News & Stories

Berlin. A good one in four companies in the real estate industry now invests more than 5% of its annual turnover in the digital transformation. A comparison over time in particular shows digitalization investments have become a fixed, significant factor in the real estate industry. Two years ago, the share of companies which spent more than 5% of their turnover on Digitalization was only half of that, at 14%.

Karlsruhe. The German Federal Court of Justice has corrected a decision of the Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf of 4 June 2019: This court had declared the narrow rate parity clauses of Booking.com to be necessary and proportionate. Now, the OTA may no longer prohibit lower prices on hotel websites.

Vienna. Where does the Austrian hotel industry stand technologically? The ÖHV and Hotelhero have determined this for the first time in a report and are enthusiastic about the status quo of the companies. Despite digitalisation, however, local support is still needed. Further country reports are planned.

Munich. Her career exactly reflects the shift from classic Sales & Marketing in the industry to the "Commercial World" in 2020. After 15 years, Daniela Schade is leaving Accor today: as Managing Director of Accor in Germany and as Senior Vice President Commercial Development for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. What has changed, in what direction is the industry moving in this important area - the area which sets the framework for contact with the customer and for the economic success of a company? A conversation about change.

Brussels. The dependence of the hotel industry on online booking portals is higher than ever. Despite all assumptions, direct bookings are continuously decreasing. This is the result of the current, biennial HOTREC study on the European hotel distribution market.

Brussels. The Platform to Business Regulation entered into force on Sunday 12 July and hotels and restaurants in Europe welcome this new piece of EU legislation. It promises increased transparency and fairer terms and conditions for hospitality businesses across Europe with Internet giants.

Paris/Corsica. In Corsica, a group of hoteliers decided to speak very clearly with the OTA Booking.com: They recently decided to stop working with the platform, at least for the whole month of August.

Berlin. After years of struggle by the industry, Germany has finally officially approved the solution of the digital registration form for hotels. The guest only has to identify himself electronically. This was the last hurdle to truly contactless check-in.

Munich/Wien. As early as April, Germany wanted to launch its official Corona Warning App. Now it started on Tuesday in the middle of the big restart. The Austrians, on the other hand, are very app-tired; the download is low. And there is still a long way to go before we have a uniform EU app.

Ahaus/Münster. When corona arrived and overnight meant that the hospitality and catering industry was forced to use digital tools and accept contactless payments, the software company Tobit was well prepared: Since 1986, the medium-sized company from Ahaus in the Münsterland region, Germany has been programming communication systems, and since 2007 it has also offered ordering, booking and payment systems for the industry. It's also testing them out in a little town of just 40,000 inhabitants, in its two unstaffed hotels, the Smartels, and for TKWY and the disco next. Everything digital, automated and contactless. hospitalityInside.com went to have a look.