News & Stories

Berlin. The international hotel consultancy Feuring and the real estate company Vivico want to offer services and consulting for hotel projects with newly founded Viador GmbH mainly in the German-speaking countries. In a first step, it is mainly projects of Vivico that are to be developed.

London. A British fund acquired a mixed portfolio in Germany, mainly consisting of hotels. One of them is the Hyatt Regency in Cologne.

Baar. A new Hapimag resort is now to be established near the world renowned Frauenkirche in Dresden. The building works are set to be challenge as the façade will be reconstructed true to the original façade of the British Hotel destroyed in 1945.

Brussels. At the beginning of June 2007, The European Commission presented a bill for new regulations for timeshare rights sending new shockwaves through the industry. In spite of awareness work undertaken by industry representative OTE, the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe, non-branch-relevant offers and products were included in the proposals. The awareness campaign surrounding the new directive failed at bureaucratic hurdles. The directive is intended to come into force in 2010 and regulates central elements of timeshare agreements such as cooling off period, the role of Travel Discount Membership Clubs and resale.

Geneva Christophe Piffaretti is no longer Managing Director of Kempinski Residences, Geneva. Last Monday, Jean-Claude Bailly relieved him of his duty as CEO of Kempinski Residences, himself assuming the position.

Sciacca/Sicily. Rocco Forte's planned Verdura International Golf Resort & Spa in Sicily was hailed as the start of a new epoch in golfing and as pioneer for at least ten further golf courses. Yet as construction works reach a bottle neck, environmental protection groups protest and architects demand six figure damage sums from Rocco Forte, things aren't looking too rosy.

Berlin. After its debut in Stockholm last year, "HI Design" took place at the InterContinental Berlin for the first time. "Hospitality Interior Design" provided a business meetings forum for those involved in all aspects of this specific industry. Design will remain an important factor in hot markets like Dubai or Moscow as well for strongly expanding companies like Rezidor. Panel discussions focussed on environmental issues in the design process.

Linz. In two years, Linz will be the 2009 European capital of culture. But already today, a hotel in Upper Austria's capital has particularly adapted to this time. The newly designed Spitz Hotel unites culture, style and design in a special way. Here, international know-how meets regional art.

Vienna. The 1st "Hotel & Tourism Day" with podium discussion and "speed networking" will take on the 24th of May 2007 at the international trade fair for trade and industry properties Real Vienna in Vienna.

Hamburg. The real estate capital company of LB Immo Invest GmbH is further extending its hotel portfolio. Now, it has taken over the NH Hotel Erlangen. The investment volume amounts to roughly 11 million euros. Further purchasing of hotels cannot be excluded.