News & Stories

Paris. The small country of Qatar is snapping up investments at a brisk pace in recent months, including hotel trophy assets and two wellknown hotel groups in France now.

Wiesbaden. Drive for expansion of international chains looking for franchise or management agreements is massively thwarted in the lease stronghold of Europe and Germany in particular. So-called owner agreements are meant to reduce risks resulting from the growing number of three-way relationships between owner/investor, lessee and franchisor. But is this "safety belt" worth all the time and money? Lawyers are rubbing their hands with glee: as soon as three contractual partners need to be reconciled instead of two, business is on the horizon. In addition: hotel operating agreements are concluded not only between the owner and the operator as well as the operator and the franchisor, but also increasingly between the owner and the franchisor. Owner agreements are meant to prevent owners from suddenly being left high and dry without a brand if they have trouble with the lessee. The other way round, they connect the brand with the location in case the lessee goes into insolvency. But what are its benefits in practice? The developers of Starwood Hotels, Choice, Marriott, and InterContinental Hotels give some answers.

Munich. Hotel valuation is an exciting and often controversial topic. Three experts in this field have now penned an informative new book which provides a detailed explanation of all factors which have to be taken into account on assessing this special real estate form.

Paris. Shareholder in Accor, Colony Capital asked the group to consider outsourcing its real estate division, according to the French economic newspaper "Les Echos". Accor CEO Denis Hennequin is reluctant to the idea. Interesting news along the way: Former Accor CEO Gilles Pélisson joins NH Hoteles' board. 

Heilbronn. Which instruments allow investors to forecast the profitability of hotel real estate in Germany? Prof Christian Buer from the University of Applied Sciences in Heilbronn has dedicated a research thesis to this subject and arrives at the following: "Potential for further hotels in the multipolar hotel market is to be sought in economically stable locations, that is, in locations which make steady economic progress and where fluctuation in economic cycles is low." This seems logical - though is not the case in reality. In practice, hotel development is concentrated on the "large cities". Buer calls for feasibility studies to reassess the basis on which they draw their conclusions; for them to move away from tourism statistics and towards gross domestic product.

Munich. After Motel One announced its first project in London, the group immediately announced the next budget design hotel at a top location in the centre of Vienna. In addition, a buyer for a new planned hotel in Brussels has been found.

Paris. Together with Microsoft, Novotel introduces a new room concept, combining architecture of the future with new technology. One of the rooms can already be booked at a Novotel.

Engelberg. The well-known Hotel Europe in the Swiss Engelberg, 25 km to the south of the Lake Lucerne, has been sold to a Chinese investor who is already engaged in hotel industry and tourism.

Munich. Can social media affect the value of hotels? “Yes, they can!” says Bruno Wolf in front of a surprised audience at Expo Real in early October. With several decades of experience in the world of hotels, the distribution and Internet expert explained to financiers and investors the importance of this young distribution channel. Similar to being present in classic reservation systems and online reservation portals, opinions of guests have a deciding effect on reservation behaviour. Factors deciding on reservations thus affect turnover and profit. Bruno Wolf in an interview with Maria Puetz-Willems on this new, young topic of “real estate and reputation management”.

Berne. In Switzerland, there are new hotel projects on the horizon: in Vals in Graubuenden, a new hotel will be developed in addition to a thermal bath and a hotel; in Appenzell, a health hotel is planned and another one at the Derby area in Davos Dorf.