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.

HI+

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.

HI+

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.

HI+

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?

HI+

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.

HI+

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+Promotions

Augsburg. Orascom Development appoints Omar El Hamamsy as CEO, and ex Travel Charme Managing Director Thomas Haas now manages the hotel business of the Jagdfeld Group. Union Investment appoints Michael Bütter to the management team, Marcus Zorn is promoted to CEO at BNP Paribas Real Estate and Andrea Ludy takes over as GM of Hotel am Steinplatz, Berlin.

HI+Time to change course

Augsburg. Daniela Schade leaves Accor after 15 years, Starhotels appoints Francesco Brunetti as Managing Director, Michael Kain and Raoul Hölzle become GMs at Steigenberger, Cüneyt Sovuksu forms the new management team at Victor's Teistungenburg together with Steffen Radespiel, Maike Helmke moves to The Fontenay Hamburg and Ralph Katthöfer is responsible for two hotels in Rügen. Sabre appointed Tom Fecke as Country Manager DACH of Sabre, Travel Solutions a few weeks after extensive personnel changes in the USA.

HI+Promotion

Augsburg. Antonello De Medici becomes hotel director at Hilton, Bernd Gieske moves to Travel Charme, André Vedovelli joins the board of directors at Elysée Hamburg and Chris Mumford will advise the Berlin recruiting company at LHC.

HI+Careers with experience

Wiesbaden. Britta Beringer climbs the corporate ladder in Steigenberger Camp de Mar, Barbara Weisshaar becomes manager at Roomers Baden-Baden, Christian Veit climbs the Board of Directors of Deutsche Hypo and ZIA Managing Director Klaus-Peter Hesse moves to ECE.

HI+Short-term changes

Augsburg. In Spain the founder of Tryp Hoteles, Rufino Calero, died. Hilton developer Ulrich Widmer leaves the company at short notice. Jan-Oliver Meding resigns from the board of Revitalis. And Gabriele Volz becomes the new CEO of Commerz Real.

HI+Change of location

Augsburg. Ramsay Rankoussi and Daniel Trappler will be responsible for the development of the Africa and sub-Saharan business at Radisson Hotel Group. Reiner Sachau of Marriott International announced his retiring at the end of the year. Marc Hoffmann is new GM of A-Rosa Sylt, his predecessor Eckart Pfannkuchen will change to Deutsche Hospitality. HRS has appointed Iris Steinmetz as Senior Director Operations EMEA, Carole Ackermann was elected new President of Board of Directors of EHL in Lausanne and the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz has created an entire new position.

HI+Unexpected changes

Augsburg. James Sherwood, the founder of the Orient Express Hotels, passed away in mid-May. The former CEO of Commerz Real, Andreas Muschter, will become CFO of The Student Hotel. Kempinski manager Eike Clausen moves from Aqaba to Malta. Denis Hüttig is now in charge of the operations of all hotels of the Steigenberger brand. 25hours has internal changes for the hotels in Vienna and Zurich. Erik Florvaag, previously Art-Invest partner, takes over the management of Ghotel Hotels.The family-run Park-Hotel Egerner Höfe at lake Tegernsee in Bavaria has hired a new director after the sale of the hotel. A new man is also at the helm of the Maxx Hotel in Potsdam and a manager with experience in the USA has taken over the Arborea Hotel on the Baltic Sea.

HI+Appointments all around the world

Augsburg. Joanna Gunn supports Rosewood as Chief Brand Officer. Matthias Heck, CFO Deutsche Hospitality, will leave the company. Cycas Hospitality strengthens its regional teams in France and Germany with five new appointments. Tabea Schalkowsky is the new Head of Marketing at Achat Hotels, Hotel BollAnts in Bad Kreuznach has a new director in Jörg Stricker, and Mews' Managing Director Bastian Stosic is now building up the hotel business with an eMobility provider.

HI+Change of Chief

Augsburg. Felizitas Denz takes over the operation of the east Hotel Hamburg, Reiner Heilmann hands over the management of Hotel Sacher Vienna to Andreas Keese, and Gabriele Maessen is the new president of the Cornell Hotel Society Germany.

HI+Careers and Farewells

Augsburg. Marriott International‘s Dave Grissen to retire, Penta Hotels Worldwide appointed Rogier Braakman as new Managing Director, Andreas Erben passed on his responsibilities as Managing Director of Gorgeous Smiling Hotels and Frank Rückner took over the management of Hotel Berlin in Berlin.

HI+Change of leadership with CEOs and in operation

Augsburg. Ajit Menon is promoted to Interim CEO at Meininger Hotels, the new CFO is Andrew Scott. Oliver Elsässer joins Brera Serviced Apartments in the operational division. Center Parcs appointed Andrea Nestle as General Manager of Park Allgäu in Leutkirch, Germany and Georgios Daskalakis moved to Abaton Island Resort in Crete.

HI+Old and new faces at the top

Augsburg. Steigenberger appoints André Witschi, an old acquaintance, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Dion Maes becomes General Manager of the 25hours in Paris and Travel Charme Hotels & Resorts fills two new management positions. Patrizia AG welcomes a new Co-CEO in Thomas Wels and says farewell to COO Klaus Schmitt, while Anna Heuer takes over the management of HSMA Germany.

HI+Changes at the turn of the quarter

Augsburg. The coronavirus has displaced almost all other topics in the last week. For the change to the 2nd quarter of 2020 there were now news again, including a death notice due to corona. There were changes at B&B Hotels Italy, at QR Quality Reservations, Dorint Hotels, 25hours Bikini Berlin and Intercity Hotels. Furthermore, two well-known developers changed the company.

HI+Coming and Going

Augsburg. IHG lets Martin Bowen and Caspar Kraushaar go and appoints Miguel Martins as Head of Development, Northern Europe. Deutsche Hospitality has to say goodbye to Gabriele Maessen and announces three new Area Managers and General Managers respectively. Andreas Kartschoke is the new director of the Hotel Bachmair am See and Janet Schroeder takes over the lead of Schlossgut Gross Schwansee.

HI+Surprising switches and regional responsibilities

Augsburg. Frank Marrenbach switches from Oetker Collection to Althoff Hotels. Kempinski appoints Wafik Youssef as new Vice President Operations, Middle East & Africa, while at Millenium Hotels and Resorts Hamid Sidine takes over the role of Managing Director for Saudi Arabia and COO for Turkey and Africa. Rolf E-Brönnimann swaps the Budersand Hotel for the Savoy Hotel Baur au Ville and Martin Dell becomes General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Prague. There are new responsibilities for the German-speaking countries with Annette Hopfensperger at Accor Academy and Eric Tapper as Key Account at B&B Hotels.

HI+New GMs and Directors

Augsburg. John Brady is the new Corporate Director E-Commerce at Vienna House. Kempinski, Wyndham and Pentahotels appoint new general managers: Richard Appelbaum, Helge Lütters and Carsten Schieck. And Savills strengthens its hotel investment team with Ann-Katrin Kaiser.

HI+New responsibilities on corporate level

Augsburg. Premier Inn appoints Ling Dross as Distribution Manager. At Novum Hospitality there is a coming and going: CFO Torsten Scholl leaves the company and will be replaced by Dr Stefan Gneuss. And B&B has a new Head of eBusiness in Klaas-Jan Meijer.

HI+The momentum of new executives

Augsburg. Orascom mourns the loss of its CEO Khaled Bichara. – Six Senses hired a new CCO and LVMH a specialist in the hotel and restaurant business. Rosewoood extended the power of their VP Global Sales & Marketing, Radisson expanded the geographical responsibility for its Area Senior Vice President, and Kempinski created a new position for Global Sales and The Americas. Marriott expanded his EMEA marketing team. Kerten Hospitality hired its first Global Commercial Head, the German Althoff Group two new heads for the Ameron and Urban Loft brands. TUI Group has hired a new Director for Sustainability and in Berlin there is a new Director for the Hotel Bristol. The new, almost completed Loftststyle Hotel Hanover has found its director, Colliers International another senior consultant. There were also new elections at HEDNA.

HI+New stuctures, new positions

Augsburg. Unexpected GM change at Adlon Berlin: Matthias Al-Amiry is transferred to Singapore, Michael Sorgenfrey takes over. Palladium Hotels has a new President and a new CEO. Mark Sands is promoted to Vice President of Wellness at Six Senses. Robert van der Graaf will take up his position as Director Development for the DACH region at IHG Althoff Hotels appoints Martin Steiner as Director of Finance Ameron Switzerland and RIMC appoints two new hotel directors in Switzerland. Stefan Schwind replaces Andreas Johannes Kartschoke as Director at Elephant Weimar, who is retiring. The law firm Hogan Lovells is gaining a new partner in Sandra Handke. And Commerz Real is strengthening its commitment to sustainability with two new executives, Tobias Huzarski and Viola Joncic.

HI+New jobs from Australia to Valencia

Wiesbaden. RIMC has upgraded in HR and Controlling with Jana Thielsen and Johannes Louris, The Welcome Hotel in Wesel has a new Director, Relais & Châteaux Italia has a new President and La Vie Hotels has a new Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Terme die Saturnia has strengthened its management team and Fairmas has a new location in Valencia with an experienced manager.

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