News & Stories

Rome. While the country is waiting for the initial figures on the holiday season marked by particularly bad weather, another bad piece of news struck the hospitality sector in the Italian capital: Starting September 1,  increased bed taxes were implemented in Rome for all accommodation properties, except for hostels. The tax increases amounted to 100% and 133% respectively for the 4- and 5-star hotels.

Berlin. Every fourth German citizen sees the new Internet platforms as an alternative to the hotel or to the traditional holiday apartment. Two-thirds are against the restriction of such offers. A representative survey has demonstrated this.

Wiesbaden. The new hotelier generation is not only a host, but also a business person. They spend much more energy on calculating their interior design purchases than their parents – and make a financially-driven distinction under the rules of a short-lived or long-lasting investment. There, the long-lasting carpet wrestles with the ten euro chair. In the meantime, sustainability has also become an undeniable purchasing criterion. And individuality. Even the hoteliers who purchase their equipment from central sources, ask, in part for exclusive pieces of furniture. However, every trend also has its countertrend again. Susanne Stauss has carefully listened to what the professionals from the large purchasing companies Progros, Atlas and Hogast have to say about the spending and trend behaviour of the hoteliers.

Berlin. In conjunction with the European Hotelstars Union, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association has revised the key data regarding the German hotel classification that have been in effect since 2010 and will be updated as scheduled on January 1, 2015. Until the end of August, the association is encouraging feedback on the new system.

Zurich. Financial centre, conference location, tourism magnet, lifestyle city: Zurich embodies all of these. Foreign investors in particular are still flocking to the Swiss multi-cultural metropolis. Almost every large hotel group with European or global trade names has Zurich in their sights. Alongside this, newcomers such as the anticipated Grand Kameha lifestyle hotel are clawing at the upper-end market. The true luxury hotels of the city likewise have this in sharp focus. Nevertheless, they are confident that only a few can serve the "true" high-end clientele. However, they must also work for this themselves, invest a great deal and define tailor-made luxury. A conversation with Mark Jacob, Managing Director of the Dolder Grand Zurich that recently published current business numbers, and with Wilhelm Luxem, General Manager of the Zurich hotel icon Baur au Lac, which is also usually reserved. How do these two hoteliers view their property, their challenges and Zurich's market?

Paris. Once again French politicians and lawmakers are showing poor sense of creativity when it comes to taxes. Last week, the Assemblée Nationale considered a proposal to increase the limit on hotel taxes – up to 8 euros!

Frankfurt/M. The hotel certification of the German Business Travel Association VDR has now developed a certificate for serviced apartments in addition to its already existing certificates for business travel hotels and conference hotels. It was introduced at the VDR conference at the beginning of April.

Vienna. "Mmmmm, the orange juice in the minibar, the refreshing shower gel... Fair tastes and smells better" or "the soft cotton bedding, the coffee in the morning... I love it when hotels offer Fairtrade products." Is such ebullient praise by a small number of people on Expedia, TripAdvisor, Facebook and Twitter to be taken seriously? Those who calm the social and ecological conscience of their guests are in trend - and remain in conversation. Ethical trade and sustainability are also to be found within the hotel industry.

Dubai. Dubai has introduced a new charge, called "Tourism Dirham", on tourists staying at hotels as part of efforts to fund the promotion of the emirate as a travel destination.

Kruen/Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Angela Merkel has a good memory. Dietmar Mueller-Elmau has no less than Chancellor Merkel to thank for the decision to use Schloss Elmau in Bavaria as host to the G8 summit 2015. The hideaway & spa resort in the idyllic Elmau valley would shine a global camera light on the entire region around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the equivalent of a lottery win for the area as tourism has fallen quiet over the past few years – especially since the Americans began staying away. Many hotels in Munich and in the Allgaeu region will benefit from the summit which will attract 7,000 journalists alone. With its philanthropic past, its status as luxury hotel today and its secluded location in a high valley, Schloss Elmau has all the features required to host a high-profile political summit. A "hotel in the hotel" will also be set up alongside Schloss Elmau, a new retreat with 12 identical presidential suites. Dietmar Mueller-Elmau, owner of Schloss Elmau, and his direct hotel neighbour, Jakob Edinger, owner of the spa resort Das Kranzbach, explain why they will reserve their hotels for a full four weeks exclusively for the summit.