Editorial

Dear Insiders, The disgrace for InterConti is perfect: The chain has today lost three of six InterContinental properties in Germany. As lessee, Dorint invited the press for 11 a.m. today in Berlin. The status quo of last night. Today's edition has a budget focus. We introduce two companies in "facts & figures": the Malaysian Tune Hotels with its rigorous distribution concept and the online booking platform hostelclub.com. Parallel to this, B&B reports of a new long pipeline and keen investor interest. Exactly these chains and distribution structures will compete with the medium-sized "Mom-and-Pops" hotels. Our summary of the ITB Hospitality Day talk round also explains, indirectly, why budget hotels are booming. More on clicking on the ITB banner or on networks, start page. CEOs and other executives will discuss the world's biggest problems at the 2nd World Tourism Forum Lucerne. They focus attention on sustainability in tourism. Anyone not yet having registered still can. More on clicking on the WTF banner or on networks, start page.Does each spa make profit? A one-day profitability workshop on 23 May is aimed at planners, bankers, operators, architects and developers. "Investment in spas" is organised by the renowned Rizzato Spa Consulting in collaboration with hospitalityInside. More on clicking on the spa workshop banner or on networks, start page. And remember to remind your partners! - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Expansion in Asia is good, but "good old Europe" is obviously still essential. Even the global players generate their core revenues here. And read here – there is still place for further Hilton brands in Europe. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta and his EMEA colleague Patrick Fitzgibbon about the market.Similar to the IHIF in Berlin, the mood at the MIPIM in Cannes was subdued. Only certain markets, notably Germany, are attracting interest from investors. The upwards trend was also confirmed by the recent market analysis conducted by the German Hotel Association.The low budget sector is already pushing full steam ahead. A study has illuminated growth in Germany, and the parallel talk round at the 6th "ITB Hospitality Day" at the ITB Berlin illuminated the international success. Tune Hotels, A&O and hostelclub.com gave details of business with the next budget wave.At Dorint/InterConti and Starwood/Arabella, there are still no final decisions to report on at the end of this week; so we decided to abstain from putting out a rumour. There is, however, a replacement in sight for Shangri-La in Vienna.Hotel spas have become a standard feature today. But not every hotel earns money with it. A single-day figure-focused workshop for investors, planners and operators will provide some orientation. Details under "Network". Or click on the banner "Investment in Spas" on our start page. For the first time, an Austrian hotel received the Green Building Certificate. The conversion to "Green" should pay off in the next ten years. Technology partner Siemens describes the successful example for sustainable operations on our "Solutions" microsite. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, The shadow of the Japanese disaster came down at the end of the world's biggest tourism trade show in Berlin... All together, the 45th ITB was seen as a complete success. Sold out trade show halls and approximately 170,000 visitors allowed the faces of most exhibitors to shine. Loftier in contrast, the Investment Conference at the InterContinental Berlin. A review on IHIF and ITB.The "hot shots" of the industry were up on stage, which is why we begin our post-reporting today with the CEO Panels with IHIF and ITB. The bosses at Accor, Hyatt, Carlson, Starwood, Kempinski and Grand City illustrated their perspectives and positions there.We have concisely summarised the trade show titbits and rumours of both events for you and have processed the strategic news of the large chains in separate news.For hospitalityInside as an organizer of the 6th "ITB Hospitality Day" at the ITB Berlin, the hotel conference was a great success: 1,900 visitors found their way into Hall 7.1 - 500 more than in the year before. From today, we will summarize another panel of the ITB Hospitality Day every Friday. Click on the ITB logo on our start page or go to "Network". All articles are accessible for all users. Also, our first printed Special, the hospitalityInside Special ITB, sold like hotcakes. For those who did not get a copy, it can be opened online at our start page. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, When you open this issue today, the trade-visitor days of the 45th ITB will just be coming to a close. The mood was great and the industry was almost euphoric. The halls were packed right from the beginning, and the "ITB Hospitality Day" organised by us set a new record: 1,900 attendees listened to the discussions - 35% more than last year! We were present at a number of events and talks again and will provide you with detailed reports on everything – on the ITB itself, the hotel conference, and the investment conference early this week.Today: In Doha, Qatar, a modern city quarter is being created based on old tradition – a completely new approach to city and hotel development. In London, our architecture and design specialist took a close look at another mega investment: the famous Savoy after its 260 million euro renovation.Compared to this, German Welcome Hotels are a very modest group convincing by a solid step-by-step expansion. Two weeks ago, the group captured the first major city, opening its 15th hotel. Further major cities will follow.Wellness Hotels Deutschland also trusts in virgin soil: it offers health trips supported by health insurances via its new partner Premedion.In addition to that, we have a colourful range of news, some of them fresh from ITB. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, In one week's time, we'll know more above whether the positive mood felt up to now remains and whether the sector has managed to translate this into good business: The 45th ITB is around the corner! The hospitalityInside team won't be far away. You will certainly find us on Thursday in hall 7.1b/auditorium London for the "ITB Hospitality Day".There, you can take your own copy of the "hospitalityInside SPECIAL ITB 2011", hot off the press. Those not attending the ITB can find the online version of the special on our homepage in the next days. We will also provide comprehensive reporting of each round of the conference under our "Network" section, accessible to all our readers. Before the ITB, the International Hotel Investment Conference will take place. Our team will also hopefully be able to bring you exiting news from this event. So we'll see each other in Berlin!Today's topics: As of this year, GfK will also assess hotel bookings made by tour operators. In light of social media and hotel review platforms at the ITB, it is surprising to hear that even large chains still support hotel stars - but preferably the EU hotelstars. Europe puts a lot in perspective – also in an analysis on hotel density in Austria. Swiss are in the process of establishing a new hotel group: Starling Hotels. The former Leading front man, Jean Jacques Gauer, is behind the move.Our colleagues at "hotelbau" also today present topics from their new publication - click on "Solutions" to view these. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Social media is hip – but is it also credible? Today, social media hotelier Marco Nussbaum and Markus Luthe, head of the German Hotel Association, are analysing the potential risks and opportunities of Google, TripAdvisor, Facebook and the networking between search engines and hotel evaluation platforms. In another article today, we watch the American hotel evaluation portal TripAdvisor and its plans for Europe.Whether all these parties will be friends forever because of the linking will hopefully be revealed at the respective talk at the 6th "ITB Hospitality Day". More information by clicking on the ITB logo on our home page.The subject of "closed funds" is much more rational today. Their financial volume is twice as large as the entire gold reserves of Germany. Now, they are getting stronger again.In Spain, NH-CEO Gabriele Burgio was surprisingly dismissed this week. Is he the victim of a shareholder, similar to Gilles Pélisson at Accor? Since Tuesday, everybody has been caught up in turmoil in Vienna upon learning the news of Shangri-La's withdrawal from the agreement two months before the hotel opening. The background details. Last Saturday, Kempinski put on an impressive show with its "Career Day" when more than 1,000 external applicants met in Munich. In the background, the personnel carousel is turning again. Once more, social media: As customers continue to include social media in their decision-making process, companies must keep pace with them. Today, Micros-Fidelio focuses on this issue by presenting solutions regarding distribution - please, click on "Solutions". An exciting issue today, full of details... - The full editorial.

Dear Insiders, A perfectly renovated building, but a big flop as hotel investment: how long can Heiligendamm still be kept? Reduction of capital, reduction of value, several millions of new capital needed – these key words alone show the new dimension of this scandal. In contrast, the nhow Hotel in Berlin seems to become a success story – as soon as one gets used to its shrill design. After Madrid, NH Hoteles courageously set foot in Berlin. Best Western "Premier" – tested in Germany and now considered good for the US. In return, the Americans transfer the Best Western "Plus" brand to Europe. But where is the differentiation? These days, several chains are presenting their positive balance sheets and company results for 2010: Marriott and IHG, Hospitality Alliance, and Ringhotels. Kempinski and Grand City Hotels also want growth. At the "CEO Panel" during the "ITB Hospitality Day" hotel conference, the CEOs of both chains, Reto Wittwer and Christian Windfuhr, will explain their strategies. Worth listening to beforehand: two surveys about the key words environment/CSR and hotels beyond 2020. - The complete editorial.

Dear Insiders, Egyptian hotels are already suffering intensely: Hotels close floor by floor; staffs are being dismissed. New tourists are coming in sparsely - the tour operators have put their offers on ice. Romana Kanzian asked hoteliers in the country on the current issue.By contrast, there is optimism in the European hotel real estate market. However: The investors are checking their investments especially meticulously now.In the article "Baby-Hotels", Sonja Sahmer describes which arrangements and offers hoteliers can use to score points with families with toddlers: Hoteliers give tips to hoteliers.Not every child has an interest in taking over the succession of their parents in the company later on in their life. A panel at the "ITB Hospitality Day" discusses these problems: In particular, the middle-class hotel sector is among the branches threatened. Does this mean "The End for Mom-and-Pops?" With us, you can find the programme for the entire hotel conference when you click on the ITB logo on our homepage. By the way, ITB Berlin has announced stable exhibitors´ figures for this year!"WikiLeaks" by Vienna International: After Rudolf Tucek's expulsion from the board of directors last week, confidential correspondence from the executive floor became public. Hamed Al Jaber's company Kneissl is insolvent and TUI wants even more hotel brands. - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, InterConti is playing poker: Last week, the chain "voluntarily" and above all very quickly terminated its management contracts for three locations in Germany. The hotel in Berlin's Budapester Strasse occupies one of the top locations in Europe. The current situation is unclear, also because a number of things are up in the air for contract partner Dorint as lessee. The parties involved veil themselves in secrecy, the battles between lawyers have already begun and the rumours are overflowing. If he had his way, Rezidor Development Officer Puneet Chhatwal would delete Germany from the map in terms of lease agreements. Today he explains Rezidor's current considerations.Two articles today look at serviced apartments - speckled with facts and figures on this segment.As part of our reporting series on the 6th ITB hotel conference, the "ITB Hospitality Day", we look today at the panel which will be discussing Eastern European hotel markets. Is there a real perspective or is everything just a mirage? Experts from Poland, Romania, Croatia and Russia discuss the situation. This week also provides some interesting job changes - in the Vienna International and in the Steigenberger Davos. Read it yourself! - The full editorial…

Dear Insiders, Principle economic figures from across the globe are meeting in Davos this week at the World Economic Forum – and the new congress centre will ensure that the Alpine ski resort will in future not only remain the home of the WEF. Our author Birgitt Wuest took a closer look at the congress business in Davos and at planned new hotels there.MICE business is also the key to success for London and other British markets. Russell Kett from HVS explains the background and compares London with other cities. "The race for recovery" between 36 cities in Europe is analysed. Travellers must be wooed, and Austria has recently seen some hefty dispute around budgets of the Austrian Tourist Board. Since this Wednesday, budgets are fixed again. Young people are a target group for the hotel industry with large potential. For this reason, one expert looked at their expectations at the meeting of the Austrian Hotelier Association. Its ironic conclusion: young people are mobile without having to move! Despite iPhone, iPod & Co, young people are travelling more. So a panel at the 6th "ITB Hospitality Day" at the ITB Berlin will look at this new trend focussed on youth hostels and budget hotels. Experts discuss "A Good Night's Sleep for Peanuts?" All ITB Hospitality Day articles will as of immediately be accessible to all users on our "Network" page. A click on the ITB logo on our homepage is sufficient. - The full editorial…