News & Stories
London. Scotsman Ken McCulloch, creator of Malmaison, a group of value-for-money designer boutique hotels in the UK which began in the Nineties, is striking out again with two new hotel brands. One is set to spread across Europe and another to debut in the UK and the US, competing against the big players.
Berlin. Asia's Shangri-La Hotels are planning to almost double their number of hotels within three and a half years. In doing so, the group is venturing into North America for the first time and is willing to sign management contracts. Two new hotels are also planned for Germany.
Geneva. Kempinski Hotels & Resorts will exclusively conclude management agreements in future, even in Germany. The marketing agreements with the Indian Leela Hotels & Resorts will change into a management alliance in order to bring up new hotels. In the US, Kempinski has found a new partner in Omni Hotels within the Global Hotel Alliance. The ITB revealed a number of news items about Kempinski - as well as a rumour.
Berlin. The united Hilton Group is to introduce one or two brands from the USA to each European market. Hilton Manager Juergen Fischer revealed the company's quick and carefully planned expansion plans at the International Investment Forum in Berlin. Behind the scenes, the chain is also working on a central customer relationship and reservation system.
Bad Salzuflen. After a stable 2005 fiscal, the German Maritim Hotelgesellschaft with 44 hotels confidently looks into the future. Its further expansion plans focus on city hotels in international major cities as well as on attractive holiday destinations abroad.
Berlin. Rezidor SAS Hospitality wants to go public on the stock market. Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, confirmed this at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin. The chain also announced the location for three new Hotels Missoni.
Berlin. At the end of January Fairmont and Raffles Hotels were both taken over by a Canadian firm already in possession of Kingdom Hotels International and Colony Capital. In mid April further details will be announced as to the new direction given to both hotel brands.
Berlin. The Leading Hotels of the World are to return to their roots as reservation system: At the ITB in Berlin last week they presented the long awaited "Private Label" for smaller hotel groups. New IT-Partner here is Trust International.
Berlin. "There are still rooms to be had for the football final in Berlin." Thomas Edelkamp reassures fans. The Managing Director of FIFA World Cup Accommodation Services in Frankfurt announced figures about sold beds for the football world cup in June/July at the International Tourism Fair in Berlin.
Bangkok. Dusit Thani's reputation as one of the main pillars of Thai hospitality is legendary. All the same, reputation is not enough to save the 517 room hotel from renovation pressures. Competition is strong, and the Tsunami has forced concentration on to business travellers. For one and a half years German born Reinhard J. Heermann has managed the hotel. Silvia Pfenniger visits.