Editorial

Dear Insiders, what is a lease generally still worth? After the bustle around the Dorint/InterConti in Berlin and Duesseldorf Jones Lang LaSalle tries to answer this question today. Motel One will remain loyal to the lease contract as Philipp Westermann explains - even with the expansion now beginning beyond the German-speaking realm. The strategy of the next time. The online intermediaries seem to have based their strategy on the hope, among other things, that the hotel industry, itself, will never be one. This and more became clear with a discussion about rate parity at the HSMA "Pricing & Distribution Day". Today, we will conclude our insight into the expansion strategies of various hotel groups in the Middle East and Africa with the Arabian Rotana Hotel Group. Excitement: The judgment of a Rhineland-Palatine court a few days ago explained the bed tax as being legal. In addition, a study confirms the trend toward mobile commerce and an investor's survey sees rosy ROI in the sky again … - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Helplessness at the HSMA "Pricing & Distribution Day" this week: The speed and the price pressure in distribution weighs heavily on hoteliers. Yet the event did not reveal any sympathy for their burden. Almost all speakers made clear that hoteliers had lost control of rates and content through their own fault. And now there's Google - the spectre with mega announcements...An interview with Worldhotels also sits well with our distribution focus this week. The group is pressing quickly ahead with tailor-made activities for members and with the acquisition of "own" brand hotels. The first hotels bearing the name "Worldhotel" are already appearing.In Arabia and Africa, Wyndham Hotels is also thinking hard about which countries it plans to expand into. The Americans want to bring their top brand and their budget brand into the region.Four weeks ago, the labour market opened in eight EU states. Austria, a country with many EU neighbours, expected a flood of workers, though later determined: Many workers coming from Eastern Europe have already worked in Austria under seasonal contracts.And other news: Sol Meliá will change its name, Kempinski acquires a hotel from Vienna International, in Qatar a Matterhorn is to be built, and JLL has merged with King Sturge...Also, take a look at our "Solutions" section this week: Even Micros-Fidelio can't escape the grip of social media either and develops solutions which follow consumer types: The "point of sale" becomes the "point of service" here. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, It has been a lively news week in Germany: Once again, InterConti moves into the InterConti in Berlin and Duesseldorf and the Neue Dorint GmbH allegedly collects millions. One day later in Munich, the Schoerghuber Group and Arabella described their new arrangements with Starwood Hotels. The joint-venture that existed since 1998 exists no more. The type of the communication of both events shows how the relationships of the parties are structured: Dorint rigorously throws out every journalist's inquiry, IHG is ready for communication. All sides publish their own, uncoordinated press releases. Quite different in contrast is the coordinated appearance of Schoerghuber/Arabella and Starwood…The IMEX in Frankfurt showed: MICE business takes up travel once again. That is proved by results of a study and the discussions about new trends with various hotel groups. Today and in the next two issues, we introduce two international hotel groups and an Arabian one who must re-think their expansion in the Middle East and Africa anew. Arabian new-comers are noticing quickly: This part of the world cannot be lumped together just the same as in Europe! - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha make up the new dynamic desert trio in the Middle East. Dubai will still provide the best infrastructure and most glamorous lifestyle in the next few years, but the two other emirates are the ones to set the economy in motion again. Our “Middle East news mix” lists hotel projects in detail.Accor Middle East shows how important it is for operators to take a detailed look at the individual markets. A talk with COO Charlie Langlais and Chief Developer Christian Karaoglanian.However, Eastern Europe also has a lot of potential. Christian Kettliltz, the new CEO of Mamaison Hotels from Prague, talks about the boutique hotel group and the CEE countries.Mamaison is also thinking about joining affiliations: Mats Carlbaeck of Goeteborg University has done some research on the benefits of affiliations.The decision of the French hotel association on crowning the best 5-star hotels by calling them “Palace” is definitely a unique marketing move. Palaces are highly popular everywhere in the world, such as in India, where The Claridges Hotels are expanding in this particular niche. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Two weeks in Dubai have again provided interesting insights… The crisis is still hurting: loans are short in supply and securing finance takes an awful lot of time. The slump in the real estate market has also made banks extremely cautious. Our correspondent Dania Saadi has summarised statements and fears.In Europe's saturated hotel market, there's good news from Zurich: The city can support an additional 44 hotels, a study claims.Investors as well as hotel operators should consider their goals and room for manoeuvre well ahead of negotiations. The continued and increasingly intense pokering surrounding the ex-InterConti in Berlin as well as the ex-Shangri-La in Vienna provides a good example. Snapshot of the week.The Spanish NH Hoteles could soon show Chinese touches. The group has just sold 20% of its stock to the Far East.Much has also been written about Portugal and its financial woes. The small Tivoli Hotels, however, are performing well in their niche. This and more, peppered with interesting personalia, in today's edition… - The full editorial.

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

Dear Insiders, The economic crisis has also changed master plans and business in Eastern Europe. A discussion on the ITB "Hospitality Day" showed the different stages of development of Romania, Russia, Croatia and Poland. More under "Network". Even with the USP "historic hotel", owners often have serious problems with castles and stately homes - especially concerning their size. This was clear from conversations at the first pan-European meeting of the "Historic Hotels of Europe". Branded hotels did better through the economic crisis than independent hotels. A comparison of figures. Our legal expert today explains the reasoning behind the judgement resulting in the reinstatement of supermarket cashier "Emmely" after her dismissal for "bottle deposit theft". We also have a selection of further news. Last but not least a little reminder: The deadline for registrations to the workshop "Spa Investment" for investors, planners and hoteliers closes on 2 May. Details on the starting page. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Growth/profit and sustainability do not fit together. The reality is bitter, despite all good arguments. At the 2nd World Tourism Forum in Lucerne last week, many researchers and only a few leaders discussed the global problem. An initial summary.Many hotel chains have committed themselves to “CSR”, but it still massively lacks group-wide realisation. This is the result of an analysis and a ranking of European consumer protection associations.Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the delicate blossoms in Eastern Europe. Here, initial international chains are discovering the hotel market – focussed on the capital of Sarajevo.What does the supermarket checkout lady who embezzled bottle deposit receipts worth 1.30 euros have to do with the hotel industry? Quite a bit, from an employer’s perspective. Both proceedings and judgment in this case about a “trifle” bring up far-reaching implications for every company. Our legal expert and employers’ lawyer Joachim Jungbluth explains the entire issue.Furthermore, there are colourful bits of news again today, among them a highly interesting news about the probable call-off of the Sheraton project at Berlin Central Station.A small and qualified group already signed in for our workshop "Investment in Spas". Would you like to join us? Deadline for your registration is May 2, 2011. The details - please see our start page or the "Health" column inside the magazine.Next week, my colleague Susanne Stauss will be welcoming you, as I will be looking around in Dubai and the Emirates as every year around this time… - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Operators will again have to pay to get good contracts. This was the prevailing opinion in an IHIF discussion on alternative forms of finance. Even Starwood has had to explain much more than usual to its investors through the crisis, CEO Frits van Paasschen says. He gave an interview at the ITB and spoke about the company and the market. And in order to gain the trust of the banks, Axel Mehn did his homework. And it paid off: The expansion of the 3-star brand acomhotels is progressing quickly and with top partners, without problems with finance. The hotel business is certainly not getting any easier though: Distribution is claiming more time and skill. Part of this is social media, also in connection with search engines and booking portals. In the ITB talk round at the 6th Hospitality Day in Berlin, two hotel representatives criticised TripAdvisor and Google. The summary - click on the ITB logo on the start page. By clicking on the Cornell headline today, you can also catch a glimpse of the Cornell/EHL reception during the ITB. And last but not least, we would like to draw your attention to the hospitality joint stand at the commercial real estate trade fair Expo Real in October: The deadline for registrations is fast approaching! Interested companies can still benefit from top conditions and trade fair advantages. – The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Dorint didn't manage to present a successor for the former InterConti Hotels in Berlin and Duesseldorf. As a result, some media have pounced on every rumour and also partly report incorrect facts. Today, we look at the circumstances and the players a little closer - at the Ebertz funds.Multi-culti Berlin is always good for a headline: Now, former party animals have themselves begun to complain of mass tourism and all-night noise in the city centre. The German capital and its tourism dream/nightmare.From the new Waldorf Astoria the first photo of the mock-up room is available. It reminds me of lots of things, but not of the Waldorf Astoria in New York.Future researchers gave tips at the ITB how hoteliers may overcome the next few years: By providing an absolutely individual super service! Everything will become even more sophisticating. The summary of the ITB Hospitality Day speech on "Hotels 2020" can be accessed by everyone under "Network". Or click on the ITB banner.Owners of the Historic Hotels of Europe are mostly quite a way away from the competition battles faced by business hotels and from IT-controlled management. They are still hosts in the best sense of the word. Nevertheless, the dynamic environment is also challenging them. About the first European summit in St. Moritz: Click on the HHE banner on our start page.And also, our social media column on the virtual effect of the soya latte macchiato and a further smattering of news. - The full editorial…