News & Stories

Munich. 2013 was a good year for the hotel industry. Concerning profits, the year 2014 has deteriorated a little. However, the hotel market offers many new perspectives. The luxury hotel industry remains the flagship but is trying to find innovative ways. The gastronomy section is winning honour again with funny ideas and "top-roof" locations; new customer groups, and also new investors are causing a sensation and ensuring that the hotel market remains exciting for guests, investors and operators in 2014. A situation report from the "After Work Talk" with PKF hotel experts in Munich.

Brussels. Being profitable is not always the guarantee of a successful business. The bankruptcy of Le Méridien Brussels is just and another sad example. High labor costs are said to be one reason for the desaster.

Paris. Asset Heavy instead of Asset Light: Accor's announcement on Tuesday to buy 97 hotels in Europe massively underpins the turnaround in the real estate approach of the European hotel market leader. The focus lies on budget hotels.

Frankfurt/M. Vacation real estate is no longer a pure status symbol and luxury good for personal use. Many such properties serve as pensions and a broad middle class are looking at vacation real estate with rental returns in mind.

Dubai. Dubai is a magnet, particularly when it concerns events and investments. The emirate sets the standard: Before the Dubai Boom in the last decade, one had to fly to Hong Kong or New York to get the latest and craziest trends in architecture/design or also in F&B, today the excursion reaches exactly there. The city is a trendsetter – currently underpinned by the spectacular Opus building by the Omniyat real estate developer from Dubai within whose walls the Spanish hotel chain Meliá Hotels International will create a new landmark with their luxurious design and lifestyle brand ME by Meliá. The photos speak for themselves.

Buergenstock/Lucerne. High above Lake Lucerne, near Lucerne in Switzerland, the legendary Buergenstock Resort is being built anew. The construction of the Waldhotel with its primary focus on "Health" has just begun. It will be one of the largest new buildings in the redesigned Buergenstock Resort, whose opening has been shifted from 2015 to 2017 in the meantime. Three planning permits are currently still absent. Meanwhile, several subprojects and key elements of the infrastructure have been finished. A taking of stock of the nearly 400 million Euro-expensive project with three hotels, residences and many restaurants. Standing behind this is Katara Hospitality from Doha.

London. "In nominal terms the market is almost back at its pre-recession peak but it remains significantly behind in real terms." This is one key conclusion of the third "European Cities Hotel Forecast 2014 and 2015".

Munich. In the highly competitive hotel market in Munich, Mandarin Oriental is securing its position through more rooms and residences in a second building across the road. The luxury hotel group is investing about 124 million euros in its trophy asset.  In the highly competitive hotel market in Munich, Mandarin Oriental is securing its position through more rooms and residences in a second building across the road. The luxury hotel group is investing about 124 million euros in its trophy asset.

Cannes. 20,000 trade fair visitors, 4,300 investors and almost 2,000 companies and project developers, city and regional planners from over 80 countries... The real estate fair MIPIM certainly appeared to be in good shape as it took place for the 25th time recently. With regard to demography and environment though, the mood was much more contemplative than in previous years. For a while now, city representatives have made their way to Cannes and have reported on what's causing them headaches. This year, it was London's mayor who demanded affordable housing for Londoners. Other topics included city planning and how resource shortages can be avoided: upcycling instead of recycling is the buzz work here. Hotels play little role at the MIPIM, though the discussion in the general real estate sector also impacts on the expansion plans and price calculations of hotel operators and investors. Accordingly, our correspondent Birgitt Wuest was there.

Rome. Through the rumours gathered by the Italian economic newspaper "Il Sole 24 Ore", NH Hotels, Accor and Starwood Capital seem to be aiming at acquiring Italian Una Hotels.