Editorial

Dear Insiders,
Large chains such as Accor are pushing forward with the implementation of the new ibis brand in their second most important market, Germany, and presented the new style in Berlin last week; in Paris, the Asian serviced apartment giant Ascott has launched a suite version for its Citadines brand, and in Germany, the mini budget design chain prizeotel is expanding - and with New York star designer Karim Rashid at its side.
The hotel world produced some colourful stories this week and such movements show just how "limitless" actions within the hotel industry now are - irrespective of geography or size.
Remaining operative and competitive is also the aim of the fund sector. Last week the German Ministry of Finance published details on the revised AIFM draft – the summary.
Without real estate there would be none or certainly many fewer asset managers: Just how their role in relation to owners and operators is to be viewed is set out in the summary reports from two talk rounds. Should asset managers meddle in operations? Kempinski Board Member Markus Semer knows three types of asset manager: the wife of the investor, the consultant with the Excel table and the professional with competence team …
About real estate: At B&B Hotels, the sale of over 160 hotels completed this week and prospective buyers have already registered their interest for the InterConti Hamburg, which filed for insolvency two weeks ago. Apart from that: German tour operators have posted record results, and the Austrians want to establish a network for hotels with electric charging stations.
I would also like to draw your attention to the 2nd joint stand "World of Hospitality" at the world's largest tourism fair, the ITB, in March 2013. Hotel groups, suppliers and services providers are welcome as partners to our stand in Hall 9. Further information on page 1! – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
He is one of the real estate angels: the young Austrian billionaire René Benko, investor of the Hyatt Hotel Vienna, among others. But now he has been convicted of corruption in a totally different matter. He has filed an appeal, but once again the hotel industry and its image have received an undeserved negative grazing shot due to such incidents.
The Austrian leisure hotel manager is experiencing a similar trend right now. Today, we report about the new financing twists: those looking for loans have to offer rooms, almost exclusively – dreams of great spas are bursting like bubbles.
"Stealth Luxury" is about concealed and discreetly hidden luxury. The term describes a new style of consumption of the rich who spend thousands on wooden bikes or on limited edition watches. Those who are familiar with the "codes" of these rich kids are able to make money as well.
While trend issues always catch the spotlight, the EU legislature has switched off the light for light bulbs this fall. Energy-efficient solutions have to be found. A factual article in today's issue reveals what these might look like.
From the news: Orient-Express announced a new CEO and still rejects the offer by The Indian Hotels to acquire shares; German Solutions Holding expands by means of takeover of Horwath HTL Austria; the real estate industry sighs with relief because of the publicly announced draft of the AIFM Directive – and much more.
The starting flag for the next ITB has dropped: The HospitalityInside joint stand is planned once again at the same place in the "Hotel" Hall 9. Partners are welcome. A mix of service providers, suppliers and hotel groups is targeted. Talk to us! - The full editorial ... 

Dear Insiders,
The last week was driven by pitiless decision-makers, skilful tacticians and criminal desires: In Hamburg, the InterConti owner has applied for insolvency. On the other hand, the argumentative funds initiator August Jagdfeld suns himself in the early contract extension for the Adlon Kempinski in Berlin. In Paris, Relais & Châteaux has officially expressed itself for the first time on the - persistent - fraud of the former president, and organiser Thomas Cook is almost frantically attempting to sharpen the profile and sales of their new or newly modified hotel brands. Meanwhile, the hotels in New York and New Jersey are still battling with the results of hurricane Sandy.
The tone in the scene is becoming visibly rougher. Meanwhile we have been reporting almost regularly about breaches of agreement, cancellations, expulsions and hard disputes.
It is also such turbulence and massive pressure that allows CEOs like Kurt Ritter to submit their final resignation. Rezidor's "Power Package" is shifting back. And he looks back today.
Leases have also always been a worry factor for Rezidor, but does one fare better with franchises? Grand City, RIMC, Choice and Jung & Schleicher Solicitors discussed the tricky triangle between owners, tenants and franchisees at Expo Real four weeks ago.
The A&O Hotels and Hostels strategies are also ultimately aiming at an increase in ownerships. CEO Oliver Winter describes the mind-set of the successful supplier with 12,113 beds in 3,942 rooms.
Austria expects revenues and overnight figures at a record height for this winter. Skiing remains the mainspring of the winter business, but the investment desire in the funicular business outside the centres is decreasing in parallel – to the lowest investment status in twelve years. This dampens the euphoria. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Not all sustainability projects are yet considered as worthy of financing … And as a result, our subjects today move around capital and sustainability. In Austria, electric cars at holiday locations have become a topic. Tourism experts from Werfenweng near Salzburg and Seefeld report on their experiences and plans with eCars. Here, the "green" guest is the engine behind it all.
In the matter of sustainable hotels, Siemens Financial Services is a driving force. The Siemens subsidiary has discovered a lever to make investments in sustainable hotel operations easier for global chains: Through two different contract variations.
IHG belongs among the pioneers within the sustainability-focused hotel chains. However, their present programme "Green Engage" helps persons in need worldwide through the "IHG Shelter Funds". It is the human touch of the programme alongside the rock-hard figures concerning energy conservation and staff training.
It is the voracity for capital by the fund initiators from Heiligendamm that is leading to the fact that the investors are now decisively coming away empty-handed. The insolvency administrator on the current status after the rumours of the last week.
Perhaps August Jagdfeld should first test any additional projects through Crowdfunding. Then, the Internet Community would presumably tell him what they think of his concepts from the beginning. Today, the second part of this contribution regarding alternative financing introduces solid financing portals.
From the news: The Swiss hotel industry will retain its decreased VAT rate, the fifth ITB Asia is registering record growth, and in Duesseldorf the third "Apartment Camp" is coming up. – The full editorial ...

Dear Insiders,
The Expo Real discussion on finance last week demonstrated one thing: hotel operators and investors hardly adjust their strategies at all to new framework conditions and banks are setting their own yardsticks. At points, it sounded as if the parties would never again come together. The discussion was stimulated by a British key note.
Finance alternatives are therefore in demand. Quite independently of the current discussions, we present the first of two contributions on the topic of "crowd funding" today: If you can raise enthusiasm for your concept on the Internet, it is obviously possible to raise any amount of money, from thousands to millions.
News from Austria fit in here too. The Austrian Hotel Association OEHV again has its finger on the pulse of the times: It has initiated a tourism bond as alternative form of hotel finance. By contrast, Heiligendamm in Germany has little hope: Despite interest from investors, a decision on the future of the insolvent luxury real estate has still not been reached.
The Rilano Hotel 24/7 Munich City is one of those stylish limited service hotels with live-DJ at the check-in, 3D TV and Breakfast Bento Box that can be booked simply online. Such stories of still "unknown" brands are likely to abound in future.
A note for all "Cornelians": At the end of next week, the German chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society will meet in Leipzig.
Last news last night: Indian conglomerate Tata Group made an unsolicited offer via its subsidiary Indian Hotels Co. to buy out the remaining 93.1% of luxury hotel company Orient-Express Hotels that it does not already control ...
Another service for you after the Expo Real: As of today, texts and banners link to videos on our YouTube channel "The Hospitality TV" and are freely accessible on our page 1. Partners at the "World of Hospitality" joint stand speak on the subjects affecting them. Send your business partners the interesting links or add a link on your website! We have also prepared impressions from our networking event "BRICKS & BRAINS". Enjoy! – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
In the fifth year of the crisis after the Lehman crash in 2008 the general mood at the Expo Real this week was extremely positive. The real estate industry has no desire for more frustration! And this is also valid in the special real estate area of hotels.
The hotel groups, consultants and service providers of the joint stand "World of Hospitality" experienced two very busy trade show days and many, open as well as very concrete and constructive talks took place. We specifically asked them and other hotel colleagues at the Expo Real about their assessments on the subject of financing. The first statements.
Of course, we also asked the 14 partners of the joint stand about their opinion of the trade show and the stand itself. Although this year was only the second time that the stand was there, it has developed – and this time clearly obvious - into a bustling meeting point for the entire industry. hospitalityInside, as an initiator of the stand, is very pleased about the great resonance, the positive feedback of the co-exhibitors and the words of thanks that have reached us up to now! "World of Hospitality" will gain further meaning at Expo Real.
From the talk rounds of the very well attended hotel conference, we have summarised the subject "Development without limits" for you. Moreover, you can still find various real estate-related news, personnel details and rumours. Other reports will follow next week.
Of course, we also still have other subjects today: The new Treugast "Investment Ranking" for Germany and Austria, Accor's concepts on the subject of sustainability as the third contribution within the scope of our series, the new HRS quality seal, and interesting personnel details. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
The commercial real estate and investment fair, Expo Real, is just around the corner - and it defies every crisis: With 1,700 exhibitors, the fair is five percent larger than last year. From Monday, hospitality experts will also meet in Munich at the joint stand "World of Hospitality", at the networking event "Bricks&Brains" and during the hotel conference "Hospitality Industry Dialogue". We look forward to this year's meetings as the market conditions for hotels are hardly rosy.
This is underlined by the second part of our consultant survey on finance: Bank lending requirements are not only onerous, but more onerous than ever before.
Consequently, investors like the Qataris are very sought after. Media reports have increasingly misused this name recently: Wherever luxury hotels are up for sale, the glamorous name Qatari Diar has immediately been thrown into the ring. hospitalityInside does things differently: We met with CEO Hamed Al Mulla personally in the very modest headquarters of Katara Hospitality in Doha and discussed the global hotel strategy of the company. The result is, as I see it, a much clearer picture than that provided by much of what was has been published up to now, including insider figures.
As a supplement to this interview - in anticipation of the hotel "explosion" in Qatar prior to the Soccer World Championship in 2022 - a background report on the tightened Qatari hotel classification.
In Central Europe, investors and operators are still tuning costs and concepts. A trend can be discerned to further "brand clusters". Hilton, Accor and Ramada/H2 are good examples here.
In Paris, Hilton is faced with being thrown out, as recently reported, and in Prague the same fate faces Rocco Forte. Crisis talks are underway.
Prior to the Expo Real, there are also a few personnel changes in the pipeline and comprehensive news on a new investment and management company recently established in Munich.
Three days before the Expo Real, we today publish our SPECIAL, a bilingual supplement as print and eMagazine. Click on the banner on our page 1. Print versions of the SPECIAL will also be available in hotels of Motel One and Derag Living in Munich. Alternatively, you can collect your copy from the "World of Hospitality" joint stand or at the hotel conference.
Until Monday at the Expo Real! Or read about our activities and trade fair meetings with colleagues next Friday. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Rezidor's management has provided headlines twice this week: From 2013, Chef Developer, Puneet Chhatwal, will become the new Steigenberger CEO while at the same time, COO, Wolfgang M. Neumann, will move into CEO. Kurt Ritter is going into retirement – after 35 years with the company and 23 years as a CEO. We have reported on both in "Breaking News", but, for the sake of thoroughness, the new is reiterated today. An interview with Kurt Ritter will follow shortly, Puneet Chhatwal is still asking for "protection".
The subject of financing should be handled ruthlessly. The focus today: Read here, the first part of a large survey among eleven consultants and how they assess the situation in the market and the behaviour of the banks.
Moreover, my colleague, Susanne Stauss, has asked two bankers and two consultants about what mistakes hoteliers are making in financing and last but not least, a consultant has enumerated to us five partially hair-raising examples of practises in the matter of financing that have lied and cheated. A real titbit!
Additionally worth reading today is a small contribution about the launch by Peninsula Hotels of new room technology and new resort plans. According to COO, Peter Borer, these rooms will become "the most customized rooms in the world". And pentahotels has also now clearly split its organisation into real estate and hotel operations in Europe. – The full editorial …

Dear Insiders,
Because of the competitive pressure in the budget market, Accor has now started the renovations of its hotels all over the world at high speed. The formerly bare, functional budget accommodation is to turn into a "social meeting point," including lounge, bar– and: more service! CEO Denis Hennequin and Grégoire Champetier, Head of Marketing, explained what they have achieved so far after one year of re-branding and spoke about further plans and costs in Paris on Monday. However, a vague irritation remains in the logic of the Ibis brand.
In a study carried out in 5 countries, the Lausanne Hotel Management School and Rate Tiger discovered a change of trend in the way of thinking concerning sales: the hotel managers focus on direct sales and even on the good-old offline sales! Social media are now only second choice.
The associations of the real estate industry are fighting against the new AIFM Directive so that the investors will still have a choice in future; the German Federal Ministry of Finance presented the draft in July. Now, the associations have to submit suggestions for improvements under high time pressure. Even banks do not understand why open-ended funds should be prohibited in future.
The news: Rezidor gave away the Regent Hotels brand first, now the brand is being further developed anyway. Starwood Hotels announces the first Element Hotel in Europe at Frankfurt airport. And STR Global predicts continued hard times in the Italian hotel market based on its current analysis. – The full editorial…

Dear Insiders,
Premium locations are expensive and few and far between. Secondary locations by contrast are available and affordable - and capable of generating equivalent returns. 13 hotel chains state which criteria they use for B and C locations in Germany.
Vienna and its multi-cultural hotel landscape has repeatedly featured in our articles recently. My colleague Romana Kanzian takes another look at this trend today: by the stylish create 25hours concept and by Urbanauts: 3 young architects who buy and rent individual rooms. That's right, single rooms in different buildings. They call it, a "decentral hotel".
Investors and operators looking to expand in Africa focus less of creativity and more on sober framework conditions: Two articles today look at the potential of African capital cities as well as international chains's appetite for expansion.
Today's edition is full of facts & figures and tables. Use our research as the basis for more intense dialogue. You are the insiders! We look forward to your feedback and viewpoints.
And other news: Las Vegas Sands will build the first "EuroVegas" in Madrid; the Oetker Collection sees synergies between the new Caribbean resort and other locations; and the personnel carousel continues to spin in renowned hotels. – The full editorial…