News & Stories

Berlin. Next week, on 16 May, EU tourism ministers will convene in Brandenburg, the German federal state surrounding the capital, Berlin. With tourism comprising an important economic factor for the structurally weak Brandenburg, the outcome of talks is awaited with impatience. The use of subsidy, in whatever form, is to be more strictly regulated: accommodation capacity is no longer to receive sponsorship. Only special projects now have a chance.

London/Munic For two years now the brand Le Méridien belongs to the Starwood-familiy and it has outperformed Starwood’s lofty financial expectations. The global presence of Le Méridien shall grow further. A new brand direction is to strengthen the French-European heritage of Le Méridien.

Untergriesbach. A German hotelier has nurtured enthusiasm for the hotel industry amongst the members of the marketing team of the German "fitness pope" Dr. Ulrich Strunz. In the meantime, the consortium of forever-young-Hotels GmbH founded one year ago has 15 hotels in Germany, Austria and Southern Tyrol.

Zurich. The members of the Swiss Deluxe Hotels cooperation look back on a successful 2006/07 winter season. It even exceeded the record results of the 2005/06 winter season. The investments carried out in the past few years have paid off. Vic Jacob, President of Swiss Deluxe and General Manager of the Suvretta House in St. Moritz, gives insight in the development and explains his personal strategy for success.

Dubai. "We are on track," confirms Arif Mubarak, CEO of Bawadi in Dubai. "The things that needed to be achieved in a year’s time, we have achieved. That includes sales, the number of partnerships, infrastructure, design, branding and communications." On a stretch of ten kilometres, the 29,000 rooms are to be designed as Egyptian pyramids, Hollywood, the Houses of Parliament in London and the moon. The investment is estimated at 100 billion Dh. The hotel is to be built in two phases. CEO Arif Mubarak with details about the present state of the master plan. 

Hamburg/Frankfurt. Starting from the unconventional design idea of just one person, a small pan-European hotel group is now being developed from its roots in Hamburg. 25hours hotels depart from every category and style definition mixing elements from the luxury hotel industry with budget stay-overs. Style-breaking design. The 25hours Hotel Company creates homes for urban nomads, who enjoy the informality of creative young branches of industry.

Paris. Accor announced the sale of Red Roof Inns to a consortium comprised of Citi’s Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund, L.P. for 1.32 billion US-Dollars. In the future Accor is refocusing on it’s brand Motel 6 in the US economy market.

Berlin. They represent a growth segment, and not only on the German market. And above that, they offer chances for founders - hostels. The new hospitality type is expanding because terms like "youth hostel" and "backpacker" hotel are protected. Due to their low requirements in terms of real estate and architecture, they are in high demand among investors. However, most of them are still operated by their owners. Despite that, a few chains have formed so far. Berlin has the highest number of hostels.

Frankfurt/M. At the first press conference after many years, InterContinental Hotels Group's managers for Germany have announced their plans for the local market. With 13,645 rooms, Germany is the most important market in Europe - after England, the company's mother country. Further growth has been planned. The joint venture with the former Dorint chain is over once and for all.

Wiesbaden. All over the world, about five million people have cast a glance at the second life, the new virtual world of "Second Life" or are among the frequent visitors. While major manufacturers of branded articles have been selling their products there for many months, most hotel companies still refrain from participating. Only Starwood and its aloft brand, the Austrian private hotel Uebergossene Alm and the Dutch holiday home provider Euro Relais have dared to enter the experiment with the virtual parallel world.