News & Stories

Hamburg. Demand for low cost accommodation is rising with the economic crisis. With the UII Hotel No. 1 fund, Union Investment has now established a special fund for institutional investors primarily investing in budget hotels in a good micro-location. The fund makes 400 million Euro available for this purpose; a sum large enough to trigger the next budget boost on the German and European market. A look at the investment universe of the Hamburg-based fund company and its new approach with strong signal effect shows: The once ridiculed "cheap segment" has now taken the final hurdle.

Cannes. It would be wrong to understand the bad weather during the commercial real estate fair MIPIM as a sign of further problems to come for the real estate market. Commentators can certainly no longer speak on an "ice age" in the sector. The mood at the 24th MIPIM was, as many trade fair participants confirmed, certainly not exceptional, but it wasn't bad either. The sector appears to be on the up. The focus is again on "safe havens". Yet there are signs that investors are becoming less risk averse. New major projects were also again announced, and hotels are included in many of these.

Berlin. NH wants to further expand, but with the two new partners HNA and HPT on board, the financial situation of the Spanish hotel group remains strained. Central Europe boss Marten Markus explained the growth strategy of the group at the ITB.

Berlin/Frankfurt. With a capital pool of ten million Euro, a new company intends to buy ailing medium-sized hotels in Germany, place them under interim management, improve returns and sell them again after just four years. The new company includes some famous names from the sector.

Berlin. Trends, investments and emerging markets were the subject of the panel discussion "Around the World in 40 Minutes" at the 16th International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin last week. But in the end, it all comes down to the burning question: Where do the investors come from for the takeovers and projects in Africa, China, Europe and Russia? The appetite of the purchasers is enormous, there should be enough purchase opportunities everywhere, but foreign investors do not seize the opportunity everywhere.

Bremen. The budget design hotel brand prizeotel from Bremen has won over a strategic investor for further expansion.

Vienna. The building sector and capital pushing for properties that are stable in value stimulate Austria's hotel investments. This is the reason why the Oesterreichische Hotelier-Vereinigung sees established private hoteliers – especially resort hoteliers – under pressure. Hotels run by families have to deal with issues like real estate and added value more intently. Experts point out that revenue is primarily generated by hotel property; however, hotel financing via apartments is a cause for concern, according to the experts.

Berlin/London. In April 2013, the German Meininger Hotel and Hostel Group will become a one hundred percent subsidiary of its current shareholder, Holidaybreak, from Great Britain. The current Managing Directors will leave the company.

Frankfurt. As of July 22, 2013, everything will change for the funds industry - for open-ended, closed-ended and special funds. On this date, the new AIFM Directive enters into force, providing a uniform framework throughout the European Union. Germany has taken an especially thorough approach and has also regulated the products. This was allowed by Brussels. Now, fund initiators and distributors must find their way around in this new world. At the "VGF Summit", the fund industry‘s annual jour fixe in Frankfurt, it was clear: Not all fund managers will survive the change. Since many funds are used to finance hotels, the development is also a serious matter for the hotel sector.

Bad Doberan. The Grandhotel Heiligendamm and initiator Anno August Jagdfeld just don't seem to escape the headlines. Whilst the next, already the third, public prosecutor is investigating Jagdfeld, the administrator of Heiligendamm, Joerg Zumbaum, is searching desperately for investors for the insolvent Grandhotel Heiligendamm.