News & Stories

Hertenstein. The Austrian investor Peter Puehringer had great plans for a hotel on the peninsula Hertenstein on Viewaldstaetter Lake in Switzerland. He had hoped to commence construction this year to finish in 2012. The project has now ground to a halt.

Geneva. Kempinski Residences receives around 150 project offers per year - of those, perhaps only two or three are realised. Following in the footsteps of international players such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons which have successfully strengthened their brands with residences for decades, two and a half years ago, the luxury hotel group based in Geneva founded the joint venture "Kempinski Residences". In contrast to the approach of many other operators, Kempinski's business model also obligates the investor/developer. Either together or not at all, Kempinski wishes to create luxury living products connecting the lifestyle of its clients with the lifestyle promise of the Kempinski brand. And the current economic crisis has not changed the plan one bit.

Mainz Seventy-two-year old Berno-H. Feuring will not resign. "When I will resign? My wife asks me this every day," says the smiling head of Feuring in Mainz, a company that has been shaking up the international hotel market for 50 years. Feuring has his company in good order and arranged the issue of his succession with his sons, daughters and son-in-law a long time ago. However, he is drawn to the company every day, as developing hotel projects is his great passion. Since its foundation, the Feuring Group has managed more than 400 projects from the Atlantic coast to the Urals, and belongs to the silent pros on the market. Reason enough for an interview with the experienced hotel real estate expert about Feuring, the current economic crisis and its impact on the real estate market.

 

Bol. Austria is the clear number one when it comes to direct foreign investments in Croatia. Therefore, its own investors' association was founded recently. The Austrian hotel investors are now applying pressure to the government of Croatia. Even the Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group no longer excludes a withdrawal from their mega resort Punta Skala due to negative experiences. Especially in tourism, investments from Austria are noticeable, as nearly one third of all international investments are primarily covered by Austrian capital.

Berlin. "Don't leave the physical state of your destination to investors and politicians. Architecture is a key part of your business,"   Professor Dr Felizitas Romeiss-Stracke from the Technical University of Munich gave a clear warning to hoteliers and tourism developers during a session about tourism and architecture at the "ITB Destination Day" in Berlin. The secret behind successful destination marketing is the story for the guest. There are two approaches to show the influence of architecture on tourism in very different ways.

Frankfurt/M. The European, Middle East and African hotel investment markets continued its decline in the first quarter of 2009. Both portfolio transactions and individual transactions recorded massive losses. With a hotel investment volume of about 700 million euros the market had a similar level as in 2003.

Berlin/Kassel. According to a study, private German shareholders favour domestic holiday real estate. 48 percent of all objects are located in German holiday destinations. Holiday real estate abroad is divided among Spain, Italy and France. Even in times of crisis, German holiday real estate remains on the winning side: 53.5 percent invested in Germany in 2008, while the USA are ranked second with eight percent in terms of foreign real estate.

Brussels. OTE has changed its name to "Resort Development Organisation". The new name is reflective of developments in the vacation ownership industry, which has changed dramatically since the 1960s when timeshare was first sold, giving the consumer a fixed week at one resort.

Baar. Despite the difficult economic environment, Hapimag, the Swiss specialist for holiday rights of residence, was able in 2008 to build on its success of previous years, achieving five per cent growth and a positive
result.