News & Stories
Wiesbaden. A national smoking ban in all public spaces - in state offices, trains and buses - to enter into force as from January 2008 has already been decided in February this year. A similar ban for pubs and restaurants, however, falls within the legislative authority of the federal states, each of which will allow for their own list of exceptions. Now, many non-smokers are hoping to achieve a final and complete ban with help from Brussels. Yet while EU politicians' hands remain tied, the smoke seems to be clearing on its own back in Germany.
St. Christoph/Arblerg. The Arlberg Hospiz hotel wants to ensure ten-month occupancy at top rates with an elite training refuge in the ski resort of St. Christoph, Austria. Some big names stand behind this idea for further training at 1,700 metres above sea level.
Berlin. "A good economy is only partly able to cover the structural weaknesses of Germany as a hotel location," said Fritz G. Dreesen, Chairman of the Hotelverband Deutschland, in Berlin at the association's annual press conference on Wednesday. He denounced the irregularities that could once again or still call into question the 2006 upswing. This includes the continuously high VAT rate for the hotel industry, the scandalously high radio licence fees compared to the rest of Europe and currently, the upholding of German law in terms of contractual obligations vis-à-vis foreign guests. Dreesen appealed to the federal government to ensure that there will finally be more equal opportunities within Europe.
Berlin. The Treugast Investment Ranking, presented each year for the last eight years just prior to the ITB, is each time awaited with baited breath. This year there were a few surprises in store. One of these surprises: German hotel chains have recorded above average results, one of them even securing a position in the top ranking hotels. The award of "Most Wanted Investment Partner" was made to an American firm.
London. Peter Cashman, Executive Director of Choice Hotels Europe resigns and plans to leave the group on 30 March 2007. At the same date company secretary Sam Marshall will retire as company secretary. This became public in a statement yesterday. CHE also announced to streamline the management and cut costs of one million Pounds Sterling.
Heiligendamm. A twelve-million Euro fence will soon be encircling the Kempinski Hotel Heiligendamm. This week's TV footage showed the start of the construction work focused on June 6 -8, 2007. At this time, the luxury resort in Northern Germany will host the G8 summit, the meeting of the eight most influential heads of government in the world, and will therefore have to be properly sealed off. By the end of December, the hotel had already been the target of a "colour-bag attack". Maria Puetz-Willems talked with Kempinski's General Manager Torsten Dressler about the current status of the preparations, security issues and the summit's meaning for the resort and the entire destination.
Donaueschingen. The first two hotel take-overs in Germany completed by the Sinn Group last year caused quite a stir: a hotel in Donaueschingen, closed for 12 years, and the Steigenberger Hotel in Mannheim, heavily in need of urgent investment, were the objects of the take-overs. So what was the plan and who makes up the team behind such investments?
