News & Stories
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.
Toronto. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has formed a Special Committee of four independent directors to advise the Board of Directors with respect to the partial take-over bid by affiliates of Carl Icahn. This way, the announcement to take over 51% by shareholder Icahn two weeks ago gains new and serious importance.
Frankfurt/M. The hotel group Innside, Duesseldorf, has this year again shown positive development. Following new openings in Munich and Frankfurt, Hamburg and Vienna are now on the cards.
Hamburg/Munich. Travelchannel.de, Travel Overland and Flug.de, market leaders amongst online travel companies, are now to merge fully with Otto Freizeit und Touristik Ltd. Up until now, the three companies had operated under the joint venture initiative Travelvelocity Europe under the shared control of OFT and partner company Travelocity.
Trebesing. The Kinderhotels Austria is a luxury model of the country's group of independent providers. The requirements are stricter than in some other franchise models. Nearly twenty businesses have left in five years. The influx of guests is just the reverse: For 17 years now, it has been confirming the spirit of the consistent brand policy, which is carried out with expensive marketing.
Toronto. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. acknowledged the announcement by Icahn Partners LP and Icahn Partners Master Fund LP, affiliates of Carl Icahn, of their intention to make a partial takeover bid for 51% of the outstanding common shares of the company. These affiliates currently hold approximately 9.3% of the Company's common shares.