News & Stories

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Together everything functions better

Tips during the crisis: How staff members can be assigned flexibly

13.3.2009

Wiesbaden. Flexible staff planning is the current challenge. The German city hotel industry is suffering from the effects of the financial crisis. Events are scheduled or cancelled on short notice. Business travel is decreasing. Many Human Resources managers are well prepared for this situation. Some hotels, however, had to announce the introduction of short-time work. Various chains report how they are coping with this labour-cost intensive department these days - despite strict labour laws.

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Hospitality industry in Austria calls for staff from abroad

23.1.2009

Velden on Lake Woerther. As a recent analysis on the Austrian labour market shows, the percentage of full-year jobs hasn't increased for over a decade. The result is that Austria's hospitality industry employs significantly more staff aged between 16 and 30 years of age, though after ten years, three quarters of these move into other branches of industry. Despite the crisis, the hotel and restaurant industry in Austria is still seeking new staff and the OHV wants these to come from abroad.

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Cocktails on the campus

University marketing: Chains try to attract upcoming leaders

16.1.2009

Munich. Hotel chains increasingly trust in university marketing in order to recruit future leadership generations. Now Germany is trying out what has been working well for quite a while in the US and Canada due to a lack of professional education. Accor, Kempinski and Marriott see great potential and are developing their own programmes. Only Ritz-Carlton does not see any need for action: due to the worldwide recession, the threatening lack of experts had become obsolete for the time being.

HI+

Away with initial reservations

Chains to take initiative: Kempinski engages a university expert

16.1.2009

Munich. Since November 1, 2008, Hartwig Bohne has been responsible for promotion of career starters and university marketing at Kempinski Hotels & Resorts. With this, the hotel chain, which is aiming at strong expansion, underlines its will to increase the quality of its employees. The 32-year old Hartwig Bohne comes from the German Hotel Association located in Berlin, were he worked as an expert and scientific member for the fields of market and trend research as well as marketing, education and further training, among other things. Baerbel Schwertfeger talked with him about the shift in attitude throughout the hotel industry and Kempinski's chosen approaches in terms of university marketing. Bohne: "We've undersold ourselves too often."

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Consumers expect solidarity and fairness

Survey: Social responsibility pays off for companies

19.12.2008

Nuremberg. German consumers demand corporate responsibility from companies - i.e. socially and ecologically responsible management and sustainable activities. Such conduct on the part of companies influences the purchase decisions of consumers. Most important for them is that the companies should behave responsibly towards their own employees - followed by responsibility and fairness to their customers.

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A strategic heart for people

Corporate volunteering: Only a few release employees from work for this

19.12.2008

Munich. An increasing number of companies are establishing corporate volunteering programmes and supporting their employees in non-profit projects. Increasingly, such projects are also integrated into staff development. Despite the fact that social activities look back on a long tradition in the hospitality industry, only in very few cases can individual employees choose whether they want to take part or not. Some company heads set a good example: Ritz-Carlton President Simon Cooper volunteering at planting.

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Alexandra Schoerghuber moves into focus

Following the death of Stefan Schoerghuber: What now?

28.11.2008

Munich. News of the death of the Munich based entrepreneur Stefan Schoerghuber filtered through on Tuesday afternoon during the Dehoga industry day in Berlin. Over 1,000 hoteliers and gastronomes attending the convention from all over Germany were shocked and deeply moved by the sudden death of the 47 year old businessman. The Schoerghuber Company Group of hotels, breweries, real estate and aircraft is valued at around EUR 2.7 billion. Stefan Schoerghuber was currently in the middle of structural changes to his empire and had recently dismissed rows of managers and advisors piling many functions and responsibilities upon his own shoulders. He personally assumed management of ArabellaStarwood hotels at the beginning of October. The question being asked now is how will things go on in the Group?

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Up high but still not at the top

Women in international hotel groups - their positions, their prospects

3.10.2008

Augsburg. Regarding numbers, women are strongly represented in the hotel industry. But "at the top" there are only a few - women like Marie-Bé Lallemand from Concorde Hotels remain the exception. Normally, the executive chairs remain occupied by men. Nevertheless, women are slowly but surely penetrating the various executive levels. The positive thing about it: women are not letting themselves be pushed into the "soft" positions like human resources or communications but are standing their ground regarding finances and revenue management. A survey among hotel chains.

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For power women

Dissertation about challenges of women in leading positions

3.10.2008

Berlin. Gabriele Maessen is a successful woman in the hotel industry. And this is one of the reasons why today's general manger of the Leonardo Royal Hotels in Berlin, which is currently under construction, states: "We women have to do something to position ourselves better!" The basis for other women could be her dissertation for her Master of Arts in Hospitality Management at the University of Brighton whose degree she obtained in August. Now it is written in black and white on 90 pages, how the situation is for women in leading positions in Germany's hotel industry. Among us women: the dissertation scientifically proves what happens to us in our daily lives... Therefore, it is a "must read" for every man in management.

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Change of view

Newcomer: Zarges von Freyberg Hotel Consulting, Munich

12.9.2008

Munich. The two were "trained" at the consultancy Treugast in Munich and have been working as freelancers in the hotel industry since the beginning of the year: the colleagues Stephanie Zarges and Dr. Burkhard von Freyberg joined and formed a consultancy. In the background Dr. Beatrice Zarges is supporting the team. Von Freyberg and Zarges focus on working out and implementing positioning and marketing strategies for upscale hotels. The first customers are all special and the two "lifestyle" consultants have had a special contract since last week: they are the first German consultancy in the "Leading Services and Partner Network" of the Leading Hotels of the World.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

HI+What does the lodging industry look like in 2030?

The Hague. Where will the lodging industry be in 2030, in which ways will technology and digitalization replace services practiced by human beings and hospitality experience? A symposium found answers to important questions.

HI+New Management and Supervisory Board positions

Wiesbaden. Christian Landais has moved from Accor to AHC as CEO, Bart Beerkens from GHC to Plateno as Managing Director. At Choice, Megan Brumagim, five managers will take on new VP positions. Holger König becomes GM of The Diaoyutai Mansion Frankfurt and AntonioCatalán resigns from Belagua. Dirk Iserlohe is now Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dorint and Carsten Rath the chair of the Advisory Committee of 12.18. Michel Rochart is now Chairman of the Board of Directors of EHL Advisory Services.

HI+New minds, also for sustainability

Augsburg. Scandic has a new manager who is responsible both for HR and Sustainability. Commerz Real has also appointed a Head of Sustainability. Marc K. Thiel is now Chief Transaction Officer at Gerchgroup. Azimut welcomes a new Commercial Director for Europe. After the arcona Hotels acquisition, Vienna House extends its sales team for Germany. Hard Rock Hotel Davos also hired a new Sales & Marketing Director. The budget group Cocoon hired a new Junior Development Manager and b'mine has chosen a Hotel Manager for its first hotel.

HI+Personnel changes in the middle of the year

Wiesbaden. NH has a new Business Development Director for Italy, Dorint appointed a Director Digital Distribution. Mathieu van Alphen is now Area General Manager for IHG's Dubai Festival City Hotels. Chantel Moore will lead the 25hours Hotel in Dubai, Patrick Mattick is the new "Soul Manager" there. New General Managers have been appointed for Four Seasons Milan, Como Hotels' Castello del Nero and Hotel Posta Marcucci. Mandarin Oriental Macau is now managed by Christian Dolenc. The Agate Comfort in Mannheim/Hockenheim hired a new director and at Union Investment Thorsten Purkus is now in charge of the Asset Management Hospitality International team.

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