News & Stories
Locarno. René Schweri, the well-off heir of Karl Schweri, founder of the Swiss super market Denner, did not extend his purchase right for the Grand Hotel in Locarno. This is an enormous setback for Locarno and the entire Ticino.
Munich. "all seasons is all you need". This was the slogan, the Accor group announced at the presentation of its most recent economy concept for Germany in Hamburg last Tuesday. For many months, there had been a website for the new brand and two hotels under this name, but no information. In Accor's definition, the economy type receives a "plus", as several services are included, and the franchisees can fall back on a flexible design concept. With this, Accor positions the new brand a tick above Ibis.
Stuttgart. Arkona Hotel Holding based in Rostock continues its city hotel expansion. A lease contract for the planned 200 room hHotel Traenke was signed in Stuttgart-Degerloch. Further contracts for Arkona properties at various locations await imminent conclusion. The hotel company has broadened its focus beyond business hotels and is now also looking to expand into the resort sector.
San Diego. During the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in San Diego last week, Hilton Hotels Corporation rolled out the first of two new brands it's expecting to introduce this winter. It's a mid-tier, extended-stay hotel concept for the American market.
Portsmouth/Atlanta. The US construction pipeline continues to decline und is expected to continue through 2010. Additionally, the number of hotels lacking cash flow will increase significantly in 2009, also property values will likely decrease.
Duesseldorf. The move came as a surprise: On 19th January, Hartl Resort Hotels terminated an agreement concluded just ten months ago with Lindner Hotels regarding a ten-year management contract in respect of the Hotel Maximilian in Bad Griesbach. The termination came without notice and - as the Lindner Public Relations Officer Ulrika Brandt made known - "without reason".
London. IHG opened the doors of Hotel Indigo London Paddington last week - the first Hotel Indigo outside North America - and announced a deal to open three more Hotel Indigo properties in the city.