Editorial

Dear Insiders,
Do you read eMails on holiday? The 12 top executives we surveyed all read their mails - and have obviously arranged themselves perfectly with their families and colleagues. Only one admits: I'm addicted to the net! Read how your colleagues balance being able to be contacted at all times with their private lives.
I too receive up to 200 eMails everyday, but it has been decided: After today's edition, our editorial and publishing team will switch to "autoreply" for two weeks. hospitalityInside will take a summer break; the next edition will appear on Friday, August 24.
In the background, our technical optimisation will continue for you: Our IT is moving to the "Cloud". There is therefore the risk of problems with eMail; in urgent cases we can be reached by mobile.
In quiet weeks like these, many managers are wondering: How is the hotel market performing, how can you filter more efficiently given the lack of staff? Two articles offer some thoughts on trends in German hotel financing and about the Reiss Profile.
Four further hotel group announced their results for the second quarter, at TUI a decision was taken as to Frenzel's succession, guests at lake hotels in Austria are increasingly staying away, and in Switzerland the mountain regions demand a tourism bank in the pattern of the Austrian bank...
After the summer break, hospitalityInside will move to the end phase for the Expo Real. On page 1 and in the magazine, you will today find the first comprehensive description of the programme for the hotel conference "Hospitality Industry Dialogue" and a short update complete with new photo from the second joint stand "World of Hospitality". - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Since the beginning of the year, Rezidor and Carlson have been connected via shares, but also in operational terms. On both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, brands are being newly evaluated. In today’s issue, CEO Kurt Ritter and COO Wolfgang M. Neumann explain this young partnership and its synergy effects in detail. They provide figures and talk about their expectations, agreements and priorities.
Private investors are reviving a Gstaad legend: The Alpina. An African sugar king and a local real estate broker are creating a refuge for the wealthy in typical Swiss chalet style. We paid a visit to the construction site of this 250-million Euro project.
The Geisel family can only dream of such dimensions. Nevertheless, it has been one of the most important hotelier families in Munich for more than 100 years and four generations. Today, they are "glocals" thinking globally and acting locally.
In this way, today's issue closes the circle between quoted companies, major investors, and medium-sized companies. I would like to compare the annual results of the three companies mentioned …
The EU is putting the screws on the fund sector; the German Ministry of Finance is even massively influencing regulation. Beatrix Boutonnet explains the advantages and disadvantages.
Transactions across the hotel sector declined in the first half of the year, Starwood and Wyndham presented their half-year results, and NH is the first chain to introduce WiFi in its hotels all over the world free of charge. - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Beginning next Monday, thousands of French hotels will be "illegal": Those who have not acquired the new stars by then may, by law, no longer use the old ones. The government is attacking the hotel industry hard - and apparently also through it. Report from Paris.
Design Hotels continually fascinate me because they are very near to the pulse of the times. Their annual meeting in Berlin was once again a source of inspiration. After already having presented the Future Laboratory's trends, today, we once again take a detailed look into the new, ground-breaking guest survey. And on top of that, how the consortium is increasing its direct distribution.
Pleasing signals in the appreciation of hotels are coming from international investors: In view of the solid performance, they have gradually been enjoying this asset class once again. The new, 2nd "Pan-European Hotel Performance Report" underpins it.
Germany still belongs among the most popular hotel markets. This is also recognised by individual enterprisers: A family from Afghanistan has managed to build up 29 hotels in 20 years - the Novum Group.
Marriott, Rezidor, Accor and Design Hotels have presented their figures for the first half-year in 2012 and for the second quarter; the OEHV has compared online reservation platforms in price and services; the London businessman, Al Jaber is now also experiencing difficulties in France with his JJW Group, and in Germany, the racing paradise Nuerburgring declared insolvency. - The full editorial...

Dear Insiders,
It's always possible to improve: The laser show marking the opening of the Kameha Grand in Bonn two years ago was fascinating. Now, Dormero Hotels has turned the show into a daily light and sound extravaganza. The newly opened Dormero in Stuttgart's Musical Centre now offers an amazing 3D installation, and enormous projections in its multimedia guestrooms. This level of high-tech and multi media is new in Europe's hotel scene, experts say.
Obviously, humanity strives for superlatives. Surfers can now test their skills on a "perfect wave" in a new Sol Hotel in Mallorca. It is part of a new lifestyle party music beach sport concept. Certainly, the island needs the new in order to stay attractive.
Those working in mediation and arbitration in Germany have now also received a legal boost. A new law has been introduced in support of amicable dispute settlement. It would certainly be a good alternative to litigation for fiery hoteliers and hotel owners.
Guests attending the 2nd "Freitagshappen", the exclusive talk round organised jointly each year by Nassauer Hof in Wiesbaden and hospitalityInside, were pensive and self-critical. This time, talks focused on human capital and employers. Managers attending the talk round recognised that their kind are themselves a weak point here. Haystax Executive Recruitment conducted a survey of 100 German top hotel companies for the talk round - and they found a few contradictions. Haystax presents its findings today exclusively for hospitalityInside readers. - The full editorial...

Dear Insiders,
Whilst EU finance ministers struggle to find unity, the Europe‘s hoteliers are working on harmonising their business. The first hotel in Germany has now fixed its "EU hotel stars" to the wall.
Moevenpick Hotels has given the term "sustainability" a global framework - and massively involved its staff. Only after completing relevant training may a hotel submit an application for Green Globe certification. The Swiss are taking a more comprehensive approach. They know that organic pens and fairtrade coffee aren't enough to change the world.
Spreading their 48 hotels across six countries has helped to shield the Fiesta Hotels Group from the fallout from the economic crisis. They are now set to polish their broad brand portfolio, become more luxurious and gain new pizzazz with music hotels.
Europa-Park Rust has attracted the whole world. It may be difficult to believe but with four million visitors per year, the entertainment park close to Freiburg is the biggest seasonal amusement park in the world! Entrepreneur Roland Mack will open his fifth hotel on the site next Thursday. Mack, this year also President of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions says: Amusement parks are currently booming!
And other news: Poland's tourism industry has positive news after Euro 2012. Hotel investors in Germany were cautious in the first half-year, and Schoerghuber reveals key figures after giving up its own hotel operator group. - The full editorial...

Dear Insiders,
Life in the digital bubble is soon becoming reality. But it's bitter that the baby boomer generation are no longer included among those target groups mentioned by trend researchers of Future Laboratory... The only comfort in their speeches at the annual Design Hotels meeting in Berlin: The 25+ generation may well be hip and digitally well versed, but the 45+ age group still has the money. And all trends provoke countertrends.
Six Senses has always been on the look out for the real and authentic. After the company's final split, Bernhard Bohnenberger, President of the "new" Six Senses group, today describes how it intends to act in a "financially sustainable" fashion.
Our correspondent, Sarah Douag, met COO of Fraser Hospitality: The serviced apartment professionals from Asia are increasingly looking towards continental Europe. In France, the new French President Hollande has moved aggressively against the hotel industry.
In Prague, the first - of soon to be ten planned - Fusion Hotels has opened: A hotel/hostel concept with impressive design and unconventional ideas. Mercure has this week presented its new room refurbishment programme "Dedicaces".
And last but not least, we report on EXPO REAL 2012: At the "World of Hospitality" joint stand, there remains place for just one co-exhibitor. We have added a meeting option to the packages for logo partners now. The 157 sq.m. stand will this year be twice as big as it was at its premier last year. Eleven internationally renowned hotel operators, consultancies and a finance company will use our trade fair platform to document their "standing" in the real estate and investment world. More on "Network". - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Just as Egypt so desperately needs tourism, a study announces that Egyptians don't like tourists. Yet the readiness of travellers to leave their cultural habits behind is also limited. "The big misunderstanding" as we call our article today should provide food for thought for all hoteliers before the great travel wave begins. Wherever they are, hoteliers are required as inter-cultural managers.
Mentalities are also different in Hong Kong and Frankfurt. For this reason, pentahotels are pursuing a different expansion plan in Asia than in Europe. By 2020, the aim is to grow from 15 to 80 hotels. Managing Director Peter Voit explains the strategy and development priorities.
Relais & Châteaux has had enough of the German snail's pace. Now, it has taken the acquisition of new members into its own hands. 100 hotels have also joined in a special conference guide.
US hoteliers and investors have still not regained their former pace, though the signals are currently all green. In particular, the luxury hotel industry has begun a new boom. Nevertheless, the positive announcements hide less positive news: Macy Marvel takes a closer look at occupancy, RevPar and the pipeline of the US hotel industry.
A new young investor stirs up Vienna, TUI invents a new tour operator brand for the very wealthy and Six Senses Founder Sonu Shivdasani intends to restrict expansion to residence resorts in future. And last but not least, the final separation of the former Six Senses Resorts & Spas into the Soneva Group and Six Senses Hotels was also sealed by contract on Wednesday. - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Of all people, the founder of Google China was robbed in Geneva. Now, Chinese tour operators are removing Switzerland from their travel programmes. Quite against its will in this case, the buffeted little country again made the headlines – yet it is also of interest for return hungry international investors: They are particularly interested in large hospitality projects.
Frequently travelling managers belong to one of the risk groups of a new popular affliction - sleeping disorders. The "Day of Sleep" next week aims to raise awareness of this issue. We asked four wellness and health hotels how they are dealing with the subject.
We have one piece of personnel news today: Our specialist for labour law, Joachim Jungbluth, was made an honorary judge at the German Federal Labour Court on May 15. There, he will form part of the 5th Senate which looks at issues of employee status and remuneration claims. We congratulate him on this appointment!
We also have much other news, including findings from the recent VDR business travel analysis which continues to see good prospects for the hotel industry. - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
The German hotel industry survived the winter 2011/12 with a strong increase in turnover and is now looking forward to the summer. In contrast, Switzerland resembles a vale of tears: the strong Swiss franc, decreasing tourism numbers, the second home ban, new minimum wage discussions, staff shortages, renovation backlogs, and tenacious hotel managers ... Many external factors, which cannot be influenced and also home-made problems are suffocating the Swiss hotel industry. Guglielmo Brentel, President of the industry association hotelleriesuisse tackles these problems: On Tuesday, the association participated in the national Swiss booking platform.
Compared to this, InterCity Hotels have few problems: the former "station hotels" celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. The Steigenberger subsidiary never took up the speed of the ICE trains when it came to their expansions, but only because of this is it still a rough diamond. "Joachim Marusczyk, the founding managing director, about the past and the InterCity Hotels' status quo.
You can build up your own career even without major corporation, as the example of Georg Imlauer proves. The active Austrian started his career as chef apprentice and waiter trainee and became the manager of one of the city hotel groups with the most beds in the country.
At the moment, Yotel is moving to totally different dimensions. With a 250-million-dollar fund, all of Northern America should be covered by the hotel-cabin concept. Maybe, Yobot will participate – the first luggage robot. Big news from the Big Apple.
Last Saturday, the German yellowpress daily "BILD" put a few lines from our "hospitalityWhisperings" into another dimension: In its online edition, it spread the plans of the building tycoon Zech to buy the property of the Hotel Atlantic Hamburg. The paper saw the tweet of a reader ... Zech Holding was only quoted with "No comment"… We continue to wait patiently – until the whispers may turn into fact. Hopefully, you will be the first again to hear about this. - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Tourism and hotel industriy in Poland is perhaps on the way to developing a champion's format, but the Ukraine is still playing in quite another league. One week before the beginning of the UEFA Euro 2012, the consulting company, Kohl & Partner from Vienna analyses the economic and tourist backgrounds of both host countries. We have also asked hoteliers in Poland and the Ukraine about the current occupancy and pricing. Some things sound contradictory.
Mega events are exciting, as companies are. Derag Living Hotels mixes in with the blossoming serviced apartment segment, but has always been set on the combination of hotel rooms and apartments. And an independent sales, marketing and distribution platform is also available to other suppliers.
In addition, quite a bit of "hospitality whispering" has come to us during the past few weeks, in the Social Media column, Marco Nussbaum agonizes over the recent, bizarre internet poker, Banyan Tree has engaged a CEO for the first time - and more. - The full editorial…