Dear Insiders,
Expo Real is still in full swing today… The first two days at the fair in Munich knew just one scenario: overcrowded halls, hectic crowds, non-stop meetings and networking to excess. The sector is already breathless, working as if there were no tomorrow. Is this the fear that the bubble is about to burst? The experts attending the hotel conference completely denied this was the case.
Our editorial team is fully immersed in the trade fair events, and because of the overlapping with our editorial deadline yesterday evening, it will only be able to report in more detail next week – including conversations with hotel exhibitors and other hotel experts as well as about the hotel conference. You will therefore find the most important news in a nutshell in today's edition.
Nevertheless, we are able to present exciting topics related to real estate and investments: Amsterdam, a city with 850,000 inhabitants struggles under the burden of 17 million tourists in 2016; for this reason, the city of Amsterdam proclaimed a hotel ban. Despite the ban, more hotels can be developed but only in the "Amsterdam Metropolitan Region". The region attracts investors and operators with good infrastructure, airports and bleisure offers. Sarah Douag with more details.
Beatrix Boutonnet unveiled details about the latest Invesco deal. In September, the investment company paid 530 million euros for 13 European hotels – for their first open fund for institutional investors. Now, Managing Director Robert Stolfo and Asset Director Hans-Peter Hermann have revealed more about the deal, the growing time pressure, and the new modesty of the investors concerning leverage.
International investors have many questions when they want to gain a foothold in Germany. And there are many who are willing to do so, but are often frustrated due to the specified legislation. Therefore, Dr. Anton Ostler, one of our editorial experts for legal aspects, explains the basic structures of German law to newcomers.
In the news section, amongst others, we are reporting about Preferred Hotels. The company is growing fast in its preferred segment of Preferred Residences at the moment; and its consulting subsidiary, which was established quietly, is expanding. Again, AccorHotels is spending millions for the business travel hotel reservation platform Gekko and for share in the Orient Express brand.
Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems, Editor in Chief
Your opinion? maria@hospitalityInside.com
