News & Stories

Bremen/Hamburg. The industry has pulled through the recent financial and economic crisis well. Yet now, the signs are increasing that the luxury hotel industry may be one of the biggest losers - and more: It may even be threatened in entirety. The insolvency of the 5-star Parkhotel in Bremen this week and the knock-down sale of Hamburg's world famous Vier Jahreszeiten all point in this direction. Today, Germany's luxury hoteliers are increasingly having to perform a balancing act in dependency of incalculable banks at one end and a volatile economy at the other.

Munich. Is the entire debate about crises really necessary? Regarding the figures in the real estate market superficially, this seems to be true. The results of the properties were top in 2012, and experts are expecting a similarly high demand in 2013. Because of the low interest, material assets are still very popular. However, when analysing the matter in depth, it quickly becomes obvious that the framework conditions are not developing very well. In Europe, the north-south divide is becoming more apparent, amongst others. Due to Basel III the banks are even more restrictive. Private equity is replacing vanishing funds... Experts are giving only special segments a chance – such as the hotel industry.

Berlin. Negative headlines abound again with regard to the Hotel Adlon Kempinski and the man who had the Berlin luxury hotel built with investor funds: Anno August Jagdfeld. As was announced two days ago, Jagdfeld's son Benedikt is to spearhead the newly structured group. No easy job, as many criticisms of Fundus and Jagdfeld are justified. In the case of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski though, a more subtle assessment is required, in particular after the ratings agency Moody's warned this week of the possibility of default by Adlon. The complex inter-relationship is explained by Beatrix Boutonnet.

Berlin. Last week, millions of TV viewers and certainly also many Adlon investors enjoyed the final part of the three-part "Adlon Saga". Yet no sooner had it finished, and the next storm begins to brew over Fundus Fund No. 31. Perhaps unrightly this time though.

Hamburg. After 41 years, the InterContinental name will have to bow out of the Hamburg market: The insolvency administrator has ordered the closing of the hotel on the 31st of January because no new buyer has yet been found for the property.

Bad Doberan. An end to the saga in Heiligendamm is becoming ever more improbable for this year. Even the hot potential candidate, Median, is reported to have meanwhile surprisingly changed its offer.

Berlin. The German legislator has taken on board arguments from the funds industry. As was reported in summary last week, the German Ministry of Finance conceded many points on the first draft of implementing legislation of the EU's Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive - and the financial sector breathes a sigh of relief in many points. Open-ended real estate funds and specialist funds are to stay and closed-ended funds will be less strictly regulated than initially proposed. Some adjustments are still to be made, overall though, the funds industry appears satisfied; it remains operative.

Berlin. The amended draft for the implementation of the controversial Alternative Investment Fund Managers directive comes with a sigh of relief from Germany's financial sector. Open-ended real estate funds and specialist funds are to stay and closed-ended funds will be less strictly regulated than initially proposed.

Vienna. Equity hurdles for bank loans still have little impact on Austria's resorts. Largely because the assumption of liability by the Hotel and Tourism Bank provides critical support: Two thirds of the EUR 500 million allocated for the assumption of this liability are still available. The role of ÖHT is becoming increasingly important as it is feeling just how much commercial banks are holding back with hotel finance. If loans are made available, then today these are only for new rooms and no longer for luxury spa projects.

Bad Doberan. "No decision has been made to sell," said the insolvency administrator of the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm to hospitalityInside.com. A final decision needs more time.