Editorial

Dear Readers/ Users,

She's more a media star than Hilton heiress, but the hotel group couldn't have hoped for better PR than Paris Hilton. Conrad Hilton's great granddaughter made sensational headlines after her brief appearances in German talk shows and her short but stormy trip to Munich. The blond hotel queen adds a very special glamour to the name Hilton. Reality soap as brand promotion? Typically American hype? Whatever it is, European hoteliers should, all triviality aside, take a closer look…Brand creation is one of the topics of this week's hospitalityInside. Professor Buer takes an analytical look at boring logos and more. 

The organizers of one of the first spa seminars in Berlin also ventured a comparison between Germany and North America. In the USA spas are allegedly built to be cost efficient. American investors shake their heads at the large and luxuriant spas available free of charge in Europe. 

Some advisors shake their heads too at the topic of the conversion of office buildings into hotels. Many investors and hotel owners take an all too flippant view of this topic. However, the hotel industry often sees the conversion of office buildings as the only way of opening new hotels at the best locations. The number of conversions is certainly increasing. A new trend is taking hold.

Additionally, hospitalityInside reports today about the technology and travel trends presented at the HEDNA conference last week and from a recent study about the German traveller's profile. Our creative thinker Felizitas Romeiss-Stracke takes a good look at innovation - a rare commodity on the German market. There certainly must be something true in the collective German depression. Why else would bankers and building contractors applaud an Englishman for bolstering German spirits? Sir Rocco Forte did exactly this with the laying of the foundation stone for his third German hotel. Read also his small address to "the people".

If you like this mix of researched background and news then pass on the tip. hospitalityInside is the only bilingual online hotel magazine in Europe of its kind with this special approach - and with further developments in the making, there's more to come. In the past few days hospitalityInside has established new activities and partnerships for our readers/users. Your curiosity as to what's to come in the following weeks is justified. But for the moment we're giving nothing away.

Have fun reading and surfing,

Yours,
Maria Puetz-Willems 
Editor-in-Chief


Contact me: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear User/Reader,

The mix of topics this week clearly reflects hospitalityInside's philosophy of reporting current news and background issues. The day before yesterday Sabre announced the purchase of lastminute.com, Fairmont takes over five hotels in Kenya thanks to their capital partner Kingdom Holdings and Barry Sternlicht from Starwood finally resigns.

hospitalityInside takes all that on board and continues to research further topics for hotel management independent of current dictates: Why is a medical wellness hotel successful without medicine? How exactly do sales departments keep record of figures from their Summer Specials? Our quick survey did not show sales controls at its best. And why must the IndeCorp hotel consortia rename itself after only a few years? Susanne Stauss rooted out the cause of the change yesterday.

The FIFA World Cup 2006 is on everyone's minds - a big topic in the media. Soccer fans look confused at the complicated ticket sales. "Typical German" will be on the tip of many a tongue. Just as German is the deep seated scepticism on the side of the hoteliers. Many still have a wait before they know whether the room alotments reserved years previously were realistic or not. Will the marketing model of the organisation committee - with the World Cup experienced Accor managers in the background - finally swell the coffers? Thomas Edelkamp, Managing Director of the organisation committee, reports on the state of play. Hoteliers put in their twopenneth.

All current headlines can be found in the menu listing on the left under "Current Edition". One mouse click opens the full text. But behind the articles there is more: At the foot of every text you can find many additional information links and explanations, explanatory pdf-files, links to archive articles or websites. hospitalityInside offers more than what you see at first glance.

Have a successful week, 
Maria Puetz Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Contact me: maria@hospitalityInside.com  

Dear Readers/Users,

Only a few hours ago we received two news that show how important brands are for successful hotel business. A 247-room business hotel in Rostock, first planned as Radisson SAS, whose contract with the parent company Rezidor SAS was questioned in the meantime, will open in August, after all, under the flag of the ambitious hotel company located in Brussels. The Hotel Sihlcity in Zurich, linked to RIMC in Hamburg via operator agreement, slips under the roof of the ArabellaSheraton group as franchisee in time before its opening in spring 2007. Its future name: Four Points Sihlcity by Arabella Sheraton.

Today, most investors know how important a successful operator is for the success of a hotel property. If possible, the operator should have a good brand name. That is why today`s main article examines the fascinating triangular relationship between investor, developer and operator. In addition, well-known developers of the German hotel market, investors and consultants have a chance to speak.

Besides all the news of success in the Middle East, the spectacular developments of the tourist sector in the Middle East are close to falling by the wayside in the media, despite the market`s extraordinary development in the last few years. Today, it belongs to one of the most established markets in the world.  Therefore, it is not surprising that more and more international chains and also many European consultants and developers have investors from Dubai or Abu Dhabi as partners or customers in the meantime. HVS International has thoroughly examined the Middle East markets - you will find the most important facts in this issue of hospitalityInside.com.

As is well known, next year`s upcoming FIFA World Championship 2006 is a small bright spot for the highly strained German market. At the Germany Travel Mart between April 30 and May 3, 2005, in Wiesbaden, on the occasion of an international press conference, representatives of the German tourism industry presented their programmes developed just for this fair. The impression, foreign journalists got, was probably not too positive. Lufthansa representative Claudia Huegel quite charmingly promoted the new airline "Lufthansa Private Jet", but was unable to give any price examples. The same goes for Dr Wolfgang Zoller, head of sales of Deutsche Bahn. He pointed out that the numerous offers of Deutsche Bahn would also be valid during the World Cup, but did not explain a single package in detail to interested journalists. The question of a journalist whether there are still World Cup tickets was answered as follows: "There are still tickets available; you can bid for them on the Internet today." Those people who were still wondering about this were quickly enlightened. Not only did the representative of the German Ministry of the Interior, Juergen Rollmann, declare that Germany would be safe, but he also told the journalists that there would be great efforts made to ensure that the Germans become friendlier by next year. After the launch of the service and friendliness campaign planned by the German Federation, OK-AG Tourismus-Gaesteservice and DZT, there is at least hope for "more service" at the next World Championship press conference.

Under "Current Issue" you will find all the other news and articles of this week's issue.

Have fun clicking through.

Yours Susanne Stauss
Senior Editor


Contact me: susanne@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Readers/Users,

The most interesting news reached us yesterday afternoon: Le Méridien is obviously not going to exist as an independent chain in the near future. Lehman Brothers and Starwood are getting together via a joint venture, after which the brand as well as all management and franchise agreements will go from Le Méridien to Starwood. The impact of this move reaches as far as Munich. As regards the German-speaking countries, Spain and South Africa, Starwood is the joint venture partner of ArabellaSheraton Hotels, which considerably profit from participating in the Starwood reservation system. Please read the report hot off the presses containing all the details you need to know!

The following topic is highly explosive, but not absolutely red-hot: REITs. These four letters have caused lots of confusion in the last few months. What is a real estate investment trust and why is it now becoming interesting for Germany? We have found out: it could become a fourth financing instrument for the hotel industry together with the classic financing and open/closed real estate funds. hospitalityInside has followed the path of the REIT and sheds light on its development and acceptance in the US and Europe. A lot to learn for managers and employees.

You will find background articles of this kind on a frequent basis in hospitalityInside, coupled with breaking news. Just like today: At the first European Ayurveda Congress, experts from India and even politicians from Germany – and thus German(-speaking) spa hotels as well – admonished the participants not to let the old Indian health system degenerate to an entertainment programme for leisure time purposes. They are demanding drastically stiffer admission requirements and “real” applications.

Our ears perk up at further notices with “model character” that come from the tourism sector: Lufthansa is now pressing ahead in quota selling and making business customers pay for non-used tickets. The Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement threatens with a new wave of certification. After the “Certified Business Hotels” it now plans a conference hotel certification. At the same time, the common German hotel classification has tightened its criteria for the second time since its founding.

But there is more to it than that, as you can easily see at a glance. In our left menu bar on the first page you’ll find the menu item “Current Issue”. Here, we list all the texts and articles of the new issue – and via mouse-click you’ll quickly have the chosen article in front of your eyes.

We don’t just work on our content, but also on your surfing comfort.

Until our next lively issue. Yours

Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief

Please, contact me by: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Readers/Users,

This week’s news is a potpourri of fine, small pieces of information and a few major events.

My colleague Susanne Stauss visited the most important press conference in Germany. She reports about and comments on the latest turnaround of Steigenberger Hotels, one of the last few remaining German hotel groups.

It is questionable, whether it will remain German for much longer – although Karl Anton Schattmeier, member of the board, fiercely denied this fact officially at the press conference last Tuesday in Frankfurt. hospitalityInside was the first trade magazine to write about the rumours of talks between Steigenberger and Sol Mélia. We know our sources well and are thus able to classify such denials, more than ever after the failed negotiations with the Munich-based ArabellaSheraton Hotels. In any case, Steigenberger is still sprucing up the bride. After difficult financial setbacks and the selling off of the company’s "silverware", there are suddenly 100 million euros available for renovating. It has always been the case that ugly daughters brought in less money.

An image change is also being strived for by the world’s concierges. The "key persons" in the lobby box want to play a more important role in sales and demand a measurable evaluation of their services from the management. Today’s interview with the president of the "Goldene Schluessel Deutschland" and concierge trainer Gerhard Fuchs is only the first part of the key examination of the new role of an old guild. We will continue on the subject in our next issue.

From the management news potpourri of this week: In the international city ranking of Deloitte for 2004, 13 "Europeans" are leading the RevPar comparison. Fairmont Hotels are extending their financial partnership with another REIT via a management agreement for the Sutton Palace in California. This fits in with the new strategy of the North American luxury strategists, who increasingly practice management security by means of securing capital.

A "fun-bath" study shows how strong the spa competition can become for wellness hotels through public baths in Germany. And, as an exception to the rule, a new website "fitspace", a reservation portal for hotels with fitness services, is not asking the hotel managers to pay up. An important message from the organizers: Travel giant TUI published its first catalogue on package holidays with low cost carriers.

Today, we have many different articles, while our next issue will concentrate on real estate and investment.
How about recommending hospitalityInside to others in the meanwhile?

Until next Friday,
yours Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief

Please, contact me by: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Readers/Users,

When business hotel chains dare to enter the resort business, this always stirs attention. InterContinental Hotels, that only have five city hotels of the top brand in Germany, have now opened their first resort hotel in the Bavarian Alps. However, this attracted attention in the world's headlines even before the operator was known. It is located in Berchtesgaden, next to the place where Adolf Hitler once spent his holidays.

The political opinions regarding this project diverge greatly. The managers of the medium-sized hotels nearby are annoyed to an extent because now, in the middle of this structurally weak region, an expensive luxury hotel has emerged that only a few people benefit from. Apart from that, the local hotel managers are struggling against massive competition from Austria. The Austrian top resort hotels offer an excellent price-performance ratio and are only a few kilometres away.

The InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden provokes sentiments and opinions of all kinds. We have looked at some of the facets: we will examine its positioning with respect to the Nazi history, its questionable design, its luxury spa and the mega PR campaign that is to change its image. And we have asked the InterConti headquarters about future structures of the group...

This is the main topic of this issue. Nevertheless, you, dear readers, will find a number of other interesting pieces of news and possible parallels to your own work in a hotel. How exactly does your sales department answer e-mail enquiries? Read what a "mystery check" of tourism locations has exposed. How well is your "best price" guarantee accepted by the customers? See for yourself what experience your chain colleagues have made with this instrument.

The button "Current Issue" in the left menu bar opens a short headline overview that quickly tells you what articles are new in hospitalityInside.com. Further modules for even more comfortable surfing are underway. Our "baby" is only five weeks old, after all.

Enjoy reading and surfing!

Yours Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Please, contact me by: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Readers/Users,

German hoteliers tend to say that financing is easier for their Austrian colleagues: due to OEHT, a special supporter bank for tourism businesses which grants low interest loans. Since last autumn, it has offered mezzanine capital to small and medium-sized enterprises with low equity capital. But only two businesses have profited from this so far. OEHT also has its regulations. It is no longer necessary for anybody to be envious... Our second investment-orientated subject straightens out "prejudices" too. The contracts decide on the valuation of a hotel property. The methodology is only of minor significance.

Every new issue of hospitalityInside, dear Readers and Users, focuses on new little aspects. Knowledge about financing and investments becomes increasingly important for hotel owners and managers as well as their being acquainted with the online jungle. Over and over, we would like to give you a helping hand and show you the way out of the maze.

Thus, it is even better that hotel chains like Best Western Hotels, are sharing their online know-how with you and us. This issue includes their checklist and recommendations of how to find the right provider of online reservation systems.

This and other subjects are included in our new issue: You will find articles on the new customer strategy of Amadeus e-Travel, the quality-oriented expansion of the Asian Peninsula Hotels, the plans of the up-and-coming tourism country Serbia, the changes in German congress centres and hotels as well as the latest market surveys.

Enjoy reading and surfing!

Yours Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief

Please, contact me by: maria@hospitalityInside.com 

Dear Readers/Users,

The brand will be the crucial factor in deciding about the success or downfall of a hotel group on the market. Gabriele Burgio, executive board member of the Spanish NH Hoteles, explicitly emphasized this at the Berlin Hotel Investment Forum two weeks ago. Yesterday he announced the purchase of the first hotel in London. Now, he has launched his brand new on the market.

Many, far too many hotel groups still define their brand by location presence. Few, too few think about the significance of their brand in the minds of their employees. In this way, they give away loads of motivation and turnover. This is what the research institute Maritz demonstrates in this issue: it has examined the links between brand effect and employee motivation.

Based on this, the discussion on brands becomes an issue that probes the subject area of human resources. The hotel manager is the bridge between employees and guests. But what happens if the hotel manager himself lacks motivation or even suffers from burnout syndrome? Then he needs a coach. But this topic is also touchy. Today, hospitalityInside provides a - discreet - impulse in this direction by introducing telephone coaching to you. This could become a chance for hotel managers and guests likewise. Have you ever thought about a "business" or "wellness coach" for your hotel?

Today, hospitalityInside focuses on human resources. After all, hotel business is still a "people`s business". That is something this industry shares with journalism. And this is why this young magazine introduces two further "human" columns in this issue. "V.I.P." as a synonym for encounters with "very impressive people" and "hospitalityTalk", a column which allows critical unconventional heads to speak out.

Take part; let us know what you think! Give this young medium new ideas and food for thought. There are "people" behind the scenes of this online magazine, too.

Yours Maria Puetz-Willems

Editor-in-Chief


Please write to me: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Readers/Users,

From today’s issue on, hospitalityInside.com is exclusively there for YOU – the subscribers of our online magazine. This is your chance to actively participate in building up this young portal and contribute to the issues that are brought up here! In future, we will inform you each Friday anew. You will, of course, receive breaking news immediately and via extra e-mail.

hospitalityInside is now two weeks young – so to speak, it’s still a “baby”. We will be feeding it regularly with new articles and current news and hope that it will not only gain weight quickly, but also gain in importance. Naturally we will still have to adjust and change certain things. Your ideas regarding content and structure are most welcome. Please do not hesitate to write me directly.

Bit by bit, we will open up further editorial columns or introduce completely new ones, such as “VIP” – “Very Impressive People”. As journalists, we meet quite a number of impressive people over the year, people you know superficially, but don’t know any details about. What do they like and what are their passions? What drives them to do their job the way they do it? To give you a little foretaste, I have placed two portraits of wellknown entrepreneurs I met in the past years in this new column.

With today’s issue, we also open up the people and company databases. They too will constantly be expanding. Both will only be accessible to subscribers. In addition you will find an event calendar listing the most important meetings and conferences of the industry; a link will forward you to the organizer’s websites.  

As regards current content, my colleague Susanne Stauss and I have further edited issues that were discussed at the ITB and the Hotel Investment Forum Berlin. For example, some American chains have dedicated themselves to cleaning up their home market – after all, a compliment to the standards and levels of European hotels. Please read more about this in the articles on Cendant and Best Western. We also collected interesting voices of the industry during the annual Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin.

If you like the approach of hospitalityInside.com, please recommend us to your colleagues. This magazine will only be successful if the industry is willing to back high-quality content.

We look forward to writing for YOU!

Yours Maria Puetz-Willems

Editor-in-Chief

Please write to me via: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Readers & Users,

One week ago, this new online magazine got off the ground right on time for the ITB - young, dynamic and with an ambitious goal: We want to show you that there are issues related to the hotel industry that also concern other industries, such as the investment business. hospitalityInside.com is connecting businesses that otherwise do not know much about one another... We are crossing borders regarding content as well as language - that is why our magazine is published in German and English.

But our ambition goes far beyond that, which brings me round to pointing out expressly: hospitalityInside.com is a purely editorial magazine that aims at offering you the possibility to gather extensive information. There are no excuses like "We have no space left" or "We cannot publish any critical texts because our best advertising customers are involved in this story."

Such negative developments with respect to journalism have motivated me to establish this magazine and to give you an unfiltered overview of the market. hospitalityInside is "your licence to read an unbiased statement". You are welcome to actively participate in the production of our contents! This is not an empty promise but a genuine invitation to you.

Of course this fresh online magazine is still suffering from a few technical handicaps. Here and there, we still have a bit of bumpiness while surfing. Our IT staff is trying to eliminate these uneven patches as fast as possible.

I can only say: Become a hospitalityInsider! Become a subscriber as of 25 March. That is when we unlock the entire content. People and company databases, event schedules, further services and editorial sections. They all have one thing in common: they contribute to shedding light on the hospitality industry from all sides.

Look inside! Of course, we offer corporate rates to interested firms and associations. Simply contact us via office@hospitalityinside.com or write to me personally via maria@hospitalityinside.com.

Yours Maria Puetz-Willems

Editor-in-Chief