Dear Insiders, Last week’s surprising closing of ArabellaStarwood was justified, among other things, on the grounds of increased risks due to the new IFRS guidelines. This week, we asked bankers and hotel groups about it: the industry seems quite relaxed about the oncoming changes. All the reactions regarding the reasoning for Schoerghuber's decision to put an end to ArabellaStarwood range from lack of understanding to complete bewilderment and everyone now has their eyes pinned on the group. Quo vadis, Schoerghuber? The legal action of Neue Dorint GmbH is surprising as well. The company is demanding from Rhineland-Palatinate to be allowed to participate in the operational business at Nuerburgring and considers the award procedure a distortion of competition.Switzerland: The Head of the Swiss hotel association is criticising the small, unprofitable hotels in the country. He is addressing one third of all hotels and his recommendation is: close them all!It was simply annoying when the eagerly expected "thermal water” turned out to be only "healing water". But in Kaprun, Austria, they are still hoping to market the thermal spa resort with its 160 rooms.Doubling Steigenberger’s development team is to signal that expansion is getting serious; at Group du Louvre a new CEO takes over…The trade magazin "hotelbau" will focus on Italian and Austrian spas in its next issue. For details, switch to "Solutions". - To the full editorial…

Dear Insiders, On Monday morning, the first working day after his 3-week holiday, CEO Wolfgang Neumann was told that the hotel management group which he runs will no longer exist at the end of the year. The Schoerghuber Company Group plans in future to limit its hotel activities to investment. The shock among staff at ArabellaStarwood Hotels is correspondingly large. On the day of the official news on Wednesday, I had the opportunity to speak with the Schoerghuber Holding Board Chairman on the background to this decision and on its far-reaching consequences. We also report on the reactions to the change in hotel strategy. Design Hotels is also one of the participations held by the Schoerghuber Group. What will happen to them? In this context the management might like to look at one expert study which focuses on design and boutique hotels as investments. Our Austrian reporter, Fred Fettner, also describes the current state of hotel projects in Vienna. We also include a further article on the 3rd ITB Asia soon to take place. - To the full editorial...

Dear Insiders, Wrong or imprecise weather forecasts keeps guests away - and given the ever more short-term nature of bookings, can mean real damage. Susanne Stauss plays for us the role of "weather frog".Abu Dhabi can report "clear sunshine" all the time. There, hotels have other challenges to meet - e.g. crisis marketing and overcapacity. Read how Abu Dhabi's dessert flagship Qasr Al Sarab, The Fairmont, Shangri-La, The Yas Hotel and aloft are overcoming these problems."Typical hotel operational or financial indices are virtually useless for vacation ownership business models," Joachim Mezger from Interval says today in a guest contribution on the economic principles of vacation ownership. Difficult but interesting. Also interesting will be your autumn with hospitalityInside. Before we leave today and go into our summer break, we have again summarised our upcoming events so you can make plans in good time.The hospitalityInside team will be back with further news and reports on Friday, 27 August. Until then we wish you happy holidays and good summer business! - To the full editorial...

Dear Insiders, Europe is increasingly opening up to franchise. The current state of play and the differences with the USA are described by the first European Franchise Guide.The economic crisis and volcanic ash cloud have encouraged many companies to look to the benefits of video conference meetings and of cancelling conferences. Nevertheless, Swiss researchers believe face-to-face congresses are here to stay. But: new hybrid forms of congress will come into existence.The Hotel Adler Balance in South Tyrol has learned from the mistakes of the past. It has had to adjust its health programme over recent months in order to remain credible. The success has proved the owner family right. The 10 million EUR restructuring was worth it.Autumn with its full range of hotel conference is rapidly approaching. The International Hotel Conference is meanwhile well established. Again, the conference offers an interesting programme of events with charming network character. hospitalityInside.com remains media partner of the IHC.One after the other, the large chains are posting their semi-annual results, and the Germans again find exceptions for the strictest Non-Smoking Act - and more...

Dear Insiders, "We're still only at the beginning," Motel One Chief Dieter Mueller says, in spite of his company's success. Recently, he has again signed new contracts. Internationalisation is on its way. An interview on brand, strategy, locations and returns. In spite of his success, Mueller is fully aware that others are on his heals with new approaches. Letomotel, for instance – a new brand which already plans three further hotels in Munich. A room from 39 EUR, in a central big-city location – this is a war cry to other established budget providers. Again and again it's a matter of location. And a dream location is something the Baur au Lac in Zurich can offer. The Kracht family has made the grand hotel fit for the future. Read an interview with the long-term Director Michel Rey. Family management is also the secret of the Goebel Hotel's success. We present this hotel under our "Small Chains" category.Accor has reported revenues for the first-half of 2010, and Hartl Resorts again finds itself in court – and much more… - To the full editorial…

Dear Insiders, The second summer season has now begun for the new Hotel Budersand on Germany's favourite holiday island, Sylt. The 79-room hotel with golf course commanded an investment volume of some 60 million EUR, a sum which by any standards sounds ambitious. And the aim was: understatement. Those setting spa benchmarks are often much less modest. Judy Singer, our spa expert has compared international benchmark providers. Health real estate offers great market opportunities, and this is confirmed by our second summary of the Kohl& Partner workshop on this subject. Experts there looked at eight different types of health/hospitality property.The Italian market also seems to hold unlimited potential. But things there are tough. Investors seem to focus on luxury products, but there's a huge demand in Italy for a midscale segment. Also, Willy Weiland's successor at the InterContinental Berlin is announced, there are interesting background details on the sale of the Buehlerhoehe in Baden-Baden and much more… - To the full editorial…

Dear Insiders, The Swiss Franc and the Euro are currently the cause of much concern. This has now spurned the Swiss to take unique action. Hotels will now offer holiday packages in Euros! Falling guest numbers is hitting the Swiss hard. In Berlin, on the other hand, more and more guests are arriving, but the increase in bed numbers is increasing even faster. Christie + Co demands "no further rooms for Berlin!" in its latest market analysis. On the other hand, health real estate harbours massive potential. All the same, investors are hesitant. The first German workshop organised by Kohl & Partner from Austria explained the background. Today: Why cure destinations are perfect locations for health real estate.Many developments demands hybrid thinkers. These ultra-flexible and mentally versatile individuals will master the challenges and recognise the opportunities of the future. More could be learned on this type of thinker today… . The German Economy Ministers have decided to strike support for the German National Tourism Board. As a result, domestic marketing will no longer be pursued. As a result, Germany is likely to wane in the tourism perceptions of Germans themselves… We also present the programme for the hotel conference "Hospitality Industry Dialogue", which will take place on the first day of the Expo Real in October.Our colleagues from "hotelbau" today present their current edition under "Solutions"… - The full editorial.

Dear Insiders, As expected, Paris-based Accor split its hotels and services divisions into two companies this week. Accor Hotels bears the main debt burden, while the new company called Edenred resembles a cash cow in comparison. Main shareholders Eurazeo and Colony Capital remain involved in both companies - but only until January 2012. This leaves room for speculation….Accor is trying to reduce its debt by selling portfolio real estate. Despite this, the company invested in the most recent airport hotel, the Novotel Munich Airport, which opened two days ago. According to Peter Verhoeven, CEO Accor Germany, this was a strategic decision.Arco Buijs, Verhoeven’s colleague from the Netherlands, had his first official working day at Steigenberger yesterday, and the new CEO introduced himself to the press.After Carmen Riu, another woman has entered the phalanx of male CEOs around the world: Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons, promoted Kathleen Taylor to CEO. There were further staff-related changes at Swiss Deluxe Hotels and pentahotels this week.“Burnout” is a term also related to numerous half-professional services, as our editor Baerbel Schwertfeger reveals.RED-HOT NEWS: Yesterday afternoon, headlines said that the Italian Gruppo Serramarina and Kempinski Hotels are competing to become the new operator of the Schlosshotel am Woerthersee, which is still operated by Capella. But:… - To the full editorial.

Dear Insiders, Audited results 2009 for the Neue Dorint GmbH are still awaited. Nevertheless, Managing Director Michael H. Goeldner described the current situation of the hotel group. In Croatia, the hotel group Valamar would like to expand further though is failing at legal hurdles. The company has therefore branched out in other directions. In future, it will take on management of external hotels. In Munich, the Serviced Apartment specialist Derag is currently attempted to convert a building into a "zero energy house". "Increase own-production and reduce consumption!" is the motto. After three reports on social media, today's contribution brings the series to a close with reports from more cautious and critical voices. This week, there is a whole wealth of personnel changes to report on as well as the shocking news that, after Cologne, Munich too will also introduce a bed tax. - The full editorial ...

Dear Insiders, These are turbulent times. Trend researchers are now saying that it will stay like this until 2020. "Abnormal normality!" 300 guests attending the "Future Forum" of Design Hotels in Berlin heard an impressive summary of imminent societal changes. Much sounded very logical, encouraging and shocking at the same time.Changes are also brought about by social media. Today, Travel Charme Hotels speak of their experiences. Changes were also seen in the Ecole Hotelière in Lausanne – the new General Director will make amendments though will maintain the practice element at the EHL.Change between Sentido and Sensimar, however, is not in sight. Quit the opposite, the brands remain very much the same. The Thomas Cook brand Sentido presented its news and plans to the media. But everything seems so similar to TUI's Sensimar product. The question of who is copying whom has meanwhile lost its significance. In my opinion, the market doesn't need such freely exchangeable brands! Read the article and commentary.NH Hoteles will leave Buehlerhoehe near Baden-Baden. With this, a relationship which has long been fraught with tension ends rather unspectacularly. We didn't speculate on the reasons for the decision, but have spoken directly to NH and the family office of owner family Hopp.The new tool of our Solutions partner Micros Fidelio can certainly help to optimise revenues. The new OPERA revenue management system applies yield management principles and is the only tool integrated in an existing PMS. - The full editorial…