News & Stories

Lausanne. Branded residences have been a growing phenomenon for well more than a decade, as hotel chains have sought to leverage their brands in the residential property market. The leading luxury hotel operator, Four Seasons, was one of the first lodging groups to seize the opportunity offered by residential real estate development. Already in 1985, the chain introduced branded private residences at its Four Seasons hotel property in Boston and, by the middle of the last decade, two-thirds of the chain’s projects under development had a residential component. However, there is a major question as to how seriously the major hotel brands that have lent their trademark to diverse projects around the world take the business.

Laax. The construction of the Laax Alpen Resort will likely begin in 2012. This expensive property will also incorporate apartments.

Basel. There are plans for a luxury hotel on Muensterplatz in the Swiss-German border city of Basel. Moreover, the Mercure Hotel Europe is undergoing a facelift.

Istanbul. Turkey as a gateway to central Asia, Istanbul as a gateway to new hotel dreams: the run on the economically sound but politically disputed country located at the Bosphorus has long started. A good many renowned faces from international hotel chains in Central Europe were seen at the 2nd Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference held at the InterContinental Hotel Istanbul two weeks ago. Turkish investors or financiers were hard to find. The pressure exerted by international hotel operators at the moment should make conservative Turkish investors finally think profitably, rather than just in terms of image and egoism. Even Turkish insiders are hoping this will happen. Global players are pretty fast and many of them are already turning away from Istanbul with their sights set on secondary cities.

London. One year since the beginning of the Arab Spring, demand has yet to return to Egypt, Bahrain and the Levant region. Demand remains under pressure.

Augsburg. The keyword "News Mix" will bring to you tiny bits of news about considerable events of the past week(s): Bavaria, Design Hotels/Amsterdam, Kempinski/India, Kerzner/China, Meliá/Rome, Resort World Sentosa/Singapore, Sheraton/Frankfurt, Starwood/Australia, Tryp/New York.

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.