Dear Insiders,
Very rarely has the industry been as turbulent and energetic at the beginning of the year – our flood of news, especially the mix, reveals: Investments, corrections and experiments are being made as never before. Falkensteiner, for example, reports about its crowdfunding successes, destinations about their boom, chains about their numerous developments and their desire, to try out new things again and again. The high-tech lifestyle group Yotel, for example, is joining the longstay business now!
In 2017, more than 1.3 billion people travelled, according to the figures freshly published by UNWTO. Unbelievable. But the number is growing… And the boom is a double-edged, sharp sword, as our reports about "Overtourism" describe in detail: South America craves for masses of visitors, but already has to cope with some bottlenecks; and last September, about 3,000 Majorcans went on strike against the masses of tourists.
By now, the chains no longer have to compete against other chains only but to fight on numerous battle fronts. A current study shows: Chains do not have the most increases in bookings but rather alternative accommodations such as Airbnb and boutiques hotels – and OTAs still, despite all hostilities.
Our correspondent Sarah Douag took a deeper look at Belgium where the market is recovering after the terror attacks in Brussel at the beginning of 2016. For 2017, the Brussels Hotel Association expects an occupancy of 70 percent. However, the middle-class hotel industry is the big loser here: In the last five years, 570 properties have had to close. Instead, more hotels are under development with more than 100 rooms and chain labels.
By contrast, Massimiliano Sarti's Italian dialogue partner Giorgio Palmucci, Executive Vice President at TH Resorts, is very optimistic. This group with currently 17 hotels and holiday villages is on an expansion course, has changed its shareholding structure, and is signing lease agreements now. And at destinations, which have not been endangered by Overtourism yet.
Enjoy your reading today!
Yours, Susanne Stauss, Senior Editor
Your opinion? susanne@hospitalityinside.com
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