News & Stories

Berlin/Frankfurt. Are they honest or honestly manipulated - hotel evaluation schemes on the internet? The boom takes its course, and one or other hotelier or event planner is sure to be surprised at some of the comments or judgements from travellers. Two discussions - as part of the "Hospitality Day" at this year's ITB and at the VDR-HSMA's "Hotel Event Day" in Frankfurt last week - showed that the new phenomenon under the heading "Web 2.0" had serious credibility and security flaws. As a survey conducted by hospitalityInside.com was able to determine, the hotel industry is now beginning to take a constructive look at such evaluation schemes on the internet. A concrete benchmark between HRS, hotel.de and holidaycheck also shows the differences between business and holiday orientated platforms.

Augsburg. The online travel market is continuing to develop at amazing speed: According to a market study; by 2008 a good 40% of all holiday business will be completed on the internet.

Hamburg. Internet connections are becoming quicker and cheaper - and multimedia applications on the net are easier to use. Primarily as a result of "streaming video" offers from TV channels and video communities and as platform for short films, the internet now provides an attractive selection of films and videos for the user. A study made in Hamburg now gives hotels and hotel groups tips on how today's internet users are behaving and shows just how much even now TV is being replaced by the world wide web.

Southlake/Texas. The acquisition of Sabre Holdings by affiliates of the private equity firm Silver Lake and the private investment partnership company Texas Pacific Group is completed. With this, all Global Distribution Systems are in the hands of investment companies.

Frankfurt/M. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association Germany will on 26 April 2007 once again hold their "Pricing and Distribution Day" in Frankfurt. The day will focus on recent changes and influences in sales and distribution

Berlin. At ITB, Utell, a subsidiary of Pegasus Solutions presented a new reservation system for final consumers. There, the hotels are divided into collections and niche brands.

Salzburg/New York (February 23, 2007). The everyday hotel business is increasingly dominated by high-tech devices and Internet. Internet technology is becoming the basis of telephone, television and many an extravagance. Whereas in this country, hotel managers are still thinking of installing cables, routers and connecting devices, they are already out-of-date in the US. The wishes of the young guests simply dictate the hotel equipment in the US,. The ones that are not able to keep up will lose their guests.

Berlin/Frankfurt. From this spring onwards, the German Centre for Tourism will allow future hotel guests to book their rooms directly through its homepage. The initiative follows in cooperation with Dehoga and the German Hotel Association, which now stand to phase out their online portal hotellerie.de and end their cooperation with the German direct enquiries service 11880.

Southlake/Texas. Sabre Holdings will be sold to a private equity firm and a private investment partnership company. Last Tuesday, the parties signed a definitive agreement under which Silver Lake Partners and TPG will acquire Sabre Holdings for 32.75 USD per share in cash. Some days before the merger between Worldspan and Travelport Ltd was announced.

Cambridge. The American priceline.com online travel agency is now including its British subsidiary, Active Hotels in its huge brand. Active Hotels Limited will run under the name of booking.com similar to the German subsidiary.