Dear Insiders,

The significance of the internet has grown exponentially in recent years achieving dimensions which nobody could have foreseen. For the hotel industry, this means not only having your own webpage and another possibility for room reservation or purchasing but goes much beyond that. The internet has begun to exert influence in human resources. Staff are able to take part in training programmes on the internet and can apply for jobs by way of e-recruitment. The new possibilities mean new challenges for the hotel industry. The approach taken by the international firms, the opportunities as well as the risks posed by e-learning, all that is one main topic of this week's edition.

As much as the internet has been able to bring the world closer together, there are also unforeseen hurdles to be overcome. And these have not only been noticed by the creators of the booking portal hotel.com. Their website has now been modified to take into account the differences amongst the 37 countries in which it's operating. School holidays, national trends and mentality are all different from country to country and all of these factors influence bookings. In this edition of hospitalityInside.com, managers shed light on their strategy.

Cultural differences also form the subject of another leading topics this week: "Chinese guests in Germany". The German hotel industry has been preparing itself for years for the wishes and demands of this target group. The Chinese tourist boom is awaited with enthusiasm. After sporadic increases in past years, figures have now reached a plateau. We looked at the reasons but like most hoteliers, we are optimistic that more affluent Chinese tourists will soon find their way to Europe.

The guests of former Hilton Manager Dieter Huckestein, on the other hand, certainly don't need to count the pennies when they travel.  3.5 million Dollars it costs them to buy themselves into the fractional ownership resorts forming the exclusive Yellowstone Club World. Enjoy reading the extended article on this more unusual concept and the many other topics we bring up this week.

Yours, Susanne Stauss
Senior Editor


Any Questions? Please address your mail to: susanne@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Today, a gigantic skiing resort opens up in the desert! The photos surrounding this event in the golden cage are quite spectacular and demonstrate one thing: the Las Vegas of Arabia is taking shape. And in the middle of this or just next to it - Kempinski. The luxury hotel group lets itself be swept off its feet by the superlatives, signing two further projects for The Palm Dubai a few days ago. Let's hope Reto Wittwer does not make a mess of the Dubai hotels or even go down the drain with them. The new and strongly expanded residences concept was conceived to prevent exactly this.

Where there is money to earn, con artists are never far away. That is the current situation of leadership coaching. Even a kitchen aid can work as a coach. A sociology professor tried to analyse the charlatan issue. Whoever is involved with coaching these days, will also find, apart from criticism, valuable tips for choosing the right coach and information on the new group coaching trends in both of our articles today.

We have analysed the new ambitions of TUEV Rheinland. It announced it will concentrate on the hotel industry and mainly the wellness and medical wellness industry in the future in order to certify what is permitted under the regulations. Today's interview clearly shows: Everything sounds extremely process-orientated. However, I am still sceptical: can wellness really be measured simply by relying on an expert's pool of opinions? According to my experience there will never be an objective well-being certification.

Today's short news deal with groups that keep attempting to get a foothold in unknown markets. In its own country, Indian Taj is establishing a new category as a chain - budget hotels. The four sisters belonging to Italy's Boscolo group are enamoured with the aging walls in Budapest and are spending millions for a hotel of grandeur in Renaissance style.

I wish you an interesting week! In the next two weeks, my colleague Susanne Stauss will be addressing you here. In the meantime, I will be in the US. Among other things, I will join a talk at Cornell University and be meeting some rather interesting people in New York.

Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Questions? Remarks? maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

Now there is also a medical wellness association. Are we facing the threat of a new mumbo-jumbo of terms, or perhaps an increase in commercial wellness in a doctor's white coat? Hotels claiming to provide medical wellness will definitely have to pay for a new certification. The TUEV Rheinland is involved in this initiative once again. The name list of the advisors contains well-known names from the wellness and health industry; some of them are rather controversial in the scene; others doubtlessly have a purely professional reputation. Of course, the initiators have only the best intentions; at the moment, nothing but a plan exists.

But one thing is already clear: there will be a dispute with the Deutscher Wellness Verband. It certifies medical wellness hotels as well and, this much can be said here, its members are quite ill-disposed towards their association colleagues. On the other hand, the Deutscher Medical Wellness Verband has stated that it does not wish to cooperate with the Deutscher Wellness Verband. This leads to the following question: In what way do the consumers benefit from so much confusion?

It is high-time for the "round table"! And if the heads of the free market do not come together voluntarily, then health politics will have to step in. Otherwise, many innocent, trusting people will have to take the rap for the wellness plight with their own bodies. Taking responsibility is required, not a war between associations!

The Alpine Wellness consortia has become a victim of short-term thinking. It is the first credible brand in the wellness segment which has bundled quality businesses in the Alps across national borders. Now, the GmbH is facing liquidation obviously forced by partners preferring to market their regional wellness brand instead of the higher goal. Good night Europe!

But Europe contributed other news today: In Britain, the Malmaison founder McCulloch started up two new brands and is thus completely in the mainstream as we learned at the International Hotel Investment Forum two weeks ago. In Basle, it is all about investments of unnamed dimensions that would presumably make one dizzy with regard to the re-opening of the palais Trois Rois. A project out of passion that will probably never be profitable.

From time to time, foreign countries show how tourism policy should be performed. Take a fund of one billion, create tax exemptions and you already have two German banks willing to invest. Wouldn’t it be nice if some money remained in Germany? Please browse to Singapore...

Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Your comments? maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

This year's early International Tourism Fair in Berlin also determined the dates for the International Hotel Investment Forum. Both events recorded record numbers of visitors; nevertheless, not all participants returned home with a smile on their face.

The IHIF has become a significant date in the diary of all those in the finance and real estate business: 1,300 participants, more than ever before, were counted this year by the organisers. "That's just too many" some participants complained. The charm of uncomplicated contact with colleagues has been lost. The "Networking XPress" on the very first day summed it all up: business cards are exchanged by the minute!

The cleverer of the bunch saved the 1,600 Euros for the two day event anyway: They arranged to met contacts in the Lobby-Café of the InterConintental Hotel or in the hotel suite. Networking in the IHIF itself has not been done for a long time. Increasingly the low quality of contents has met with criticism: who's on the ball keeping on top of news from the trade press, often knows more than what the speakers on stage have to say. At least this was the opinion of representatives of a well known consulting company, a banker, a chain hotelier as well as a timeshare representative, all interviewed by hospitalityInside.com.

Even the ITB has lost it's character as venue for news. This year there were less news  than there's ever been, at least this was my impression as journalist with long experience of this trade fair. More than ever, individual appointments have to be made with the big names in the industry. One reason for this "news lull" is certainly the intense pressure companies as well as the media are subjected to making it impossible to hold back "hot news" until the fair itself.

Berlin Tourism Marketing saw different results: Those at their booth counted an increase in expert discussions, contacts and deals. The Berlin hotel industry stated: The rescheduling of the trade visitors days brought the local industry losses as high as 20% of bookings.

For hospitalityInside.com the ITB 2006 was a success for quite a different reason. For the first time we presented ourselves as media partner and co-organiser of the ITB "Hospitality Day". Top notch speakers and talk guests proved a large attraction for many trade visitors. At three of the five discussions, several members of the public had to stand for 30 or even 60 minutes with all 300 of the chairs provided already occupied! The premiere was a hit.

But now the hard earned weekend is for the most of us just around the corner. Read the first part of what the hospitalityInside team has found out and researched for you in this week's edition. Continued next week.

Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Questions? Please, address your mail to maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

The most important week for networking on the hotel calendar is fast approaching: The 9th international hotel and investment forum and the 40th ITB will begin next week. hospitalityInside.com is in the midst of the action: We've asked important global player prior to the fair what their plans are for the current year and the future so that you can travel to Berlin well prepared for all that awaits.

The Dutch trend researcher Bakas provides discussion material for the booth and gives examples of how companies can prepare for global trends. Bakas accuses German companies of lack of creativity. Have the Germans really lost their touch for recognising and developing chances and niches?

Other countries still have it, as the Turkish have shown in Austria: New tour operators, hotels and incoming agencies join forces and set up their own travel agents in their main markets - right before the nose of TUI & Co..

In keeping with the Investment Forum, our new author Karin Krentz questions the banks' approach to investment in the hotel industry and takes a look at alternatives: increased flexibility of contract and the now almost forgotten participation capital.

So I'll see you in Berlin? You'll find the team from hospitalityInside during the "Hospitality Day" on Thursday 9 March in hall 7.1a in the auditorium "New York 1". More about that in the article "hospitalityInside.com at ITB".

I wish you a successful ITB, interesting discussions and lots of fun with colleagues and friends at the evening events.

Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Questions? Ideas? maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

The bird flu has arrived, but the hoteliers on Ruegen Island do not have any crisis and epidemic plan. Peter Borer of Peninsula Hotels in Hong Kong can only tear at his hair: he experienced SARS. "When it starts, every minute counts," he says and explains the measures necessary in connection with SARS and bird flu. The inventor of "Tamiflu", Bischofberger, warns of the virus threat. Hoteliers in Europe have obviously no idea of what they might have to bear.

I think: hoteliers have a particular responsibility for people - for their employees and guests. That is why they have to prepare themselves for the emergency. Everybody is facing a real challenge now: private and chain hoteliers, and not only on Ruegen. How do companies protect those who remain in the hotel in the case of all cases?

As silently and subtly as the bird flu is creeping in, the Hilton group is taking measures for the total surveillance of the guests. George Orwell sends his regards. The Hilton management in the US was irritated about the media getting wind of the new chip card for tracking guests wherever they go. The company wants transparent guests in the guise of offering more service. I ask myself: Why should I carry a chip card telling the barkeeper that my favourite drink is champagne when I enter the room? That day, I'm sure that I want a Caipirinha! And why should the concierge have to know where I spend hours of my time? This has nothing to do with service. It is all about pitilessly collecting data, analysing habits and thus controlling the guests. The chip creates transparent guests. It is getting serious.

Good old Europe! Carsten Rath, the new Managing Director of Arabella Hotel Holding, sounds quite conservative compared to these measures by Hilton when thinking about addressing target groups in a classic way. hospitalityInside.com visited Rath on Mallorca to be the first to talk with him about the new specific orientation of the hotel group. What he says sounds reasonable and necessary. ArabellaSheraton needs a clearer profile due to and apart from Starwood.

Arabella(Sheraton) owner Stefan Schoerghuber invests his money in real estates, art, antiques and oldtimers. Others put their money in hotel real-estate funds. However, these are experiencing noticeably negative times. Nobody can judge this better than Stefan Loipfinger. This is why we are interviewing one of our contributing journalists this time - in his function as a fund specialist.

Today, you definitely have to read all the news! The "small" ones are of unprecedented importance today: Kuoni is stumbling over its only hotel engagement financially, in Austria, some federal states are boycotting the Eastern European neighbours at the trade fair, Blackstone acquires Meristar and the daily "Die Welt" does not understand it and so on...

Until next week,
yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Questions? Comments? maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

last week ended tinglingly - with the long hotel staffing of ArabellaSheraton Hotels. The outgoing managing director Edgar von Ommen is now taking a vacation for the time being and will probably announce at the end of April/beginning of May whether he will now re-emerge in the hotel industry or in business.

And the week started with another news tracked down by hospitalityInside.com: The Breidenbacher Hof in Düsseldorf now has two operators. Ritz-Carlton is now pushing for compliance with the contract, which has been in place since 1999, in a court settlement. In parallel, former Ritz-Carlton president Horst Schulze, now operator of Capella and Solis Hotels, has signed a management contract with the owners. Curtain up for a new theater!

Otherwise, the week was relatively quiet; the industry is noticeably busy preparing for the upcoming March conventions. The first indications of the mood are provided by the annual reports of the chains, which are now being published one by one: This week, Rezidor SAS Hospitality reported a revenue increase of almost 18%, Choice Hotels reported record figures. Also at the Design Hotels cooperation, all preliminary figures are pointing upwards.

hospitalityInside.com was on the road at two congresses that have rarely or never been in the spotlight: In Budapest, the hardly known circle of the European Hotel Management Association, which is as eager to celebrate as it is to learn, met, and a few days later, there was a premiere for those hotel employees who are usually never seen at the front - the buyers. In the future, the so-called "supply managers" will have an important task: If they reduce the costs in purchasing by even one percent, they will save the company spasmodic efforts to increase sales. Otherwise, this would have to amount to five to ten percent.

Susanne Stauss differentiates in today's article in which market segments one can score economically with suites. While international hotels, especially resorts, easily increase their profits with expensive top domiciles, this does not work for business hotels and in Germany for a long time. Read what hoteliers and tour operators think of the suite boom.

Have a good week
Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Comments? maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

This edition takes a look at niches in the hotel market. Patient hotels for instance. Clinics need to save money and outsource services. It`s here that the hotel industry comes into play. Instead of nursing staff, hotel personnel take on the responsibility for the patients, or better, clinic hotel guests. The first plans, even from the hotel groups, have emerged. As with all new developments there are few benchmarks, even professional partners for patient hotels are rare on the ground. Nevertheless, this area certainly has a future.

From the niche market, the five Grand Hotels of the Oetker group are now opening up to the chains. Following the example of the "Luxury Collection" by Starwood or the newly founded "Waldorf-Astoria Collection" by Hilton, they`ve now formed the "Oetker Hotel Collection". The collection is, however, a long way away from the structure of a chain, Frank Marrenbach of Brenner`s Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden assures. In terms of marketing, however, even they are closing gaps.

At the other end of the market a group with the name Hôtels et Patrimoine is buying up small, underperforming hotels in Switzerland and repositioning them within the hotel market. A niche idea and a strategy that`s not without its difficulties.

The "mentoring" programme implemented by Starwood hotels in Northern Europe can also be termed a niche model. They`re working on the problem of staff fluctuations by providing each new addition to personnel with a mentor. A very interesting approach with important realisations - recommended further.

Spa experts today find helpful benchmarks in comparable statistics on turnover and costs from US and non-US spas. The initiators of the "Spa Economics Research", the spa consultants Judy Singer and Patty Monteson, ask European hoteliers to take part in the next evaluation with their figures. Details in the article.

Delve further and find interesting news, positive signals and interesting developments.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Comments? Please write to: maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

The prediction that 2006 will be the year of the fusion has this week taken a big step towards being realised: Two well know capital giants - Price Alwalweed and Colony Capital - take on two previously unconnected luxury hotel companies. Till now the companies were on different sides of the globe, as of April they'll form one single enterprise! A mega deal in a class of it's own. "Coincidentally" many of the former Canadian Pacific Hotels and today's Fairmont - famous landmarks - make suitable additions to the hotel icons of the Asian Raffles Group. How things are to proceed on the front remains open.

But at least within the Raffles Group there was exaltation. Ingo Peters from the Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg was very happy about the news. It wasn't until last July that Colony bought the hotel interests of the Asian Raffles Holdings for one billion US Dollars. This included 15 Raffles Hotels & Resorts and 26 Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. Peters is looking positively at the news, even at the risk that his group will be sold on by calculating investors within the next five years. Peters was informed about the new deal one hour before the press.

On the other hand, the influence of the money giants on the international hotel scene should give food for thought. Their mega deals continue to compromise the credibility of the hotel operator. The consequences on staff and markets following such large mergers are not talked about. If investors don't manage to foster trust and confidence amongst management and staff, fluctuations soon begin to set in soon resulting in falls in quality. Money may steer investment but not always people.

Against such huge capital deals the European budget hotels pale into significance. All the same, even here there's a lot of potential to be found. Investors and operators will, however, have to take a close look at the margins: budget managers who can't add up the figures also have their role to play in the failure of the investment calculation. An overview of the situation in Europe and in Germany.

New blood at Relais & Châteaux: The new president speaks clear words. A refreshing change from his predecessor Regis Bulot, who only acted in the French national best interest and in typically French style gave only made very nebulous comments when at all. Steigenberger General Manager Ernst Wyrsch in Davos, on the other hand, is pushing his ego to the fore: First he positioned himself and then the hotel in the World Economic Forums. The exact opposite of this is Emanuel Berger. The Grandseigneur of the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel in Interlaken, Switzerland, is to disappear from the limelight. He naturally made headlines with his modesty and incredible achievement.

Yours,
Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief


Comments? Please write to maria@hospitalityInside.com

Dear Insiders,

The many personalities and people presented this week confirm that the hotel business is people's business. Whether the hotel's big or small, it's people who are pulling the strings: People like Rocco Forte influence the micro-markets, interim managers and ambitious young managers the fates of single hotels.

One of this week's focuses lies on Sir Rocco Forte and his three new German hotels. The man who with 800 hotels in the nineties ran one of the biggest hotel chains in the world has now exchanged mass for class. His expectations are high, his intentions honest. His office in London, where we held our interview, was more like a work shop than an impressive headquarter. Insiders in England see this too as a sure sign that Sir Rocco has finally learned the importance not delegating too much. This, it is said, was what spelled the end for Forte. His over willingness to delegate and lack of attention to detail meant the hostile takeover by Granada was in the end not to be avoided.

Now he's become more confident: "In the past I stood too little in the limelight," Sir Rocco says of himself. The British gentleman, knighted by the Queen in 1994, will certainly be the subject of many of Germany's hotel headlines in the near future. After my stay in the newly opened Brown's hotel in London, my professional impression is: Even a Sir has the same problems in the hotel business: The young staff were just as liable to spilling the mineral water on the table as they are anywhere else. In the bathroom of my suite the mosaic tiling was four days after opening still not perfectly clean and for the hairdryer there was no plug socket anywhere near a mirror. But as far as such small details go, more later. For today it's all about the concept.

After all, it's the concept that counts. Just as with a new opening, interim managers generally have only one, maybe even one and a half year's time to turn a failing hotel around. Publicity in his regard is as good as never welcome. All the same, we spoke to problem solvers.

As to how Berlin can solve it's problems in the hotel market also remains a difficulty. Willi Weiland, President of the Berlin Hotel and Restaurant Association and head of InterContinental Hotel Berlin also has no clear answers. He has, however, appealed to his colleagues to think more logically. Weiland's comments lend support to our views on Berlin's hotel market reported in last week's edition and give new relevance to the imminent talks during the ITB "Hospitality Day".enjoy/" target="_blank">www.itb-kongress.de).

Enjoy surfing!
Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-chief


Your comments? maria@hospitalityInside.com