News & Stories
Milan. It may be the classic and refined atmosphere of the Principe di Savoia Milan, but talking to Ezio Indiani, the General Manager of this hospitality icon which is a member of the Dorchester Collection, is like taking a trip to the simple elegance of a timeless hotel business: a place where ostentation is replaced by savoir faire and gracious kindness. In fact, the golden atmosphere of the luxury hospitality industry were to crown Indiani's dreams from his youngest childhood. In his parents' coffee bar in a small town in northern Italy, the boy would spend hours listening to special customers talk about their experiences as Maître d'Hôtel in two other icons of the Italian hotel industry: the Excelsior and Des Bains on the Lido di Venezia. "I was literally captivated by that fantastic universe made up of famous personalities and tycoons, where I eventually hoped to live and work". Today, 62-year old Ezio Indiani is the one strongly involved in securing the quality these famous people pay for. The Dorchester Collection offers a lot of quality tools and synergies.
Leipzig. The German Federal Administrative Court decided a few days ago that the method of charging the bed tax in Dortmund is unlawful and with this, likewise in Cologne. This has once again brought the discussion over the sense and nonsense of these payments into swing, but so far with little hope of insight by the cities.
Geneva. What many hoteliers have long suspected – that client acquisition costs are climbing in tandem with hotel revenues - has been confirmed by a recent study. It reveals that, while room revenue increased by 23% from 2009 to 2012, total customer acquisition costs rose at about the same pace - by just under 23%; meanwhile brand allocations and third-party commissions well outpaced growth in room revenue – rising by 37% and 34%, respectively, over the period.
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.