Topic HR

News & Stories

Securing capital: IFH in British hands
2.5.2008

Frankfurt. IFH Aktiengesellschaft located in Frankfurt introduced its new five-year expansion strategy announcing that it had sold its share majority to an investment company in London. IFH is specialised in quality benchmark systems and training in hotel management. Its client portfolio includes both national as well as international hotel groups.

Bad Reichenhall to grow as professional training location
18.4.2008

Bad Honnef/Frankfurt. Career Partner GmbH, sponsor of International University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Bad Honnef in Germany further extends its professional training activities. After it announced it would be founding a branch in Bad Reichenhall - strategically well-located between Munich and Salzburg in Austria - a few weeks ago, it is now entering into a joint venture with Steigenberger Hotels AG. The hotel group also owns its own hotel academy - likewise in Bad Reichenhall.

News: Where to study hospitality and tourism
18.4.2008

Berlin. With its new study guide "Where to Study Hospitality and Tourism 2008", the German Hotel Association has for the first time published a complete overview of all courses of study in hospitality and tourism offered by German speaking institutes of higher education.

Treugast and Bad Honnef University to offer education in China
21.3.2008

Munich. Treugast Solutions Group and the International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef,Bonn found a joint venture for extending their professional education activities in China. The joint venture will become majority shareholder of the International Academy of Hospitality in Shanghai as "Career Partner China GmbH". The academy's strategic and academic development is to be promoted together with local partners.

Enlightening representative survey about staff commitment
Respectful behaviour motivates most
7.3.2008

Munich. Committed employees who are willing to work are decisive for the success of a business. But what employees find motivating may differ depending on the nationality. Multinational businesses have to consider this fact when developing their personnel strategies. Current data of surveys from 22 countries show: "respectful behaviour" plays the most important role all over the world.

Portrait: Dr. Thomas Schmidheiny, shareholder of Grand Hotels Bad Ragaz
About enjoying values and visions
8.2.2008

Zurich/Bad Ragaz. The company headquarters of Dr. Thomas Schmidheiny is concealed in an unobtrusive two-storey office building; company signs adorn the wall behind the entrance door. However, the building is located in a well-chosen location: right beside vineyards in Jona at the southern end of Lake Zurichsee - called "golden coast" not only because of the sun. This is the headquarters of Schmidheiny's Holcim cement factory, but the Max Schmidheiny foundation is also located here, as well as Spectrum Value Management, the "family office", which includes the Grand Hotels Bad Ragaz with Hotel Quellenhof and Hotel Hof Ragaz. The hotels near Chur are among the leading businesses of the European hotel industry. Major shareholder Thomas Schmidheiny belongs to those owners that work and live in complete discretion and rarely give interviews. He made an exception in the case of hospitalityInside.com.

In portrait: André Witschi, Steigenberger Chairman from today
The networker
1.2.2008

Munich/Frankfurt. André Witschi, Chairman of the Board of Accor Hotellerie Deutschland until July 2007, starts office as Chairman of the Board of the German Steigenberger Hotels AG today. For tourism in Germany, it is a blessing that Witschi, originally from Switzerland, is staying in Germany. A portrait of one of the most influential top managers of the German hotel industry.

A charity idea: Holidays for children in need
Hotels caring for the less fortunate
21.12.2007

Vienna. In Austria, the first hoteliers have now joined a charity project based on the idea of an Austrian PR manager. The start of "Global Family Charity" is imminent in Germany.

The challenge facing HR: Most department don't have a strategy
In the hand of the applicant
21.12.2007

Duesseldorf. The first decade of the new millennium has brought human resources to new heights. Whereas until recently the hotel industry has described staff shortages only in the world's "emerging markets", companies in Europe are now facing the same problems. Manual Konen, Managing Director of the Personnel Agency and Consulting Firm, Konen & Lorenzen, in Dusseldorf, describes the changes in recent months and what can be learned from them.

Focus HR: Dubai is facing a massive demand in employees
Facing the collapse of quality
14.12.2007

Dubai. Dubai is booming and the need for employees is becoming greater every day. Unlike in any other city, the hotel industry of Dubai is clearly dependent on growth and human labour. In the Burj Al Arab alone, eight employees care for a single suite. Should Dubai stick to its extreme ambition for luxury, the city will see the breakout of a true "war of talents". Even budget concepts with reduced staff numbers will not lower their need for employees to a significant extent. This spring at a conference, experts estimated the region's need for employees to be 1.5 million people by 2015. In the short term, there will be an expected demand for 170,000 employees within the next four years. The projected room volume still exceeds all standards so far.

VIP News

Surprising changes

HI+Surprising changes

Augsburg. Svein Arild Stehen-Mevold takes over as Chief Portfolio Officer at Scandic at the turn of the year. Max Gross takes over Rober van der Graaf's duties at Radisson. The 12.18. group of companies brings Johann Kerkhofs on board. While Martin Brehm becomes the new GM of Maxx by Steigenberger Bad Honnef, Lina Wolf takes over the management of me and all Hotel Kiel. Stefan D. Ringgenberg became GM of Schloss Fuschls.

New week, new faces

HI+New week, new faces

Augsburg. Christian Renz is now CCO of the Corinthia Hotels. At the turn of the year Melanie Weiler becomes Head of Business Development at Geisel Privathotels. While Bastian Becker becomes GM Frankfurt Area, Andreas Gräber-Stuch takes over as GM at Melia Vienna. Maximilian Müller-Huck takes over the newly created position of Director Operations at Halberbacher Hospitality. As part of the transformation process, MRP Hotels Wien expands its management team.

New appointments

HI+New appointments

Augsburg.Mike Hämmerli, Senior VP Development and Member of the Management Board, has left Kempinski Hotels. Huazhu changes its Senior Leadership to drive international expansion. Sabre appoints Frank Trampert as Managing Director & Chief Commercial Officer, EMEA and APAC, Sabre Hospitality Solutions. With Lukas Willhöft, 25hours has a new Development Director Europe. Achat Hotels has appointed a new Director of Leisure Sales and two new Cluster General Managers. Marc Wachal has been responsible for the Munich Airport Marriott Hotel in Freising since July. And the Cornell Hotel Society's German Chapter has elected a new board and President.

New ascents on the career ladder

HI+New ascents on the career ladder

Augsburg. Kristin Intress isCEO at Worldhotels with immediate effect. Choice Hotels appoints Raul Ramirez Senior Vice President of International Strategic Planning. New CCO at Corinthia is Christian Renz. Three new General Managers for IntercityHotel. Jörg Arnold takes over from Regula and Jan E. Brucker as General Manager at Widder Hotels. Anna Hoffmann is the new General Manager at 25hours. New management at Trivago.

The responsibility increases

HI+The responsibility increases

Augsburg. Kempinski Hotels appointed Benedikt Jaschke as Chief Quality Officer and member of the Management Board. Roger Müller is now a member of the Management Board of the Holiday Home Division. me and all hotels strengthen their management with Maximilian Abele as Corporate Brand Manager. Annette Krumrey is the new Director of the Steigenberger Hotel Thüringer Hof Eisenach.

New management, new positions

HI+New management, new positions

Augsburg. LHW appoints Shannon Knapp as next President & Chief Executive Officer. New double leadership at Convivio with Daniel Frey and Marcus Bartenstein. Steve Carroll becomes Senior Vice President Capital Investments & Transactions. Birgit Eisbrenner becomes Regional Director Australia and New Zealand at A-Rosa. Gebeco founder hands over management to Michael Knapp and Thomas Bohlander.

The big carousel

HI+The big carousel

Augsburg. The two top heads of prizeotel will remain with the company, even after Radisson has taken over the budget design group. Almost three months after the new CEO took office, Kempinski announces the first personnel changes. Hilton lets well-known heads rotate, also because Rudi Jagersbacher says goodbye in the Middle East. GCH Hotel Group has made its COO CEO. Althoff has found a GM for Ameron Zurich. And Gert Prantner has retired from RIMC Hamburg; the internal restructuring that has been underway for some time is now complete.

New positions and reinforced management levels

HI+New positions and reinforced management levels

Augsburg. Frank Holzapfel, shareholder of J.T. Ronnefeldt KG, died last Wednesday. Uwe Jenssen complements the management team of the 7 Days Premium Hotels in Europe. The new position as CCO at Vienna House will be taken over by Dirk Führer. Anton Reichl also becomes the new CFO at Arabella Hospitality and completes the management of the company. Siim Karu is now Chief Revenue Officer at a&o.

Changes and opportunities

HI+Changes and opportunities

Augsburg. Georg Plesser from Rocco Forte Hotel Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt succeeds Henning Matthiesen at the Excelsior Cologne. Grand Bellevue Gstaad in Switzerland hires an internationally experienced manager as GM. Michael Bungardt leaves the expansive GSH Hotels and founds his own company. Achat Hotels continues to build up structures with a Revenue Manager, Althoff with a new VP Engineering. IntercityHotels rotates four GMs. And STR London was sold to an American data analyst.

Mergers, cooperations and new positions

HI+Mergers, cooperations and new positions

Wiesbaden. Last Friday, Barron Hilton, the son of founder Conrad Hilton, passed away. The consulting companies of Olaf Steinhage and Martin Schaffer merge. In addition, Kohl & Partner and pkf hotelexperts Vienna announce a closer cooperation. Kai Wientapper is now with Highstreet Group and Giampaolo Padula GM of Aman Venice Palazzo. In Frankfurt, Eduard Singer is drawn to Novum's IHG three franchise operations. Best Western Europe has a new Director Conference Service, Leonardo a Director HR Operations. Peter Krüger and Matias Kiep take up new positions at TUI AG. American Express GBT has a new CEO and Choice a Chief Transformation Officer.

New Heads

HI+New Heads

Augsburg. Daniela Fette-Rakowski has taken over the management of Jumeirah Frankfurt. Best Western reports two new appointments: Serhat Götz as Director Leisure Sales and Sebastian Prang as new Director at Seehotel Krautkrämer. And with Max Oehler Selina has found a general manager for its hotel locations in Berlin.

New Careers

HI+New Careers

Augsburg. B&B Hotels expands its management team with two Directors for Development/Acquisitions and Finance. Leonardo Hotels provides a new cluster GM in Frankfurt for Central Europe. Stephan Boesch returns from The Lanesborough London to Oetker Collection headquarters in Baden-Baden. And Wilko Weber joins Kempinski in Geneva as a revenue and digital strategist.

VIPs: From luxury to student hotels

HI+VIPs: From luxury to student hotels

Augsburg. Hilton's new luxury collection has found a new director with Feisal Jaffer. From now on, Willem van der Zee will manage all event hotels in Europe, while Oliver Fudickar, Executive Director DACH at Vienna House, will concentrate on the hotels in German-speaking countries. Richard Schestak will move as General Manager from Fairmont to Kempinski and from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok. In the same position, Philip Ibrahim will be responsible for the launch of The Student Hotel in Berlin.

New bosses all over the world

HI+New bosses all over the world

Augsburg. Karelle Lamouche is Accor's new CCO for Europe, at Airbnb Kathrin Anselm took  over the management in DACH, Eastern Europe and Russia. Christoph Eichbaum joins the investment team of Union Investment, Christoph Härle starts with his own company. Christie & Co brings three young experts on board. Raphael Krucker will be the new CEO of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG from 2020. Hard Rock hires Antonio Alvarez to Madrid as GM, Kempinski welcomes three new GMs. The Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotels and the Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint are also under new management.

Change at all levels

HI+Change at all levels

Augsburg. Radisson CEO Federic Gonzalez is said to run the Minnesota headquarters now in addition to his current job. As already reported, Accor has now confirmed Marc Dardenne as COO for the group's luxury brands in Europe. Michael Nöske is hotel director of the IntercityHotel Hamburg-Altona. And Stephan Hein replaces the opening director at Lulu Guldsmeden in Berlin.

Big names, big changes

HI+Big names, big changes

Augsburg. Six Senses President Bernhard Bohnenberger leaves the company after 28 years. Kempinski CFO Michael Pracht is now officially confirmed. Hennig Matthiesen takes over Brenners Park in Baden-Baden, Frank Marrenbach concentrates on the Oetker Collection. Prermier Inn continues to expand in Germany, now with a new director for M&A, Khadija Brémont. Eike Clausen has been promoted to GM of the Kempinski Hotel Aqaba on the Red Sea, in the Schweizerhof Bern Maximilian von Reden takes the lead. Nils Arnold dares to make the leap from Bad Neuenahr to the IntercityHotel Riad Malaz. And Horwath HTL Germany reorganizes its management.

Developers, Investors and Managers

HI+Developers, Investors and Managers

Wiesbaden. Burak Ünver changes from Titanic Gendarmenmarkt Berlin as Managing Director to Smartments business. Mario Schyma joins Staycity's development team, and Kay Strobl is now Asset Manager Hotel at Deka. Mario von Hoesslin becomes new Operations Director Germany at Groupe Pierre et Vacances Center Parcs. New GMs include Sascha Rosski at the Pentahotel at Paris Airport, Mark Hussler at the Hilton Munich Airport and Daniel Halbersatter at the Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront.

hospitalityABC: What is "Call-in allotment"?

HI+hospitalityABC: What is "Call-in allotment"?

Heilbronn. In today's edition, hospitalityABC addresses the term "Call-in allotment". Explained by Dr Christian Buer, Professor for International Management, Hospitality Real Estate & Development at Heilbronn University, which develops the weekly terms for hospitalityInside.com as part of a cooperation.

New appointments everywhere

HI+New appointments everywhere

Wiesbaden. Kerzner International has filled two new management positions with COO Philippe Zuber and CCO Brett Armitage. At RIMC Kurt Weber has been appointed COO for the international hotels, at NinetyNine Hotels Lorenz Mauer was named Director of Operations. Eike Clausen is GM of the Kempinski Hotel Aqaba. Fleming's Hotels will soon have a VP Commercial with Dirk Lobowsky and announced new GMs in Frankfurt. Martin Ott has moved from Facebook to WeWork. And at GBI there were various changes in the supervisory board and board of directors.

New areas of responsibility

HI+New areas of responsibility

Wiesbaden. Michael Pracht is said to become the new CFO at Kempinski. Richard Wiegmann leaves Sabre. Peter de Bondt becomes General Manager of the Grand Swiss-Belresort Seef in Bahrain. At Steigenberger, Alexander Skibbe took over the management of the hotel in Bremen and Guntram Weipert became GM of the Grandhotel Handelshof in Leipzig. Oliver Staas is now GM at Radisson Blu Berlin, Roland Becker Director at Travel Charme Kurhaus Binz and Markus Daurer-Zeman Cluster F&B Manager at Victor's Residenz Hotels. Roman Tkaczenko joins the Engel & Völkers Hotel Consulting team.

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