News & Stories
Munich. 20 hotels and boarding houses that have been operated by Deutsche Post Wohnen GmbH in Bonn changed hands at the beginning of 2006. Aurelius Investkapital AG in Munich plans to create a new brand with the less known hotels located in large German cities.
Bad Neuenahr. Apparently, the health destination Bad Neuenahr is to drive forward the recovery of Dorint AG, Duesseldorf. An extraordinary general meeting has been convened at the local Mercure Parkhotel next Thursday, where, once again, authorised capital needs to be decided on.
Augsburg. All big chains are selling their properties; Orient Express Hotels purchases two to three every year. Many are complaining about difficulties with banks, Orient-Express does not need a bank for its funding. The English group, listed on the stock exchange since August 2000, has constantly generated room revenue that is 40 to 50 percent higher than the next local competitor. This can only be achieved by thinking anticyclically. Simon M.C. Sherwood, President of the collection of 49 five-star hotels in 25 countries, explains their business strategy, which also includes residences in the future, among other things.
San Diego. Starwood will change its branding strategy. In future, everything is to be given a human touch, marketing is to become more emotional. Last week Starwood CEO Steve Heyer presented the new plans to over 2000 Starwood staff, managers and owners. Among them were for the first time all General Managers from Le Méridien as well as almost the entire management team from Starwood's German joint venture partners ArabellaSheraton Hotels in Munich. ArabellaSheraton's Managing Director Thomas Willms reports on the most important changes.
London. Today Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. owns or part-owns and manages, 49 businesses operating in 25 countries. 38 are hotels ranging across five continents, from the Hotel Cipriani in Venice to the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro to the Observatory in Sydney, and to Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C. Restaurants include `21' Club in New York, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, England and Harry's Bar in London. Six tourist trains include the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe, The Eastern & Oriental Express in South East Asia and The Royal Scotsman.
Wiesbaden. A father tried to book a weekend in Berlin for his family via different toll free numbers of hotel chains and one reservation system - with astonishing results. Not a single reservation center fulfilled all of the quality criteria of the test caller. All in all, however, the call center representing the Worldhotels is the clear winner, while Hilton gave the worst impression.
London. An aggressive expansion phase is on the horizon for the newly enlarged Hilton Hotels Corporation. Two weeks after the announcement of Hilton & Hilton's re-marriage there is opportunity for a new brand at the top and bottom of the scale in Europe, the company reveals. In addition a cost-cutting target of USD 30 million is expected.
London. Travelodge`s 260 budget hotels could go under the hammer later this year, it is rumoured.
Bath (January 13, 2006). The UK-based von Essen Hotels has completed a deal to purchase Luxury Family Hotels, a four-strong group of country house hotels which cater to the high-end family market in the UK. The four will join von Essen`s existing portfolio of 17 country house hotels, whose flagship is Cliveden in Berkshire. Now the group is already looking to expand into continental Europe.
London. Two leading hotel groups re-marry after 40 years of separation: Yesterday, British Hilton Group plc has signed a conditional agreement for the sale of its hotels and leisure division, Hilton International, to American Hilton Hotels Corporation for a cash consideration of approximately £3.3 billion. Upon completion, it is planned that Hilton Group plc will be renamed Ladbrokes plc.