Hospitality for Insiders

Crises and AI, hot topics and the HITT

Maria Pütz-Willems
Maria Pütz-Willems

Dear Insider,

Airlines are changing their routes; these changes are affecting destination markets; in the Middle East, hotel occupancy rates are falling sharply, in Greece, bookings are reportedly stalling; and the governments of Dubai, Cyprus and Egypt are beginning to provide financial support to hotels and tourism companies. The chaos and tension surrounding the Iran conflict continue.

This makes the brief item in today's News Mix all the more baffling, to put it politely: The city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania is preparing the first stage of planning permission for a Trump Tower comprising 250 apartments and a 150-room luxury hotel.

Despite the crisis, business carries on as usual, as Susanne Stauss and I gathered from our many conversations in Berlin. International chains continue to adapt their strategies, sometimes in a rather dull way, sometimes in a lively one. We listened to Hyatt, Minor, Leonardo, the Vienna Tourist Board, Accor, Marriott and UBM. Everyone wants to fill every niche. The craze for brands continues, as does the appeal of franchising.

The chains are now desperate for independent hotels and want to make their soft brands even more flexible. Villa Viva might well have fitted into this category – hotels as "social guesthouses", a perfect, alternative product for investors and operators keen on niche markets, such as Stephan Gerhard. But franchise is not his cup of tea. ... More

Magazine

Blackstone and Colony acquire Essendi

HI+Blackstone and Colony acquire Essendi

The memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday, 1 April 2026: Accor has sold its 30.56% stake in Essendi to Blackstone and Colony IM – for 975 million euros.

 Louvre Hotels back on its own path

HI+ Louvre Hotels back on its own path

The Louvre Hotels Group is still going its own way, even though it has adopted systems from its sister company, Radisson Hotels. The ‘neglected’ chain is launching a major refurbishment program and expanding in Poland.

Camping in Europe and Germany: Big Business

HI+Camping in Europe and Germany: Big Business

The camping sector in Europe is attracting more and more institutional investors; at the same time, international hotel chains are also entering this niche market. In Germany, this sector is booming, too.

Investors in Europe favour Southern Europe

HI+Investors in Europe favour Southern Europe

Investor confidence in European hotels is expected to remain high in 2026. Capital is flowing primarily into Southern Europe.

Stable development in Austria's city hotel sector

HI+Stable development in Austria's city hotel sector

A recent analysis of Austria's five largest city markets — Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Linz — shows that, overall, the country's urban hotel sector remains stable in 2025, whilst differences in profitability, demand and competition are becoming more pronounced.

Reduced VAT does not apply to ancillary hotel services

HI+Reduced VAT does not apply to ancillary hotel services

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has settled the dispute over hotel taxation in Germany: the reduced VAT rate of 7% continues to apply only to the accommodation. All other services are subject to the standard rate. The administrative burden on businesses remains high.

VIP News from 3.4.2026

HI+VIP News from 3.4.2026

Marco Ciomperlik, Sebastian Ebel, Mathias Kiep, Mircea Tudose, David Schelp, Peter Krueger / Petra Schumacher, Chrstof Steiner 7 Luca Rombi / Ian Elliot, Agata Janda, Cherise Smith / Jürgen Gangl, Andreas Neininger, Anna Mielitz, Wolfgang Selinger, Michael Artner, Sebastian Horn, Silke Spieske / Wolfgang Heid, Ralph Esser, Carl Fay, Ingo Lindner

News Mix from 3.4. 2026

HI+News Mix from 3.4. 2026

Accor/Rosenheim, Choice/Prague, Cycas/Fusion, DERTOUR/Mallorca, Dorint/Wiesbaden, Ehret+Klein/Passau, EST/Vienna, Explorer-Hotel/Bayrischzell, Extendam/Malaga, Fonte del Benessere/Rivisondoli, Greece/Rhodes, Hamburg/Thalia-Haus, HC Hotels/Manerbio, Hyatt/Bahia, Jufa/Admont, Juventus FC/Turin, Living Hotels/Munich, Lungarno Collection/Florence, Marriott/Lake Garda, Meliá/Mahdia, Premier Inn/Freiburg, Radisson/Amsterdam, Rolex/Cologne, Tapestry Collection/Taormina, Trump/Cluj, WaldEntdeckerWelt/Innviertel, Zetter Group/London

Hotel Investments: Three cheers for Europe

HI+Hotel Investments: Three cheers for Europe

The European hotel investment market performed strongly in 2025. The total transaction volume rose by 30% to 22.6 billion euros, making it the third-highest on record.

Radisson Group: From 2 to 100 Verified Net Zero Hotels

HI+Radisson Group: From 2 to 100 Verified Net Zero Hotels

Following a successful pilot phase involving two hotels in Manchester and Oslo, the Radisson Hotel Group plans to expand its Verified Net Zero Hotels programme to 100 hotels by 2030. The roadmap for this was unveiled in Berlin this week.

Lonely Planet: From travel guide to connected tour operator

HI+Lonely Planet: From travel guide to connected tour operator

For a long time, Lonely Planet was known primarily for its comprehensive printed travel guides. Now the company has launched bookable travel experiences and a new app, transforming itself into a connected travel platform.

HospitalityInside Think Tank HITT

Content Partner

Wireless charging of mobile devices enhances the living experience
Using the switch as a charging surface
3.4.2026

Would you like to charge wirelessly at home or in a hotel? Then use sockets and switch inserts as functional charging surfaces. JUNG shows how this can be integrated into modern interiors.

Right on trend: recycled plastics

Right on trend: recycled plastics

Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in the hotel industry – from construction methods to the materials used in interiors. Resource-efficient solutions are also coming increasingly into focus in building services. JUNG demonstrates how sustainable material concepts can be combined with durable design and modern technology.

QR "Vordenker" Award for Atlantic Grand Hotel Bremen

QR "Vordenker" Award for Atlantic Grand Hotel Bremen

Innovative strategies in the areas of sales, sustainability, guest and employee enthusiasm are the levers for increasing hotel profits in the future. 

Valamar sets eyes on European expansion

Valamar sets eyes on European expansion

Croatia's leading hospitality company Valamar Riviera is ready to expand in Europe – and is looking to partner with hospitality investors and owners in premier Alpine and Adriatic destinations, offering competitive leases and a full range of hospitality management services.

Valamar sets eyes on European expansion

Valamar sets eyes on European expansion

Croatia's leading hospitality company Valamar Riviera is ready to expand in Europe – and is looking to partner with hospitality investors and owners in premier Alpine and Adriatic destinations, offering competitive leases and a full range of hospitality management services.

News Mix overview

Marketplace

The recipe for tackling food waste
3.4.2026

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN World Tourism Organisation have launched the "Recipe of Change" initiative to tackle a global sustainability challenge: food waste.

Fall asleep in Brussels and wake up in Berlin
3.4.2026

Many travellers want to make the most of every moment on their journeys through Europe. To meet this demand, operators constantly expand the range of overnight train services.

On the plane: A seatrow turns into a bed
27.3.2026

Anyone who's tired on a flight longs to be able to stretch out across three seats. It's not actually comfortable. Now an airline has found a solution.

Black Forest-style Alberghi Diffusi
27.3.2026

The Black Forest is rethinking rural tourism: currently, the region is working on a concept that transforms entire villages into hotels – without constructing any new buildings. This is based on the Italian model of the "Alberghi Diffusi".

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Financial Results

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Positive development at Legacy-Deutsche Hospitality

H World Group Q4 / FY 2025: The Chinese Group highlights continued momentum in network expansion, asset-light transformation, profitability and loyalty engagement. It also delivers figures of Legacy-Deutsche Hospitality.

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Luxury is the driving force

Meliá Hotels Int. FY 2025: Premium and luxury now account for 63% of the current portfolio and 78% of the pipeline. In distribution, the Company kept strengthening its direct channels.

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Revo insolvency leaves its mark

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Q4 and FY 2025: The company closes the year with a FY net income decrease. This reflects among others the insolvency proceedings of Revo Hospitality from Germany.

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Medium-term growth ambitions confirmed

Accor Q4 and FY 2025: In a disrupted macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, the Group demonstrated once again its ability to deliver results in line with the medium-term growth ambitions announced in June 2023.

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Driven by international rooms

Choice Hotels Int. FY 2025: The global lodging franchisor delivered another year of record profitability in 2025, driven by double-digit increase in international rooms, and continued leadership in the extended-stay segment. 

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Promising start into 2026

Scandic Q4 and FY 2025: The 2025 report underlines good organic growth, solid results, and good booking situation.

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IHCL expands its brandscape

IHCL Q3 and 9 months 2025: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) reported its consolidated financials for third quarter which marks the 15. consecutive record quarter.

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Picked

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Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel partner for Céline Dion

Marriott Bonvoy is to become the official hotel partner for the Céline Dion Paris concert series. The singer is celebrating her comeback on stage this year following a long break due to illness.

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A Harry Potter hotel for Legoland

Fans are in for a treat: a Harry Potter world, including a hotel, is set to be built in the coming years at Legoland Günzburg in Bavaria, on the A8 motorway between Augsburg and Ulm.

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Trips to the Total Solar Eclipse

Mallorca, Iceland or perhaps a cruise? When the Moon completely blocks out the Sun on 12 August 2026, there are more options to choose from. An overview for all eclipse tourists.

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New sand for Wangerooge’s beach

The beach chairs are ready, but nothing works without sand: following the winter storms, Wangerooge’s beach is missing around 30,000 cubic metres of sand. Heavy machinery is bringing it back.

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