Editorial

Dear Insiders,
"Big Data" swarms around us every second; but, how does one deal with it? The hotel industry does not know how to yet. Data Specialist Michael Toedt reckons: The position of the marketing manager must be re-evaluated. Or employ one's own data specialist? Once more, this discussion over data management shows that the hotel of the future will only seemingly have something to do with the hospitality.
The rapid developments in IT have made the concepts of the young, fresh Dormero hotels possible in the first place, but now the paths of developer Aleksej Leunov and the Woehrl family have separated. Apparently there are discrepancies; the new generation is taking over.
Already knew this? In 2012, 40 percent of the Swiss 5-star hotels belonged to foreign investors. What families had frequently built up over generations has moved into the international real estate business.
Austria in festival fever: The large festivals bring in millions, but the small pop festivals and rural events often fill the beds without anyone giving them a thank you or the millions in revenue being made public. In any event, this field involves a great deal of revenue potential for hotels.
The infinite history of the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm goes on; there are still no regulated conditions. Consulting and broker companies report that hotel real estate transactions in EMEA and Austria in the first half-year were very active. Also, investors are in a good mood.
There are not only problems, but also positives. A good week!

Dear Insiders,
After ibis and Pullman, Accor is now also cleaning its large pool of non-standardised midscale hotels, Mercure. The new images indeed promise a new familiar experience, yet Mercure's European Chief Volkmar Pfaff is unable to speak of the costs for the franchisee…
Accor will break with the purely functional anonymous hotel and moves with the flow and the general wave of emotion. The "Freitagshappen" which Nassauer Hof Wiesbaden and hospitalityInside held a week ago in Wiesbaden for the third time, picked up on this theme indirectly. A small, exclusive circle of participants discussed how much anonymity the hotel industry can bear.
In China, anonymity is not guaranteed. Quite the opposite: The new President of the People's Republic has moved against luxury indulgence and corruption - and with his new provisions promotes denunciation by the people. Luxury hotels will suffer here just like the smallest florist.
In terms of sustainability, Swissôtel trusts in loyal cooperation with its staff, and that worldwide. Intensive and individual training sessions are intended to prevent the concept being applied in a simple "copy-paste" manner in different countries.
Our press releases include interesting personalia and information on the new pan-European performance report.
And last but not least: The registration period for the joint stand "World of Hospitality" at Expo Real in October officially ends today. Global chains - Choice, LFPI, Kempinski, Marriott, Wyndham - and other hospitality players give this year's stand a new class. The stand itself remains flexible in its planning: Anyone wishing to jump on board "last minute", should get in touch as soon as possible. For details see HOME. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Today, luxury hotels face competition from areas which no longer have anything to do with the classic accommodation industry. Here too, the internet is the motor behind such changes. Macy Marvel presents a few examples.
Again and again, the questions arises: What is luxury? The experience from day-to-day travel reveals that there's luxury and there‘s luxury. For this reason, we have asked Peninsula Hotels and Waldorf Astoria the same concrete questions in order to find out what they offer and how they set themselves apart from the competition. Who performed better in this comparison? Read for yourself.
Convincing the guest that simple is luxuriant is a challenge for the Austrians. They feel that nature and simple food represent huge potential for international marketing, at the same time, they must explain why more must be spent for the "less is more" motto. Observations from the fringes of the new trade fair ATBexperience.
REITs are now not to be treated like funds. This topic is sober but valuable knowledge for all those active in investment. Beatrix Boutonnet explains the recently published BaFin guidance.
And among this week's news: Marriott revitalises its Marriott brand, the Austrian Verkehrsbuero Group is touching up its brands and creating the "Good Morning Master" as well as the Cypriot Thanos Hotels report how they're doing after the banking crisis. - The full editorial ...

Dear Insiders,
The 1,000-room New York Hilton Midtown Hotel has just done away with its room service. Guests now have a buffet at their disposal. Colleagues at Sheraton and Marriott understand the move: This hotel service isn't convincing, it's not a cash cow. The background to the headline.
Now there's an index - for luxury brands. It weights brands in accordance with their internet search requests. After studying this ranking, I ask myself what it tells us. After all, search requests can be controlled.
In Qatar, the national hotel company Katara Hospitality attempts to strengthen its profile as operator. Its hotels have up to now been operated almost exclusively by international chains. New COO Christopher Knable thinks about introducing an own new hotel brand.
In Germany, hotels currently seem to be among the investors' darlings. Industry metrics are rising and private equity and institutional investors are taking interest. Special hotel funds are also being set up. But there's still a but: finance. Two talk rounds focused on the current situation.
We also include a number of interesting personnel changes today.

Dear Insiders,
The Turkish investment conference CATHIC took place in the newly renovated Marmara Hotel on Taksim Square and ended on the evening before the first demonstration in Istanbul. 24 hours later, tear gas bombs were exploding in front of the hotel door. Hoteliers and travelers report.
The long-looming Islamic swing of the Turkish government has been a lasting cause of concern for hotel developers and operators. Various of my interview partners have long viewed an investment in Istanbul as "risk capital", despite gigantic growth figures from the city and the country. Some doubt the "sustainability" of Turkey's economic performance. Observations on "risk capital" and new hotels in Istanbul.
Spanish hoteliers also don't have an easy life: In the 6th year of the economic crisis, RevPAR is now falling drastically, and the Spanish government is now trying to kick start the real estate market by statute. Time for bargains? Our guest author Carlos Bardavio from Hogan Lovells in Madrid summarises the legal changes.
At Lake Tegern, Bavaria, the second Lanserhof resort is about to start, a sister property of the renowned health resort in Lans/Innsbruck, Austria. The luxurious hideaway on the green field fights burnout: 70 rooms have been built for more than 50 million Euro.
From the local to the global perspective: An article on the first Think Tank of the World Tourism Forum in Lucerne shows the noble targets of tourism experts together with a list of their objectives. Tourism must change quickly and fundamentally, tourism veteran Geoffrey Lipman demands.
Istanbul, the Spanish crisis and the floods all show today who and what threatens the hotel industry. You can only shake your head here about the Ukrainian investor who three years ago, presumably for reasons of prestige, acquired the legendary Buehlerhoehe near Baden Baden in Germany, only to allow it to deteriorate and now fall into open decline. According to media reports, power and water supply have already been cut as bills haven't been paid. Yet this only as a note on the fringe, lest we forget the home-grown problems alongside the big challenges.
The ITB Berlin and its press release comes right on time here: Holiday is good for your health! Happiness research has confirmed this. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Amsterdam steps on the gas: In 2007, the city administration decided to develop approximately 9,000 new hotel rooms by 2015. This has now been nearly achieved. Entire Amsterdam districts are developing into hotel magnets.
All students today also wish to step on the gas and so the Generation Y unabashedly confesses that everything moves too slowly for them, that today's managers do not understand them and that they all want to become a CEO. An internationally-occupied discussion round at the 3rd World Tourism Forum in Lucerne once again aggravated this picture. The hotel veterans on the panel, Reto Wittwer among them, hit the brakes. An article accessible for all readers, to find on our start page.
The topic of the younger generation remains hot: After we described the HDV push for the new stamp of quality "Excellent Training" last week, this association might be pleased about the current news from the political: The SPD wants check up on the suitability of educational institutions, among other things.
Media have only an indirect influence on your day-to-day hotellife, dear readers, and it is indeed important to know how the opinion makers themselves to change. Futurologists from the Horx establishment have composed a study on the "Future of the Media" and we have balanced it out with a practically-oriented summary from the "Media Summit" in Berlin on the subject of print and online.
Although a buyer for the insolvent Grandhotel Heiligendamm has just been found this week, its founder, August Jagdfeld, already wants to open another new resort near by. A summary of the recent Jagdfeld show. And things are continuing to heat up behind the doors of the Parkhotel Bremen … - The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Germany is apparently the most attractive business travel and MICE market in Europe. Detailed figures presented this week at the IMEX reflect this. The segment is booming, also due to Germany's economic power.
There are many responsible people in companies who know when they must declare themselves in difficult times: So at least as I feel with the decision by the organiser Thomas Cook in wishing to also support its Sentido and Smartline hotel brands in the future through lease contracts and loans. Finally, a tour operator is moving toward responsibility.
25hours is also a courageous company with its niche concepts. Now with a big party, they have celebrated the enlarged hotel in Vienna and CEO Christoph Hoffmann has explained why when an armchair crashes down underneath a guest, it belongs among the risk ... A short, symbolic interview about the unconventional.
The German Association of Hotel General Managers likewise proves courage with the announcement of a seal of quality for excellent education. What, however, does a single certificate bring and why is there no concerted action with the remaining, far more high-powered associations?
From the news: In the future, the Global Hotel Alliance will also take up smaller luxury hotel groups under a White Label; and the very last word regarding the new operator at the Parkhotel Bremen will be spoken next week.
I will prepare my many-faceted experiences and conversations from Dubai and Doha that I had over the last two weeks for you in the course of the next issues. For today, enjoy reading! – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Action is again on the cards in Arabia. Even the rulers of the smaller Emirates want a hotel jewel, and the international players offer them every brand. The global chains are now concentrating on spreading their brands in the Middle East, in the Emirates as well as in more important countries. The desire for luxury combined with the desire for expansion - won't that end in a price war across the desert sands?
Other battles are being had by the major shareholders of Accor and the new Board Chairman of TUI. Accor CEO Denis Hennequin has had to go, though asset light stays. Just how this will effect the strong German market together with the austerity drive from Paris is explained by German Managing Director Michael Muecke.
Hefty savings are also to be made by TUI. Board Chairman Friedrich Joussen is introducing massive changes in the tour operator's hotel strategy. And "Mr. Hotel" Karl F. Pojer has had to say goodbye to his beloved hotels. One thing is clear here: The cost structure of the Robinson Clubs is too high. In 2012, the creators of this brand were celebrated as "Hotelier of the Year", a respected industry award in Germany.
How do you win the battle for qualified employees? Employers are polishing their image! Hotel companies are meanwhile digging deep into their pockets for quality seals - and are noting some thoroughly positive effects.
In Frankfurt meanwhile, the Qube has opened - the first German hotel for the Chinese, a baby born of the partnership between the Spanish Meliá Hotels and the Chinese developer Greenland. Steigenberger, on the other hand, prefers to expand at home for the time being, in Stuttgart with a third hotel. The Thai Banyan Tree Hotels are having a similar experience. It too is currently expanding mainly in Asia and the Middle East; Europe remains difficult, though still in focus.
Also more news and trends, for instance on international travel expenses and the preferences of German golden agers. Enjoy! – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Quite a bit is moving again in Dubai: Editor-in-Chief Maria Puetz-Willems and our correspondent, Dania Saadi, were on the road again for you… The destination is developing with giant strides and several superlatives were again announced at the 20th "Arabian Travel Market". However, all of this no longer sounds as obsessed from long before.
Only one is imposing: How government, airlines and hotels work together on a large goal. At the same time, they always have a surprise ready: Now Dubai police is also driving Lamborghini and Aston Martin …
Austrian resorts are also working on new concepts: They are creating new luxury suites and luxury chalets, but prefer a quiet, sensitive luxury – combined with "old values" like friendship and nature.
Meanwhile, global participation, mergers and cooperations continue to increase. Far East Orchard from Singapore concluded a joint venture with the Australian Toga Group and Spanish NH Hoteles has finally brought home the rescuing participation of the Chinese hotel group, HNA.
Steigenberger has published balance sheet numbers for the first time since the takeover by the Egyptian Hamed El Chiaty, additional brief news leads, among other things, to illegal guest houses in France and to Four Seasons in Vienna. An issue that resembles a miniature journey around the world …
The new contribution on our publically accessible microsite "Solutions" also fits excellently: PEP offers are as popular as ever. "meinpep", begun in September, 2012, exclusively allows staff members from the tourism and hotel industry an inexpensive holiday: There are discounts on flights and hotel overnight stays. "meinpep", by the way, was also a co-exhibitor at the ITB "World of Hospitality" joint stand this year. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
There's luxury and there's luxury. The uppermost segment of the hotel industry contains both standardised 5-star chain hotels and individual luxury providers. Presently, local grandees are coming face to face with the global players. Vienna currently provides a good example of this trend, and cries there for better differentiation in the luxury segment are now becoming louder.
Overloading in the top segment is, however, nothing new: In rapidly growing markets like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, work has been done on better differentiation for two years already. The luxury chaos shows one thing: Standard classifications are useless because they're too weak.
Following the opening of Ritz-Carlton and Kempinski, my colleague, Romana Kanzian, takes a look at Vienna's top hotel segment and two weeks ago in Lucerne, I spoke to Kempinski CEO Reto Wittwer on his own self-imposed luxury limits and new lighthouse project. He predicts: "At some point, there'll be a Ritz-Carlton too much."
The Vienna article shows how competition in the luxury segment is weighing on the 4 and 3-star category. At least this is what the CEO of Revpar Guru found on the US market. We give a few tips on how this dangerous downgrading can be avoided.
Positive news from the funds front: AIFM regulation is becoming ever more precise. Special funds, many of which invest in hotels, have now been given the reprieve. And the Austrians are attempting to attract young hoteliers into taking on family businesses with cash injections. Also, Accor is now also pushing its individual MGallery brand in German-speaking Europe, and Swissôtel definitely goes East.
In the next two weeks, my colleague Susanne Stauss will welcome you here as I make my annual trip to Dubai and Doha. – The full editorial …