News & Stories

Augsburg. The keyword "News Mix" will bring to you tiny bits of news about considerable events of the past week(s): angelo/Katowice, art'otel/Cologne, Commerz Real/Motel One, Club Med/Orascom, GCC, Hilton/Omsk, Jumeirah/Maldives, LB Immo Invest/B&B, Peninsula/Shanghai, Scandic/Finland, RCI, Starwood Capital/Extended Stay, Whitbread/Emaar, YTL/Japan.

Berlin. Dusit International is coming to Europe with the first project already planned. Choice increases its support for franchisees. The Global Hotel Alliance and the Star Alliance are joining together with a unique loyalty programme, Leonardo will open up to franchise, Maritim possibly won't go to China, Moevenpick discusses a contract extension and The Leading Hotels announce ambitious revenue targets. News from ITB events and chats.

Paris. The current European hotel group ranking is marked by two major mergers: Louvre Hotels with Golden Tulip and NH Hoteles with Hesperia, in turn boosting each group’s position and into the top five. Meanwhile, Accor remains Europe’s leading group, whilst Best Western moves into second spot.

Frankfurt. News surrounding the budget isn't slowing: On the fringes of the ITB, Meininger Hotels announced a further hotel for Frankfurt Airport.

Berlin. Just on time for the ITB, the first German easyHotel opened in Berlin. People can stay here for 25 euros per night. In this way, the expansion in Continental Europe is continuing: the developers are planning ten hotels in Germany alone.

Kiel. Stability – but not for everyone. That is the short summary of the current status quo of German holiday travel demand. Despite the current economical crisis the passion of the world travel champions' did not decline. The current trends, published at ITB.

London. On average hotel values across Europe, measured in euro, showed a fall in value of 13%. On average over the past two years hotel values across Europe have fallen by close to 25%. In terms of hotel transactions, European hotel investment activity in 2009 fell still further, by around 50% - a drop of more than 85% on the volumes of 2007.

Berlin. The Kameha Grand Bonn has just celebrated its official opening and Kameha CEO Carsten Rath has already announced his next brand in the midscale range: a business chain with the pizazz and the lifestyle heart of Kameha.

Munich. This year's Treugast Trend Report forecasts extraordinary potential for Baden-Wurttemberg's C location, Ulm. The Hotel Investment Attractiveness Index developed by Treugast and Colliers - a return-orientated index used as a basis for decisions by investors, hotel companies and project developers, was the source of surprise at the ITB.

Berlin. It was Zurich first, and now Berlin. As briefly announced last week, Arabella Hospitality Group will open a Sheraton Hotel north of the Berlin Central Station in 2012. It will comprise 464 rooms.