News & Stories

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.

Duesseldorf. WGF Westfaelische Grundbesitz und Finanzverwaltung AG feels comfortable in the class of asset hotels. A few weeks ago, the project developer sold the Holiday Inn Express Frankfurt City Hauptbahnhof. Moreover, it is interested in the boarding house segment.

Munich. The darkening mood surrounding the state of the global and in particular the EU economy was still not felt at Expo Real 2011: The mood among exhibitors and guests was good with all sides praising the event as an intensive working trade fair at which a whole range of projects could be launched and pushed further forward. Hotel exhibitors also benefitted from the first joint hospitality stand "World of Hospitality" this year. The stand also enjoyed much positive attention and benefitted from synergies both to the hotel conference "Hospitality Industry Dialogue" as well as to the hospitalityInside event "BRICKS & BRAINS". The following provides an initial summary of the trade fair. Individual reports on the events will follow.

Dubai. Dubai’s property sector, battered by the financial crisis of 2008, is beginning to stabilize, but Saudi Arabia and Qatar will be grabbing attention with their multi-billion dollar projects, said speakers at Dubai’s "Cityscape" real estate fair held end of September. Dubai’s real estate market is on the mend from the estimated 60 percent price drop thanks to the Arab revolution, which has highlighted the emirate’s status as a politically stable market that is backed by the oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi. But continuity of property recovery in Dubai hinges on bank lending appetite, the outcome of the Western world debt crises, and the development of regulation in the emirate to control and monitor property projects.

Munich. A new performance report has caused furore at the Expo Real this week. The analysis concluded exactly the opposite of what hotel investors often feared.