Editorial

Dear Insiders,
Finally, Accor has sold its unloved US business, Motel 6 and Studio 6. Why they never got on their feet was never clear. Will it be Sofitel that is the next to be sold? Accor's luxury child also does not want to quite prosper. It would always fit in Blackstone's boisterous hotel collection …
Today, France is in the spotlight for a second time: The new President Hollande is also allowing for tourism professionals and hoteliers to soon crash properly - e.g. by reducing winter holidays.
There was positive news from Frankfurt IMEX this week: Large events, meetings and incentives are moving to record levels again; Germany remains as a top convention destination. However: The distance between other markets is becoming smaller here and there. International guests make up almost half of all tourists. A complete success for the Germany marketers.
Additional interesting news from Austria and Switzerland and of continued funds disaster. And more. - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Events change the world: Baku in Azerbaijan will host the Eurovision Song Contest. To this end, the city has built a showcase stadium with a capacity of 20,000 people and hotels have been benefitting for months. A Rezidor GM reports on the developments in the tourism no-man's-land.
As a permanent event, Disneyland Paris celebrates its 20th birthday this year. A fun park life with both highs and lows. At present, it's again riding high and is set to go beyond that: Huge investment is about to be made - and 17,000 new hotel rooms built.
Fund initiator August Jagdfeld also wanted to ride high. The result was a rollercoaster experience with million euro investments. Now, the Public Prosecutor is investigating him for delays in filing for insolvency. A fitting contribution here comes from our author Beatrix Boutonnet who today sets out Germany's new insolvency legislation.
Where money is no object, world-class hotels like the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi can be built - with its enormous lobby and 120 types of marble in the hotel tower. The hotel is the new superlative with which the small oil-rich Abu Dhabi likes to tantalise its bigger sister, Dubai. Shame then that Jumeirah doesn't allow its dynamic and experienced director Doris Grreif to speak in facts and figures. In light of the shockingly diluted PR statements, we decided not to publish the planned Q&A interview with Doris Greif as provided.
Last but not least: For hospitalityInside, Expo Real is coming up - planning for the second hospitality joint stand is starting to take shape. The "World of Hospitality" will double in size. Should you wish to become a partner - the countdown has started. More in our news and on our front page. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
With an abundance of information and impressions, we returned from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha after two and a half weeks... When comparing these three cities, Dubai remains a magnet of superlatives with a well-developed infrastructure. Abu Dhabi is half finished, but the uncertainty about its future has doubled. In Doha, the world moves more slowly – here, sustainable plans are important and people think twice.
Various temperaments are therefore dictating the pace of development; in addition, the normal market mechanism of supply and demand is becoming effective. Since the crisis, the World Bank has been placing severe burdens on the Arabs, which ultimately hinders hotel financing.
Today, our editor in Dubai, Dania Saadi, reports about the challenges of financing, I have described the new St. Regis, Park Hyatt and Rocco Forte Hotel in Abu Dhabi as well as the dilution of the 5-star hotel industry there. Abu Dhabi is the current problem child.
However, the subject of financing has not been solved anywhere – not even in Europe. In the funds industry, the announced reverse transaction of a multi-billion SEB fund is being regarded as a final caesura in this asset class. Now, three renowned hotels are also being sold out of these funds.
The Grand Hotel Heiligendamm has finally filed for insolvency. Beatrix Boutonnet talked to the insolvency administrator.
The opening of Berlin's major airport has been postponed. This has a noticeable effect on the surrounding hotels. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
In the US, the hotel industry nearly reached the profit level of 2007. Finally good news from the west!
The same applies to many countries in Europe; however, every new hotel project is being eyed very suspiciously here. Our correspondent from Austria, Fred Fettner, observed the development in Salzburg more closely.
At the same time, Fettner examines the Austrian job market and its shifts. Experts are desperately needed. "Human resources are an important issue on the Arabian Travel Market," wrote our Editor-in-Chief from Dubai. Fittingly, Marriott provided its "digitalised" human resources concept from there.
In this issue, you will find a first report from Maria Puetz-Willems from the Middle East: During the tourism trade show in Dubai, it became obvious that the individual Gulf states and emirates want to have their own profiles – even conservative Emirates like Shajrah. Dubai shines again, but Abu Dhabi seems close to a depression. New among the large players is Qatar. The small albeit very rich Emirate mainly plans an international expansion in the hotel industry – also in Europe.
Our correspondent from the Middle East, Dania Saadi, provides detailed figures on the individual hotel markets in the entire Middle East and Africa. There are more losers than winners. Maria will bring home a lot of input from her visits in Doha, Abu Dhabi und Dubai. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
The entire hotel genre has recently experienced unimagined competition. New online portals such as wimdu, airbnb or 9flats are more successful than ever at marketing unconventional forms of accommodation. In Germany's capital, Berlin, the many apartments offering short-term accommodation for tourists are not only beginning to bother neighbours, but have also attracted the attention of the German Hotel Association.
Meanwhile, Romana Kanzian analyses why hotel industry in Croatia does not make any progress: Still today, around 50 percent of overnight stays are counted by private providers who are anxious not to lose business in future.
The guest, the unknown creature, stands at the core of this edition. Despite all technological progress, even hotel chains still don't appear to know exactly how their guests find their way into their hotels. This was the finding of a sobering and surprising survey conducted by our editorial team.
It's even more satisfying then to find that some real estate funds have not lost faith in the hotel. Beatrix Boutonnet took a look and found investors who gave good reasons for their investments in the hotel industry.
Other topics to be found in this edition include travel trends, revenues and campaigns by Swiss Deluxe Hotels and staff changes. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
Is there a credit crunch now or not? The assessments are different, but everyone is feeling the bottleneck in financing. Beatrix Boutonnet has questioned banks, real estate experts and loan mediators.
Accor first introduced their new, global programme "Planet 21" in Paris and then in Berlin afterwards. Again, the hotel pioneer in sustainability leads the way.
Romantik Hotels & Restaurants may proudly look back on 40 years. It was brought to life by private hoteliers as one of the first answers to the advancement of the international chains within the country. Today, more than 200 members in 12 countries of Europe benefit from many common activities for revenue and brand awareness increases.
The consortia have recognised its opportunities, as Preferred Hotels. They are consistently developing their brands orientated toward new target groups such as gays and multi-generation travellers - and want to bring in 300 properties per brand! This equates to the ambition of global chains.
In the meantime, they have flocked around so many brands and concepts that the coming years may bring about some clearing out within. As it is, Marriott announced the sale of ExecuStay. Matching with this, STR Global just delivered the brand new "global hotel inventory". Subdued economic news from Switzerland is reaching us during these days: Three leading hotels/hotel groups are suffering from the strength of the franc, as their annual reports 2011 show. The outlook in boomtown New York is precipitating quite differently. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Since the turmoil in the Arab world, North Africa and the Middle East have become the new great unknowns for hotel developers and investors. They are faced by considerable problems in making their decisions. Their views and assessments on the current hotel situation in the Arab countries have been summarised this week by hospitalityInside correspondent Dania Saadi in Dubai and Editor-in-Chief Maria Puetz-Willems. They visited the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference and the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. One conclusion: The hospitality industry in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and also Qatar is set to benefit from the instable states. The development in China and its consequences on western tourism forms the second focus of this edition. Know-how on the correct way to deal with China has been secured by the Spanish hotel group Sol Meliá with a joint venture deal with its Chinese counterpart Jin Jiang. In Switzerland, the Victoria-Jungfrau Collection has also raised attention. A hotel was sold, and the director carousel turns.Further personal profiles as well as news on marketing, development and finance…Relexa Hotels are heading towards new Serenata technology, focussing on CRM and clients. Sales manager Tim Zerr explains. Click on "Solutions". - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
Six Senses is to be broken up. An American capital company has acquired the pioneer whose visions have changed the industry and which sensitively combined ecology with economics and design. Hopefully the new shareholders will leave Six Senses its basis - its "senses".
HolidayCheck can also be accused of a similar lack of sensitivity: The portal is currently hoping for glamorous PR effects by odd topics like "disgusting hotel pools".
An employee has also challenged the wording of his work reference. The phrase in question was "he/she always tried to meet expectations". The German Federal Labour Court held in the employer's favour.
Looking to find new friends and provide jobs is Worldhotelbook - a new social network exclusively for the hotel industry.
Students speaking at the end of the discussion round "War for Talent" at the "ITB Hospitality Day" criticised the lack of perspectives and unclear statements from employers. hospitalityInside ends reporting on the ITB hotel conference with a summary of this debate - text and video summary. All articles and links will remain on the "network" page in future and are accessible for everybody.
In the next three editions, my colleague Susanne Stauss will welcome you here. In this time, I will look for news in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
Lehman Brothers, owner of The Setai Hotel Miami arrived at the hotel with armed security guards and police officers and threw out operator GHM... An incredible scene, at least as GHM describes it. The other side tells a completely different story. Recently "surprising" owner decisions abound. Yet this one would be a more aggressive one.
By contrast, the story with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has real entertainment value: They want to invest in a resort in Croatia. Wow! It would be pure advertising gold for the small country.
Where the celebs go, security is generally tight. And security will become the new "standard" in the travel industry, as the talk round from the ITB hotel conference shows. For the written summary or the video web, click on the "ITB Hospitality Day" banner on our homepage.
The article on Switzerland makes sobering reading: Current statistics show the increasing displacement of businesses by ever larger brand hotels. A profound structural change in the country.
And in the news of this week: Choice Europe and Germany, Moevenpick and Warimpex have posted their results for 2011. - The full editorial…
The hospitalityInside team wishes you a Happy Easter!

Dear Insiders,
Meanwhile in Vienna, the talk rounds over the hotel situation are piling up just the same as in some German cities. Large operators are coming, but there are no draught horses in the budget and luxury segments. Beyond that however, experts warned in a discussion group that there are also many other hot irons.
There are challenges everywhere, likewise in Oman: The Six Senses hideaway Zighy Bay and the Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan in Muscat are considered as archetype hotels, but must nevertheless work on their positioning.
And communication also belongs among this. If this, as in the case of the Branded Serviced Residences, fails miserably, one must pose the question as an author/reader of whether this profit-promising segment is not overrated and whether its makers know what they are doing.
Fitting in with this is our summary of the "ITB Hospitality Day" discussion about brands: While Interbrand reproached the hotel industry with absolute interchangeability, the self-assured discussed this further: Brands define themselves after niches and target groups. Our summary in text and the link to the video – is accessible to all users. Simply click on the Hospitality Day banner on our homepage.

As the news surrounding McDreams, aloft and the news mix indicates, there is movement once again within the budget and midscale brands. Rezidor has published its commercial figures for 2011 and there have also been a few changes in the international trade show landscape. Top news from yesterday: The Hopp familiy kicked out Four Seasons in the French Provence. - The full editorial…