News & Stories
Munich. At this precise location, in the centre of Munich, Pfanni once produced its world-famous dumplings; now, smart gastronomic businesses and creative hotels are providing jobs and new life in the new Werksviertel. Re-thinking urbanity - that's what Gambino Hotels also wanted to do when it took part in the alternative concept of the Pfanni heir. The Gambino Spirit draws attention to new, sustainable paths in the hotel industry.
Hong Kong. When Covid-19 broke out in China, Stefan Leser wasn’t there but on business in Europe. Since then, he's already travelled twice around the world, totally infection-free. The CEO of Hong Kong's Langham Hospitality Group is working hard to grow the portfolio of 24 luxury and first-class hotels - most quickly and preferably in Europe.
Berlin. Two German economists calculate that a nationwide testing strategy is significantly cheaper than a continued lockdown. Their paper is freely available on the internet. If the current strategy is continued, they warn of another lockdown after Easter.
Berlin. Since Monday, Germany has been discussing closing airports to keep out the new virus mutations. On Tuesday, media made public that Chancellor Angela Merkel would prefer to ban travel altogether. Ten days ago, the German newspaper ZEIT Online described a new no-covid strategy with the aim of creating virus-free "green zones". This plan allegedly also pleases Merkel. But also tourism, including the hotel and restaurant industry?
Geneva. On 14 December 2020, Martin Smura's era as CEO of Kempinski was over. Now it's time to clean up.
Washington DC. The riots by Trump's supporters inside The Capitol in Washington DC last week prompted Corporate America to reconsider political funding immediately, including Marriott Hotels, Hilton, Airbnb and major banks.
Munich. The top executives of national as well as international hotel chains and smaller groups from the German-speaking region formulate their demands to politicians here and now. They demand fair treatment and the preservation of proportionality between the industries, they expect the quick implementation of simple practical things like testing and vaccination, less bureaucracy - but above all: politicians who keep their promises!
Madrid. On the same day that the regional decree came into force allowing the validation of antigen tests for international tourists arriving on the Canary Islands, the British government removed the archipelago from the list of safe tourist destinations.
Wiesbaden. Hoteliers like Haakon Herbst, Hotel Friends, or Christoph Hoffmann of 25hours reflect the depressing situation in the industry at the end of the year. Some look stunned at their mountain of debt without debt, others demand an even tougher lockdown, all together a reasonable, longer-term strategy. Where politics does not help, people organise themselves - e.g. with air purifiers or with a new Hybrid Alliance in the MICE business.
London. "The first quarter was very difficult simply because of the dynamic. The second quarter was the worst because of the lockdown," Satya Anand describes, as of this November Marriott International's new President EMEA. Since the third quarter, things have also been looking up again in Europe. And with vaccinations now in the offing, he's even optimistic again: "In May/June, people will be travelling again without much concern," he predicts.