News & Stories
Kempinski Hotels is currently like a ship on the high seas. A helmsman with experience and intuition is lacking though. The rumour mill is in full swing; the signs point to change following too many changes in recent months. Tough times for a highly respected luxury group.
For Adagio, Europe's largest aparthotel chain, there is currently only one path to growth: Quality. The prime locations in the city centre have been identified, as have the in-house services. With every conversion and refurbishment, CEO Xavier Desaulles enhances the value of the lobby and the apartments. The aim: to increase revenue.
The more chains franchise their luxury brands, the more hotel corporations expand their services and partnerships. This was evident after my conversation with Chief Developer Philipp Weghmann of Preferred Hotels. With 625 individual hotels, the group has already overtaken Leading Hotels because it has been proactive across many channels, from the sales team to AI. An update.
The Indian technology platform PRISM is determined not to let this latest attempt at a stock market listing fall through. Their portfolio of physical hotels continues to grow rapidly. In Germany, it now has a solid foothold following Revo's insolvency with 24 properties. There remains a contrast: Tech generates revenue at the touch of a button, whilst European hotel standards require the operation to be delivered in person – on site, 24/7.
This time, Charlie MacGregor, the Social Hub founder, argued for "purpose" – it only counts if it appears on the balance sheet, not just in the mission statement. He walked through the company's journey from student housing to a 21-hub social model, backed by hard numbers on revenue, NOI and community value. Then he asked a harder question: will any of it survive him?
Every spring, Karin Leeb and Martin Klein invest millions in their 116-room wellness hotel on the little-known Lake Turracher in Carinthia. The hotelier couple are disruptors and innovators in their own right - from the arena-style event sauna to AI, in online sales, on social media, and in their relationships with their 130 staff members.
Leonardo Hotels are expanding but doing so cautiously. Financially, the Fattal Group subsidiary is stable. It is a conservative operator, and that is how it is to stay. Operations must be in good health. It's the rent cover that counts. A franchise just costs money. Managing Director Yoram Biton on the "down-to-earth" business model.
Along with the results for the 2026 fiscal year, which Whitbread presented a week ago, the company also announced a new five-year plan. It surprised everyone with new, extremely challenging cost-cutting measures and divestment announcements. The portfolio of owned hotels is shrinking, branded restaurants are off the table, and hotel restaurants are getting a makeover. The board is fully focused on speed and returns.
Two months ago, hotel executives in Dubai were talking about a golden era. New Year's Eve occupancy reached 94%. RevPAR crossed €500 for the first time. Then February 28 happened. Within 72 hours, lobbies emptied, Dubai International Airport shut down, restaurants went dark. One of the most confident hospitality markets on Earth entered survival mode. Sarah Douag visited Dubai last week.
The insolvency lawyers handling the Revo Hospitality case are working on the 121 insolvent companies for which proceedings have now officially commenced. 25 hotels have a new operator. Two administrators are in talks with potential buyers, a group which is believed to include Ruslan Husry. Such progress could still all amount to nothing though.