News & Stories

Vals. In the Swiss Alps, gigantism is on the rise. With a new hotel project in Vals, both investor and real estate manager from Chur, Remo Stoffel, and Pius Truffer, head of the Vals-based quarry operator of the same name, are aiming really high: they are planning a 381-metre-tall thin tower – nothing less than the "tallest building in Europe" and the "tallest hotel building in the world". It would even surpass JW Marriot Marquis Hotel in Dubai, which currently holds the world record reaching 355 metres into the sky. In Vals, a tiny, high-lying mountain village in the no-man's-land of Graubuenden, a new tourism era is to be initiated: clientele are to arrive primarily via helicopter. However, experts are very critical with respect to the 300-million-franc project and advise not to "pursue it any further".

Cannes. At the real estate investment fair MIPIM in Cannes, France, the following was clear: The industry is booming, capital investment in "concrete gold" remains popular, also in hotel real estate - and this not only in the economically successful or halfway stable "core countries". For 2015, a new transaction record is expected. Prices are rising, returns are falling and investors are considering whether they shouldn't rather be taking some greater risks. Trends and assessments at Expo Real 2014 Munich last October and from the IHIF Berlin at the beginning of March are therefore consolidating.

(March 13, 2015). Leonardo Hotels opened the first hotel of the brand in the UK. The hotel group signed a 25 year-lease with the Standard Life Investments Pooled Pension Property Funds.

(March 13, 2015). GBI & Holiday Inn Express: Real Estate developer GBI AG converts the former office building of the Gothaer insurance in Cologne into a Holiday Inn Express which will be the biggest hotel of the brand in Europe due to its 323 rooms.

(March 6, 2015). Dusit International and Prince Hotels have entered into a strategic marketing alliance that allows the companies to leverage on each other's local expertise, as well as sales & marketing resources, to create opportunities for cross-selling, marketing and promotions.

(March 6, 2015). Accor signed an agreement to sell MGallery Zurich in a Sale & Management-Back-Transaction to a private investor. He already is a franchisee of the group.

(February 27, 2015). Hyatt Hotels Corporation in conjunction with Miami-based development group Robert Finvarb Companies and its partner David Martins announced the anticipated April 2015 opening of Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami.

Paris. Hyatt International started into the new year with three clear development strategies. On the one hand, the hotel group intends to push its franchise brands outside North America for the first time; countries on the wish-list include Spain and the Scandinavian countries. From a brand perspective, the focus will clearly be on those cities in which Hyatt has not been present up to now - or cities will be "topped up" with further brands. Two weeks ago, Hyatt presented its newest brand "Centric" - for the "curious". This certainly does make one curious. A tour d'horizon with Peter Norman, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development at Hyatt International.

Rome/Milan. Six Sicilian hotels will soon be auctioned as part of a compulsory winding-up procedure. The properties include business and luxury hotels as well as trophy assets. They are owned by the Roman holding Acqua Marcia, which has been under a reorganization program since 2012… A fund in Venice is also going to invest in trophy assets. Both moves show that Italian hotel heritage is undergoing a beautification to be sold soon.

Vienna. The European Investment Bank will make up to EUR 250 million available to Austria's tourism industry up to 2020. The funds can be accessed by tourism companies through the specialised Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank. Tourism is the driving force behind Austria's economy. Politicians have long recognised this fact. In order to stimulate investment through difficult times, the supply of subsidised loans will be further expanded. A welcome fact: Austria's hotels have again built up equity.