Dear Insiders,

Today, we take a look at testing methods: spitting, swabbing, sampling. And we certainly won't be picking our noses in boredom. The Austrians are already committed to large-scale testing, with success. Every second hotel would set up its own test corridor. In the meantime the government has allowed all companies to have their own test corridors.

Without testing and vaccination, there will be no more travel and normal daily life. That's for sure. Switzerland has also given priority to testing; the canton of Graubünden has launched a major pilot for 20,000 people.

And the Germans? Now that the government has announced that it will allow rapid and self-testing on a large scale from 1 March, the authorities are already complaining about their next logistics problem.

Fred Fettner looked at the Austrian successes and the next plans, Macy Marvel concentrated on pandemic measures in Switzerland - in conversation with Andreas Züllig, President of Hotelleriesuisse. "The Swiss way is the right way," Züllig stated with complete conviction. The Swiss hoteliers I interviewed gave the association good marks, but they all described the snails-pace approach of politicians as disastrous. Financial support has not been available to hotel groups there either, but open hotels and white slopes make guests happy. They just want to get out of the doldrums, no one complains about restrictions, spa registrations and mask checks.

Without foreign tourists, Austria is lost; and it's a similar story in other countries. That is why the borders must stay open, the virus must be fought and the political interventions must be corrected!

Wide awake and legally versed entrepreneurs like Dirk Iserlohe obviously notice tiny legislative changes faster than entire industry associations. He noticed that the German Ministry of Economic Affairs was not using EU funds correctly and in full. The Germans have been applying the wrong EU provision thus far it seems: Brussels has not set down limits for Bridging Aid III - but rather Germany is keeping the lid on things! This really is scandalous. It means that fewer companies will benefit from aid that they are absolutely entitled to receive.

An insubstantial mistake with substantial consequences? The Ministry of Economics has already - quietly at least - reacted, as Iserlohe found out yesterday through a call at top EU level: Berlin has retrospectively removed the caps for November and December - but not yet publicly announced the move. So why isn't that also available from January 2021?

We are not the only ones watching politics today, others are too: A scientific study undertaken by the TU Berlin is able to show clearly why a restaurant is not a virus hotbed. And the latest protest action by 19 Sylt hoteliers and colleagues shows just how urgent things are: They have established their own - functioning - "Corona" app and have started building rapid tests... If the next wave comes, it won't be the fault of such entrepreneurs.

Hyatt, Marriott and Scandic are of course struggling with corona, as their 2020 results show, but the rest of our reports on real estate, markets, digital and robotics trends contain as little corona as possible.

Hang in there, ask questions, follow up! It's vital for survival.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Everybody is silent. They are agonising over the most recent interim aids, quietly checking how much is left on their accounts and fear daily for their existence. The associations utter a few words of outrage, but otherwise? Have any measures been taken? Any fighting back? Are they getting loud? Yesterday, a tourism politician asked me, why no one in Berlin knew the important hotel groups and the brains behind them.

To make sure the industry is heard again, I spontaneously interviewed Dirk Iserlohe, as he talks plainly after the most recent disaster called Ueberbrueckungshilfe III interim aid: The failure of the current entrepreneurs is expected... We are collateral damage ... We have been tricked, he accuses politicians. Read the crisp interview on our page 1 and please share it with your friends and opponents in politics.

Almost every conversation I've had in the past three weeks began or ended with the phrase: "I don’t want anymore, either." Not only do these words express the nerve-wracking tension of entrepreneurs, but above all they show the desire for a real, honest roadmap. Governments are not giving hoteliers an opening perspective because they lack all practical reference. Therefore, even after 12 months, they still don't know which aids truly help hoteliers.

The other way round, as professional hosts, you know very well how to implement the health rules – they have been well-prepared for a long time. Now they just need quick test runs. You should demand them! They are the only way out of the rigour and into controlled mobility. Lifestyle hotel variety, food and drinks are, after all, part of well-being in our lives, not just haircuts.

The analyses of 2020 from a tourism and hotel perspective are reflected in several news today – concrete figures and comparisons included. This spring will be an even bigger drama than the one in 2020.

To cheer you up today, we've got a few crazy wellness trends from the US as well as an interesting article on the upcoming initial virtual ITB in Berlin. Who will "be going"? As always, there are the convinced visitors, but there are also many who shy away from the anonymity and high prices attached to an online presence. The world's largest tourism trade show is turning into the world's largest PR event. Because the format is not suitable for serious business. The first ITB on screen is currently the biggest experiment in global tourism marketing.

It is essential to save tourism in 2021. This is the cause taken up by Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs, Europe's largest leisure provider. It is right, as the company also wants to save its 45,800 holiday apartments and homes from the home-made financial crisis. Franck Gervais, formerly Accor, is to clear the 350 million euro mountain of debt. Sarah Douag delved deep into the strategy so far.

Dear hoteliers, if you continue to be silent, you will continue not to be taken seriously and you will be tricked. Today is Friday. Let yourself be inspired and re-think your own role in the market and how you want to make sure the industry will speak with a louder voice in the future.

And finally, something new on our page 1: Loss of turnover in the pandemic makes rent and lease payments an ongoing issue. The contracting parties have to negotiate solutions. For a free initial assessment from a legal perspective, the lawyers of the Munich law firm GvW Graf von Westphalen have created a tool with which you can check your rent and lease reductions online. Launch the banner here on our homepage.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Israel and Dubai are on their way back to everyday life, thanks to extensive vaccination efforts. Sylvie Konzack kept her ears open there and recognises: Rapid tests are likewise an important part on the path towards a revitalised economy. But the truth is also this: "Everyone follows the rules without discussions," says an Austrian citizen in Dubai.

In Central Europe, testing still remains a difficult topic at the moment. But why? I was really annoyed when I listened to an economist this week who showed that every nation-wide planned and consequently carried out testing strategy would only cost a fraction of the 750-billion-euro structure package drafted by the EU.

And even worse: If one sticks to the current strategy, a new third lockdown could loom after Easter. The Institute for the German Economy supports the test strategy: otherwise a week of standstill like the first lockdown will cost the German economy ten billion euros per week.

But who thinks about the population? For two weeks now, plans about a "No-Covid strategy" or "Zero Covid strategy" have been circulating in Germany: in the end, these are all plans to gradually reactivate the currently closed industries. What happens? Three federal states join in – and all of them define their own incidence thresholds. Again, there is ZERO consensus. Therefore, we will have 16 different models in the 16 federal states soon. The state premiers are repeating their mistakes from the accommodation ban, which, last October, led to hysteria, trade fair cancellations and the next lockdown – and the lockdown is still in place to this very day. Virus eats brain.

Therefore, I prefer stalwart CEOs. They seemingly have to be born with foresight and a change in thinking in order to lead their hotel groups out of the crisis. "We all have to think in new ways," says Stefan Leser, CEO of the Asian Langham Hospitality Group for two years now. So far, the group has always been profitable and has started a shopping spree in the middle of the crisis: Europe is a white spot on Langham's map. However, luxury can only be maintained with good staff members. Therefore, Leser commutes between hardware and software and asks himself – and his colleagues – in the luxury segment self-critically: "Did the hotel fulfil its purpose or did we only sugarcoat it?"

Today's edition sways between various perspectives: Amongst others, travellers reveal where they want to travel to this year in Europe; and by way of contrast to that, individual countries sway back and forth between opening and closing, following the motto: Do we travel to Italy or France to go to the hairdresser?

Whether travellers are going to leave classical booking channels à la Booking.com for the benefit of local channels remains unclear after analysing a platform and asking two experts. In any case, the holiday hotels are preparing themselves – therefore, Falkensteiner presents a new family-only hotel in South Tyrol whose features include an all-year "ski slope" that spreads out across the building's entire roof! A new superlative and super expensive.

And we sway back again to the sobriety of everyday life. A new ruling of the Regional Court of Munich again creates different precedents than the last ruling: In future, operators are to save up huge reserves and finance every crisis themselves.

It simply remains amusing. Like in kindergarten.

On our own behalf: Preparations for Expo Real 2021 have begun. Those who would like to exhibit at the World of Hospitality joint stand should apply for their requirements now. The registration is preliminary and only used to determine the space requirements. Contact Michael Willems and Anne Greisel please.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Individual countries are already in the process of closing their borders – and this time the airports as well. The virus mutations must stay out. And even more so as there is not enough vaccine anywhere. Particularly not in the chaos of Germany. We are about to lose our good image.

The mismanagement of the pandemic, however, does not keep people from thinking intensely about travelling as analyses show – even after the horrors of 2020, which caused 11 times more damage to tourism than the Lehman crash in 2009.

At this new brink of panic it is about time to think in a radical way. To rethink. How should we deal with our clingy friend Covid? How can we live freely again? 13 experts and consultants have developed a NO-Covid strategy, for Angela Merkel. The goal: Pushing incidences to ZERO and creating virus-free zones – "green zones” – closed off and rigorously controlled, of course, "only" for a few weeks ...

The idea sounds convincing and the Chancellor thinks it's a good one, too. But will it be well received in the midst of the misery? Amid the struggle for survival of hotels whose coffers are empty? And at the emotional low point of the people who are psychologically at the end of their tether after more than three months? We have shed light on it and Professor Christian Buer comments.

And promptly, another federal state comes around the corner with its own anti-Covid method. Schleswig-Holstein is pushing ahead and would already declare a city or a region "green” at an incidence of 35. These ego trips are really unbearable.

When will Germany finally come to a national solution? When will the EU finally come to a uniform one? The USA and China are big enough to recover from their own domestic market. But for Central Europe, it is all about the EU, including Switzerland. If you block the borders, you block the domestic economy and kill yourself. Actionism over ratio, the mistakes repeat themselves after 12 months.

We’re providing some help today. Apart from uniformity, you can fight the virus with technology: with high-performance filters, reliable quick tests, with tags that can detect virus spread in gastro/hotel rooms. There are innovations that even politicians haven't heard about yet. We explain why these are so important and introduce you to three inventions – available for all to read in front of our paywall. Because this knowledge counts NOW and should be used.

Sarah Douag has intensively analysed the consequences Brexit will have for the hotel industry. At the moment, Covid-19 is drawing all the attention, but hotel managers need to look across the Thames and the Channel towards Europe. Risks and opportunities are apparent. Wyndham, IHG, Colliers and others on post-Brexit travel.

Our news mostly revolve around the EU subsidies for the large, affiliated companies, which the EU even topped up yesterday afternoon. German hotel managers are nevertheless reticent. Switzerland was also happy about more aid, but just as much about a changed test strategy that should lead out of the crisis.

HospitalityInside, like many people and hoteliers, hopes for more relaxed months that allow personal contacts again. That is why we are pushing our Think Tank from June to 13/14 September. Since the Corona requirements limit a presence on our previous event ship in Berlin, we have decided on Munich! "On land" we can welcome up to 50 people physically under Corona conditions - and the whole world virtually as well!

Please note the date and the topic: SUSTAINABILITY & DIGITALISATION: THE CHANGE DRIVERS. The Decade of Action: How Sustainability leads the agenda, how Digitalisation enables it. I am sure: This topic fits fantastically into this year! Detailed information coming soon.

Keep reading HospitalityInside! It's worth it.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

The reckoning with politics in the article by Alexander Fitz of H-Hotels last Friday was followed by many comments, also on LinkedIn. Nonetheless, there are still people who discredit hoteliers as cry-babies. Today, we will provide these people with a few facts – not from a hotel operator, but from hotel investor Dr. Joerg Haas from Bonn, who himself owns 5 hotels, 12 catering businesses, 2 conference centres and 5 fitness studios. His group is also suffering massively. Therefore, he decided to disclose every single failed measure using his own company’s figures.

His disastrous experience with the financial aids is symbolic of all major groups and companies. It is a disaster that could well be used as a blueprint for a Netflix show … After all, this disaster turns 2020 from a 5-million-euro profit into a 16-million-euro loss for Haas' Invite Group.

We will publish this article in front of the paywall today, as we want these figures to be etched on the memories of incompetent politicians. Please distribute this article across all your channels, particularly to the representative in your constituency who will soon cross your path and encounter your unemployed former staff members on the street.

In our article on the lockdown extensions in Germany and Austria, we will take another look at the financial aids that will once again fail to save any larger group or company. Small, debt-free family hotels will likely survive thanks to corona aids while the internationally competitive, high-quality, creative and professional city hotel sector is dangling over the precipice. After all, medium-sized and large chains are still those who accommodate the majority of corporate travellers and MICE visitors!

Central Europe should watch out: Other countries are already overtaking the region. In Dubai, Emirates Airlines has already vaccinated the crews this week; two hotel groups have also already vaccinated their employees and family members. They are getting their vaccinations done in record-time – because they want to enable travel again. They go for BUSINESS!

And what about big Germany? Complains and keeps on babbling. Economically, Central Europe will fall massively behind, even in comparison to smaller but more decisive and purposefully acting countries. Competition is now being decided via vaccination strategies.

Today, Richard Adam, who is known as a very critical tourism expert to our readers, is holding up the mirror to the cumbersome and sated destination managers: "Shutdown of the old marketing" simply is a must-read.

Concerning Kempinski Hotels, I cannot give you much news five weeks after the dismissal of the CEO: The lawyers are currently preoccupied with the era of Martin Smura. It remains exciting.

With these reports and other colourful news about the market, we say goodbye until next week, the last one in January. At the end of January in 2020, the first Covid-19 cases emerged in Italy.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

For those who work, the comfortable part of lockdown is already over. All the statements in today's edition point in the same direction: 2021 will be a turbulent year. The buzzwords will be known to you from the headline bombardments: Mutations, vaccines, lockdown extensions, immigration rules... We dig deeper, asking 15 CEOs and top executives from leading chains and smaller groups what demands they have made of policymakers in the current corona mess. Many responded succinctly in imperatives, others expressed frustration in longer statements.

To give you all little foretaste, check out the freely available article on our page 1: Alexander Fitz, CEO of H-Hotels, has sharp criticism for unfair lockdowns, November lies, zero financial aid as well as for ignorant and incompetent politicians. He talks of complete political failure.

The others also speak plainly in our magazine article: "Politicians should finally keep their promises," Motel One demands. "Set clear rules!" demands Premier Inn. Falkensteiner wants antigen testing... The lists of demands are long, the justifications sharp. The comments reflect the chaos surrounding the management of the pandemic.

Fitz packs it into this comparison: "On 27 December, we finally received EUR 10,000 as a down payment for the November aid promised. That's just EUR 83.45 less than the monthly salary of a member of the Bundestag."

Incompetence will become visible - in insolvencies. Our specialist lawyers, who were reluctant to sound the alarm in October, now leave no doubt that even large groups are on very thin ice. Why? The government's law reforms have only increased the confusion. The lockdown continues mercilessly, but the financial support payments promised have not yet been made. This will now drive insolvencies. And it's not me saying that, it's the lawyers!

Vienna House, our exclusive today, has already hit the emergency stop: CEO Rupert Simoner will sell 22 lease hotels to a German and an Austrian hotel investor and operator: High debts would deprive the group of any flexibility and creativity for the next few years.

If there is one "consolation" for frustrated German hoteliers, it is to look to neighbouring European countries. The update from our correspondents for Italy, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands and France really is depressing. In hard-pressed Italy, politicians offer tax giveaways in an era of zero revenues... Barcelona, meanwhile, expects 30% of its hotels to close for good... Read what's happened since Christmas.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel has once again become an awful lot longer. Our only hope of coming through it is the vaccine.

In all the corona misery this week, at least the impeachment of Donald Trump was a silver lining - an omen that every form of evil can be defeated.

Given such reality dramas, HospitalityInside, at least, is more motivated than ever to do its bit in battling the fake news in 2021. We prefer to talk to you directly and not through the Dark Net.

And I also had a "conversation" with my fellow editor-in-chief Andrew Sangster from Hotel Analyst: Listen in to our podcast about Brexit and the virus. Here’s the direct link!

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

The lockdown in large parts of Europe over Christmas and New Year will go unnoticed by many: They will sleep, go on walks, and try to forget. Fresh air helps to reduce stress hormones just as body tapping regulates the emotions. These are just two tips from a psychologist who tells executives today how to manage their stress levels in the wake of corona. Bärbel Schwertfeger, who interviewed her, is also a psychology graduate.

Satya Anand, President EMEA at Marriott since November, has been feeling more relaxed since the vaccine was announced: "People will travel again in June," he's convinced. He remains an optimist, even if the pandemic has placed the world's largest hotel chain before existential challenges. But business continues, with rigorous cost adjustments and small successes in operations, all step by step.

Airbnb meanwhile appears to have seven-league boots on. The IPO last week put the company's market capitalisation at USD 100 billion. The share is valued higher than that of Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt combined. The company is today worth billions, but it still has nothing in the bank. That really is crazy. And if that's not enough, stock market "analysts" are stylising the bloated mattress company as tourism's saviour, as Sarah Doug reports.

It's always worth taking a closer look: A lawyer sheds light on the announced change in the law as regards Germany statutory rules on interference with the basis of the business transaction. The amendment finally promises German tenants/leaseholders more rights in discussions with owners. Italian hoteliers would like similar recognition of their hardships - and are also calling for government to recognise their plight. Hoteliers on the Canary Islands see few prospects and little more in the way of a helping hand from the state: They give up and consign the winter season to the dustbin.

The state is not always the perfect solution. And so hoteliers report why they - unlike Novum Hospitality - do not want a loan from the German economic stabilisation fund. They demand solid compensation: But the government has not indicated on the new "vouchers" for further extended aid programmes which it has carefully placed under the Christmas tree when exactly they may be redeemed.

Accordingly, many people's nerves are being strained towards the end of the year. In the emotional ups and downs, hoteliers soberly comment on their chances of survival. Others plan further court action: After the Federal Constitutional Court rejected the arguments of six hoteliers alleging unlawful violations of basic rights, Rolf Seelige-Steinhoff, hotel entrepreneur from Usedom, and his colleagues are now set to issue further claims before the lower courts.

Only in the Serviced Apartment world is there light on the horizon, just as the EU tries to rein in the internet giants.

A lot of comments, sober as well as emotional, were received this week for our coverage of Kempinski Hotels since our reporting last Friday and via Breaking News on Monday. It feels good when quality journalism is appreciated. It provides a boost for 2021.

HospitalityInside will stay true to its line, will seek out the debate and bring creative and open minds together. For your calendar: Our HITT Think Tank 2021 will take place on 21/22 June, as a virtual/hybrid event, this time focusing on "Digitalisation & Sustainability". In addition, a number of new projects are already well under way.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them," said Albert Einstein. We agree. We simply think afresh, together with you. And trust in the future.

Dear Readers, Dear Business Partners - we thank you very much for 2020 - for everything. Stay healthy!

We’ll be back in the New Year with our first edition of 2021 on 15 January. The office will be open from 11 January.


Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
& the entire hospitalityInside team

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Exhausted hoteliers, wailing employees, helpless CFOs and exasperated CEOs... Financial aid is still not forthcoming and now, in December, salaries can no longer be paid in time for Christmas. These are the images that now pop up. Ten months after the first infections, the virus is cutting swathes through society - medically, mentally and in very real terms. At the same time, everyone expects the first wave of economic deaths. But these statistics won’t be beamed into our living rooms. After all, there will be no graves to be dug for them.

Lockdown, lockdown, lock them down... The chaotic strategies pursued by governments have now fallen into a rhythm: Christmas, New Year's Eve, skiing and family visits are all off the agenda. Curfews are to hold the virus away from the Christmas tree. And if infection rates skyrocket again after that. What then? Lockdown number four?

A Paris court has rejected the reopening of restaurants and cafés after using data from a study in the US to evaluate cases in France. A scandal. On 14 December, restaurant owners are set to fill the streets in protest. Dutch hoteliers meanwhile talk about being held hostage, Sarah Douag writes, following the latest decisions there. And in Italy the government is restricting almost all movement from now until 15 January. The Italians don't even dare to rebel, says Massimiliano Sarti. Corona has worn them down.

We've 10 months of experience with the pandemic now, and it is time to hand over responsibility to the citizen, comments Ingo Peters today, Director of Fairmont Vier Jahreszeiten Hamburg, quoted in our article about luxury hotel groups under corona. During the four summer months, he generated super revenues. After Christmas, he will shut up the iconic hotel on Hamburg’s Alster lake, at least until the end of January. And all completely without prospect: "I feel like I've had limbs removed."

Marc Dardenne, COO of the Accor Luxury Division, to which Fairmont belongs, is also feeling the the ups and downs of closures - across all countries. Only Food & Beverage, spas and passionate service can help to achieve short-term success... He wants his GMs to think like entrepreneurs.

The road to success for luxury hotels is still rocky and long, as well as for conference hotels that will be left waiting for MICE business to return for some time yet. Yoram Biton, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, speaks openly today about the challenges he faces with over 80 hotels in the classic midscale and upscale segment. Intense communication with customers can save room rates. With owners he can become stubborn: He refuses to accept mere deferrals of rent - at least that’s what he says. And because politicians don’t help, he has taken his fate into his own hands.

Kempinski Hotels’ path is not the easiest either. The expansion, announced with great fanfare recently, has run into trouble, and according to our information, CEO Martin Smura must rescind the deal with strategic partner 12.18. At the same time, he wants to manage three top Dorint hotels in future. But even that has its pitfalls. We have background information on the headlines and on the silent changes.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

This Sunday is St. Nicholas Day; the day when children in Germany expect to receive chocolate in their shoes. But not in day nurseries. This year, Santa will not be allowed to visit. At least not from outside. His role is to be played by the teaching assistant ... At least this is the practical suggestion from Bavaria’s Minister of Family Affairs. The children will certainly have their laughs.

The British entertainer Underbelly is innovative. He offers Santa visits by Zoom. On 23 and 24 December, a maximum of six children can talk to Santa Claus for 12 minutes. The elves send the recording afterwards. The experience costs GBP 42 or EUR 46. For an 8-hour working day, that’s GBP 1,680 or EUR 1,860. Holy Christmas!

I have another idea: What if... all over the EU, restaurateurs and hoteliers will reopen their restaurants and hotel rooms on 17 January 2021? This is the plan Dutch restaurateurs have set themselves. "We have nothing to lose," they complain in frustration and make a clear demand from government: If you want 100% closure, then you provide 100% help!

Sarah Douag today describes the industry’s misery and the political chaos in Benelux. We also provide you with an update on the situation in France and Switzerland, as well as the icy tug-of-war around skiing in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The Swiss also stand strong: They quite simply refuse to allow any interference from other countries in their winter sports, which they want to maintain.

The industry is falling noticeably into depression: The November state aids promised in Germany may not be made until January. Until then, many more businesses will be bankrupt. The latest survey from Hotelleriesuisse shows: The number of those who are exposed to an ever-increasing risk of insolvency is increasing significantly.

The Christmas drama has begun for business. Hopefully the first, positive decision from Germany’s Constitutional Court will be delivered in time for under the Christmas tree.

Our corona reports summarise the developments, as they do every week. But today we also have articles with a different focus: Adagio CEO Karim Malak brings us news and current developments from the Aparthotel Group, owned by Accor and Pierre & Vacances. Accor itself has announced a new website and section for exclusive villas, just as its upscale and luxury brands will in future carry the addition "Living". Certainly, more and more chains are jumping on the Serviced Apartment and Living waggon; the various examples we bring you today already indicate where the next price war may take place.

A study points the way to the MICE World 2021 and our "Digi News" describe, among other things, robotaxis and self-cleaning door handles. Choice appoints a CEO for Europe - a first. An investment firm wants to promote innovative operators, good. And hoteliers on the Canary Islands are making their empty rooms available to migrants. Others in the industry want to stop this; they fear for the sector’s reputation.

For the hotel and tourism industry this year, it won't be a time of tranquillity, peace and goodwill over Christmas. Just screams from the silence.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Now that a number of European countries have announced precisely what experiments they'll be conducting with their respective populations over the Christmas and winter period - though they call it "strategy" - we have asked large hotel groups and consortia in Germany if they plan on opening their hotels at all or will keep them open into the New Year. Of course, there is no one uniform line. "A nice gift" it certainly isn't.

Our correspondents made enquiries in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland: The misery is fairly evenly distributed. Hoteliers and restaurateurs are pressed up against the wall everywhere. Restaurants have been forced to close almost everywhere, just like the ski resorts in the Alps. Hotels that stay open will make no money. Those looking to close will first calculate what's likely to be more: your own revenue or the promised state aid - if it ever arrives. Almost every survey ends with the finding that the money has not yet arrived and the insolvencies are consequently building up.

There is no strategy, only wild restrictions and threats: If, for example, a Bavarian decides to make a day trip and crosses the border into Austria for one day, he has to quarantine for 10 days on his return. How do they expect to check that in any reasonable way? The heads of Germany’s federal states want to keep the people in lockdown and tighten restrictions further.

The head of the Chancellor's Office, Helge Braun, even said yesterday that the lockdown could last until March... By then the first positive responses from vaccination could be seen. In Berlin, this is hardly spoken out aloud; banking on such hopes would be an admission of their own inability to manage the crisis.

At the moment, you would need a crystal ball for many things - e.g. for a forecast 2021. Analytical companies, IT professionals and revenue management experts say it works: with a focus on the essentials and in a team of man & machine.

And what worked in China should also work in Europe. Christoph Mares, COO of Mandarin Oriental Hotels, is convinced of this. He explains how the luxury hotel group has so far fought against the pandemic - among other things with a lot of creativity and flexibility. The two topics today show ways forward, give some courage.

In the constitutional state of Germany, which politicians themselves like to refer to time and again, only the third force in the state can now lift the spirits. The first seven German hoteliers have filed a complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court: They hope to have their basic right to the free exercise of their profession confirmed.

People have had enough of this government harassment, with all due respect to those who have fallen ill. The response has been anything but proportionate. And who can you now trust?

Society is changing and so is economic life. Employees are encouraged to work more from home, yet more of the 'virtual' is hardly possible. This week the ITB presented its 2021 programme: four days of constant fire on screen!

By contrast, Accor has now transferred all its loose lifestyle brands into a structured lifestyle division within the group - and from the trend city London will probably think about how to communicate this "lifestyle" to an even larger audience - virtually or in real life? In a year's time, I'll ask how many of you accidentally tipped their cocktail into the screen...

In the permanent lockdown, worlds begin to blur. With VR goggles strapped on my face I can escape any depression before it arrives by slipping off every 10 minutes to a new dream destination, visiting my Irish Pub or my Italian restaurant... From my couch, I'll embrace the whole world and kiss my many bonus points from the display of my mutated corona app. If I participate well-behaved and have collected enough social points, I will soon be allowed to travel again.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com