London. The 48-strong Ramada Jarvis hotel chain is surging ahead with a market re-positioning to a predominantly four-star group, driven by the consolidation of the hotel grading system in the UK into one, unified star system.

London. Rezidor SAS Hospitality is forging ahead with bullish plans to expand across the UK and Ireland in 2006 and 2007. Its current portfolio of 32 hotels - under the Radisson SAS, Park Inn and Country Inn brands - will soon swell to 40.

Frankfurt/Eschborn. Rezidor SAS Hospitality has pushed down costs by 14% for the business year 2004. For the most part this was the result of savings made in purchasing, COO Martin Rinck recently reported. The merger of Arcor's and Dorint's purchasing departments resulted in savings on the level of millions. Behind the scenes, "Supply Management" is beginning to play an incerasingly important role in the workings of the big chains. The new method of cost optimisation will be a central point of interest at Germany's first purchasing congress for the hotel industry in Leipzig next week.

Berlin. Berlin is swamped with hotel beds and masses of tourists. A paradoxical situation hospitalityInside.com described in detail in the last issue. Willi Weiland, President of the Hotel und Gaststättenverband Berlin und Umgebung e.V., and General Manager of the InterContinental Hotel Berlin, tries to explain this odd situation from a hotel manager's point of view.

Hong Kong/Paris. Shangri-La Asia has acquired the historic palais of Prince Roland Bonaparte with plans to convert it to the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris in late 2008, marking the group's European debut. The Bonaparte family mansion in Paris' 16th arrondissement will be converted into the capital's first luxury hotel fully owned and operated by an Asian hotel group.

Paris. 2005 confirms the solidity of the French hotel industry. The economic and 4* categories post the best performances. Revenue per available Room rose by 3,1% over the year, drawn by a progression from the average price of 2,3%. Occupancy rates increased slightly.

San Diego.  International hospitality consultants identified ten global issues and challenges in the hospitality industry for 2006, also valid for the European market. Energy costs will drive operating costs, for instance, higher brand standards make construction and renovation costs increase, technology is too old or under-utilized, owners or management companies pushing into niche markets will confuse the consumer more than ever.

London. Buy, build, retain or sell? A study has shown that investors are again becoming more confident. Around 35% of those holding assets in Europe are looking to buy in the short term. In Germany the Football World Cup has provided a special boost. German cities surprise with an increase in their internal rate of return.

Berlin. In Berlin hotel building and tourism are booming. The current situation is paradoxical, however: overnight stays are rising continuously while prices are slumping. On a national basis, in terms of room yields, Berlin comes third behind Frankfurt and Munich while European-wide the city has slipped from 13^th to 18^th . In the luxury sector the squeeze has begun but in the budget sector there would still be room for new hotels, says one of the city’s representatives.