear Insider, 

Today's topics in brief. 

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Review of the MIPIM in Cannes: The beach party image is no more, but the interest in innovative hospitality concepts remains. HRS is looking to join forces with hotels for the new AI era: Tobias Ragge would like to see more networked data and services. And the young Líbere Hospitality Group from Bilbao is also focused on the tech. Though its expansion will not begin in Spain, but in Italy. Massimiliano Sarti asked why? UN Tourism (until recently UNWTO) defined a global standard for measuring tourism sustainability. Austria reacts with stricter rules to "LexAirbnb" and short-term rentals. Insolvencies continue to rise in the German food service industry. And in our New Mex today, the number of releases remains high. From the public content (Marketplace and Picked): In mid-May, 250 Alpine hoteliers will meet in Kitzbühel to discuss new mountain hotel concepts. Greece imposes a legal ban on the vast majority of sun loungers on the beach - with consequences. You can breathe the cleanest air in the world in Iceland. And it’s not only its air that’s good, it is also considered a career paradise for women. Hoteliers with foresight and the gift of inspiring employees for the future have honoured QR Reservations with its first "Forward Thinker Award". 

Dear Insider,

Today's issue short and sweet: The forced marriage of franchise giants Choice and Wyndham has been called off, the imperative of healthy competition has won out. AI development is also like a race. It is causing quite a few capers in the travelling world: as an AI brand ambassador, influencer, guest flow manager or sales consultant. The next construction site is real: The construction industry produces billions of tons of raw materials - but these can be put to different and additional use and so reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. This article from our Think Tank workshop series this week can be found before the paywall, learn together with us on our HITT microsite. Hotel values in Europe have remained stable. Ascott sets its sights on Europe. The hotel industry is now investing more in travel technology. Today's News Mix contains 24 news items from the real estate market. And our Marketplace section is again full of colour with information on summer bookings, the German Ethics Council's appeal on climate change, water partnerships and networked self-service vending machines. 

Dear Insider, 

Short and sweet first: Germany and the ITB are putting nails in their own coffins! Proof of that was clear for all this week. The strikes are jeopardising the country and tourism, and the world's hotel chains are finishing their friendship with the ITB. Motel One opened its lifestyle hotel The Cloud One in Hamburg last week, but it will have to shape its new profile for a while yet. Social robots are coming - and only work for hotel brands that guests trust. In Austria, a fierce debate has arisen about anonymous hotel reviews, while the EU thinks completely differently. The latest figures and travel, online and wellness hotel trends are available around the ITB. With "Stuub", a young hotel entrepreneur is building a digital platform for affordable holidays in the countryside and is converting guesthouses and garni hotels. We would like to see you as an exhibitor in our "World of Hospitality": Expo Real doesn't take place for another 7 months, but the early bird bonus is only available until 15 March.

Dear Insiders,

short and sweet first: US consumers are suing STR/CoStar and various global chains for what are alleged to be "inflated room rates". A major scandal is brewing. Deutsche Hospitality finally changes its name to H World International. Qi Ji takes the next step. RIP Germany, RIP Deutsche Hospitality? Germany is no longer competitive, but four European CEOs still believe in the "tourism tanker". Food & Drinks To Go? Gladly, but not in reusable packaging. Why not? A study and our research provide answers. First impressions of Motel One's first lifestyle hotel of the Cloud One brand opened last night in Hamburg. And news from colleagues: Super resort deals in the last quarter in Italy, an upswing in Viennese tourism and the new splendour of the Hotel Astoria, rosy times for Germany's incoming tourism and an all-time high in the global hotel pipeline.

Dear Insider, 

Today's issue short and sweet: Germany lacks drive, criticise three CEOs from Austria. But Accor has wind in its sails after yesterday's record balance sheet figures. And Patrick Mendes, the still young Accor CEO for the Europe/North Africa region, is sailing with it. Dr. Lohbeck Privathotels fly under the radar in Germany: a medium-sized company that continuously and quietly buys well-known individual hotels - and puts US franchise brands on their roofs in the United States for a change. In Germany, the industry is whispering about the takeover of the ailing Travel Charme Hotels by a subsidiary of tour operator DER Touristik (Rewe Group). Europe prides itself on full pipelines and the attraction of resorts. The Swiss hotel industry is looking forward to 2023, the German sector is still struggling. And very importantly: On our website you will find the current, fuller programme with the first top-class speaker names! 

Dear Insider,

The UNWTO is now "UN Tourism". Yesterday, the specialised agency of the United Nations announced the new, simplified name. I like it. 

That tourism and the global hotel industry are (almost) now operating at their pre-corona levels is clear from the balance sheets that we have published for you on our homepage since Monday. There you will find the financial statements from TUI, Minor, Marriott, Scandic, Orascom and Wyndham. 

Dear Insider,

Today's issue short and sweet: The Summer Olympics in Paris prompt greed and abuse in the hotel industry. Prices are exploding and the government is already punishing the industry. The serviced apartment brand Stay Kooook presented its 3rd room concept, again with "furniture on rails"... impressive. And lifestyle is everywhere: Room Mate from Spain is reinventing itself in Italy, Wyndham and SBE are recreating life and style, and the HOTCO organisers and STR have broken down the lifestyle hotel world into numbers.

Dear Insiders,

Today, it's the positive that dominates. Spain rockets out of its corona slump! And everything is running smoothly: Overnight stays, hotel KPIs, transactions ... and as hard as it might be to believe: In Austria, tourism/hotel professionals have praise for their employers! And not only that, they see many more good things to praise in an otherwise oft criticised industry. And slowly, more and more investors are venturing into the "climate-friendly" refurbishment of their buildings. In other news today: Accor sells parts of its Vacation Club. And a word on our own account: Our new editorial team introduces itself.  

Dear Insiders, 

First things first: Today, we bring you an initial overview of our HITT Think Tank on 17/18 June in Amsterdam with a focus on sustainability and innovation! The two days will be intense, but also colourful and exciting, especially when it comes to AI and technology. Green pressure is increasing everywhere - including from the OTAs: HRS now demands emissions data on the website. Italy has fought its way back to pre-corona levels but is still struggling with costs and a lack of employees. 

Dear Insiders, 

The Choice-Wyndham battle now has the quality of a psychological thriller. Wyndham has taken the biscuit by publishing the following headline on its website: "No Room for Wrong Choice". A humorous response to Choice's recent public accusations... Sarah Douag has dug a little further on the dispute. In the meantime, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has become involved and is keeping a close eye on both parties.