News & Stories
Innsbruck. A career changer without any special training and experience in tourism is to revitalise Oetztal Valley in Austria, which is mainly known as one of Austria's top-class skiing resorts. The heart, the town of Soelden, records the highest number of room nights of the Alpine Republic after Vienna. 39-year old Oliver Schwarz from the car industry is mainly aiming at reviving summer tourism in the alpine region - with sports. Many others are trying to do the same.
Meran. Its holistic approach and nature orientated active programme set the newly founded consortium Vitalpina Hotels South Tyrol apart from other marketing associations. It begins with 17 members in the 3 and 4 star sector. It aims for 25 members within a year.
Duesseldorf. The Duesseldorf based hotel consultant Monika Krauthahn has put together a collection of 3 to 5 star British hotels, which she is marketing as of immediately in German speaking Europe. The preliminary success speaks for itself.
Thun. The American Mark Advent, who has been building leisure centres for hotels and casinos with his company of Eight Wonder, is planning a gigantic resort facility in Hungary. During the Swiss Economic Forum in Thun, Switzerland where Advent spoke in early May, the 46-year old entrepreneur, founder and Chair of Eight Wonder, talked about his experience and plans.
Cologne/Munich. After the successful separation of their parent companies Accor and the old Dorint AG, the two brands Dorint and Novotel are now visually going separate ways as well. Both groups presented their new brand appearance and have announced strategic changes in the last few days.
Duesseldorf. In 2010, a Hyatt Regency hotel with 286 rooms is to be opened at Duesseldorf's Medienhafen. For the first time after nine years of stagnation, Hyatt is expanding in Germany. According to Gebhard Rainer, Hyatt’s representative in Europe, further hotels could definitely follow.
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.