News & Stories

Munich. Students of the Munich University of Applied Sciences have tested the ten biggest German hotel groups in terms of data protection. Only two—Kempinski and Steigenberger – came out with satisfactory results. Accor, Best Western, InterContinental, Maritim, Hilton, HospitalityAlliance, Marriott and Starwood either did not answer queries at all or evaded questions. The example shows: The hotel industry still deals insufficiently with this sensitive issue. However, it has become law in the meantime.

Frankfurt/M. Another certificate for the German hotel industry is in the offing: As of August, the two pilot hotels, Steigenberger and InterCity Hotel at Frankfurt airport will flaunt the first "Certified Conference Hotel" label on their entrance doors. 250 hotels are to be certified within the next two years. With its criteria, the initiator, Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V., wants to place planning reliability and trust in German conference qualities in the hands of professional organisers of congresses. Meanwhile, the first VDR certification project, the "Certified Hotel", is hovering.

Berlin. The old name is gone and even the differences to a hotel have become completely blurred. The market segment of apartments is going through a radical change. The old term "boarding house" always radiated a slight red-light atmosphere, while the new term "serviced apartments" allows for fewer implications. That sounds serious. And now, it is to become even more serious: 72 hotels in Germany are to undergo a quality check and be categorised this autumn.

Berlin. Just like the classic hotel industry, Germany's serviced apartment market is struggling with overcapacities, mixed concepts and price dumping. In contrast to "pure" hotels, this market segment is definitely more unstable says Anett Gregorius, Managing Director Boardinghouse Consulting in Berlin, Germany's leading consulting and reservation company in this business segment, in its latest market assessment.

London. Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts are continuing their worldwide expansion unbridled. The takeover of the deeply indebted group has already been set up; however, it has announced 21 new openings, as hospitalityInside reported last week. John Griffin, Vice President Worldwide Marketing, answers three important questions in this context.

Kempten. Kempten county court has issued an arrest warrant for a television producer for his failure to provide a TV plug as contractually promised to a hotelier.

Frankfurt/M. For the first time, the sales, marketing and distribution organisation Worldhotels starts a global training service for the management and the employees of approximately 500 member hotels all over the world.

Avignon. For five years Christian Windfuhr led the fate and fortunes of the Maritim Hotel Company. The experienced hotelier has now left the company. Windfuhr on his future and that of the German hotel industry.

London. Hilton International Hotels' new Chief Executive, Ian Carter, has announced a new structure for the business, effective 1 July 2005. One of the most important introductions is the new Commercial Operation Group, which will comprise the Sales, Marketing, eCommerce & Distribution and IT functions. It's President will be Juergen Fischer.

Heilbronn. At the Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, the board members of international chains discussed the importance of brands for the first time. They seem to know that not every group or hotel has enough potential for becoming a brand. In their publication, Prof. Dr. Christian Buer and Andreas Gross discuss creating, developing and evaluating brands.