News & Stories

Alpbach. Are hotel chains steamrolling the private hotel industry? Experts generally deny such claims, but in a discussion in Austria, they then came up with numerous reasons why private hoteliers could be displaced by the larger chains. In terms of performance, private hoteliers are currently doing well, though the chains allegedly enjoy certain privileges at the municipal level. A few new chain hotels won`t be able to change Austria`s heavily family-dominated hotel structure so quickly, though a discussion between consultant Jakob Edinger and hotelier Erich Falkensteiner touched on fundamental differences and challenges. The Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank provided figures for comparison.

Schwelm/Wupptertal. After a successful career as an operator of nursing homes, the Lohbeck family from Schwelm dedicated itself to the world of hospitality. In the meantime, a total of nine individual German 4 and 5-star hotels are combined under the name of Dr. Lohbeck Privathotels. The group’s expansion has not come to a halt yet. It is still on the lookout for some new gems.

Wiesbaden. If they don’t make the switch on time, many German hoteliers will shortly be facing a total "blackout” on their TVs. From May 1, 2012, television will be solely digital in Germany. The German Hotel Association throws light on the issue. But that is just one facet of the whole aspect of hotel TV, as it keeps on challenging hotels – screens are getting bigger, TV programs are customized to guests, but two hoteliers think that TV and the Internet will remain separate.

Duesseldorf. Board of directors, organisational chart, five-year plan? Such things are handled differently at Van der Valk Hotels than in other chains. Today and in eight countries, 89 properties are included in the Dutch group with this name. Since 1986, they have been represented in the German market where there are, at present, already 14 Van der Valk hotels. Information about the strategy of the company is scarce. A look behind the scenes of a unique, complex family company.

Munich. In future, there will be only two parties in this partnership: the owner – Bayerische Hausbau within the Schoerghuber Group – and the manager Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The former intermediary operator Arabella Starwood Hotels will be dissolved on July 1, 2011. The joint venture agreement with Starwood, once initiated by Stefan Schoerghuber in 1998 with a 51:49 ratio, no longer exists. 23 of a total of 39 hotels from the current Arabella Starwood portfolio will be transferred directly to the management of Starwood. Starwood will have its own offices in the Schoerghuber house. The remaining staff members will be taken over/ transferred. So far, 25 employees have already left or will leave the business. Before the press, both parties signed the new agreement on Tuesday.

Cologne/Berlin. InterContinental Hotels Group has won back two strategically important hotels, though in so doing has had to exchange a risk-free management contract for a more risky lease contract. And Dorint has also made some cash - allegedly millions of it. The poker game surrounding the old/new InterContinental Hotels in Berlin and Duesseldorf is therefore over.

Cologne. InterConti will move back to the InterConti! In Berlin the old operator will be the new one. Neue Dorint GmbH is withdrawing from its lease agreement completely. This was officially confirmed by Union Investment, the property owner one hour ago. It seems that it was the one big chance to make some cash and strengthen its own liquidity for Neue Dorint GmbH. About the future of the former InterConti Duesseldorf/the current Dorint Hotel, Neue Dorint GmbH did not yet release a statement. Both parties have made absolute fools of themselves.

Paris. Not the implausible six or seven stars crown the absolute cream of the French luxury hotel industry, but the endorsement, "Palace". Now eight properties are freshly chosen Palaces. The famous Ritz or George V are not included.

Lisbon. The Portuguese Group, Tivoli Hotels & Resorts offers quite special experiences to its guests and in the meantime, is expanding in South America. On this basis, the hotels should also profit from it in the homeland. The management works together on the marketing of the properties with many different consortia; in the spa segment, with Banyan Tree. In contrast to the country of Portugal that has a hard time financially, Tivoli can be happy about rising revenue and RevPar.

Cologne. In Cologne, the "bed tax" is already reducing the business of the hotels: figures of the first quarter 2011 are proof of this. The industry continues its fight on the political level as Cologne wants to set signals.