News & Stories

Augsburg. The study about a CEO's role in the corporate communication made hospitalityInside.com ask wellknown representatives of the industry whom they look at as a person or a company with a positive image. Here are the results:

Brussels. His press office responded within two hours of our initial inquiry, twelve hours later, he himself was on the telephone: PR professional Kurt Ritter, CEO of Rezidor SAS Hospitality. His presence in the media is both desired and carefully prepared. He does what he thinks is right - even things on the very edge of communicative seriousness. For him there's only one limit: "I don't prostitute myself to the media."

Berlin. Does the chief's image affect the image of the company or is it the other way round? A company's communication, however, does not work without the chief. A study from Berlin investigated - across all industry sectors - whether PR people realise the meaning and influence of a CEO with respect to the company's image and how both of them adapt to it.

White Plains. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed definitive agreements to acquire the Le Méridien brand and all related management and franchise business for the brand's more than 130 hotels and resorts.

Greenwich. In an interview with hospitalityInside.com, the investment company Starwood Capital talks about the actual state in the acquisition of Le Méridien and the French Taittinger group.

Dallas. Wyndham International, Inc. has completed its merger with an affiliate of The Blackstone Group. Two months ago the private equity firm Blackstone Group had agreed to buy the hotel-and-resort chain for 1.44 US$ billion in cash and the assumption of 1.8 billion US$ in debt.

Rostock. With the segments of tourism, real estate, financial services, industry and shipping, a company from the former GDR has linked up with international business. With 2,000 employees at 21 locations, last year, it achieved an annual turnover of about 187 million euros.

Rostock. It was only last year that they trusted in expansion, and now, Horst Rahe stands for consolidation. The Managing Partner of Deutsche Seereederei also applies this to Arkona AG which forms the tourism core of the Rostock holding with its Arkona Hotels, the A-rosa Resorts and A-rosa river boats. Now, the business report 2004 has been published.

Windsor. About one year ago, InterContinental Hotels Group announced Hotel Indigo, a new hotel brand that caters for the traveller seeking a hotel experience, not just a hotel room. An industry first, Hotel Indigo is a lifestyle brand that is said to deliver a refreshing, inclusive hotel experience in response to current consumer trends.

Windsor/Frankfurt. The InterContinental Group is to market its luxury brand on a strictly separate basis to Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza and Express by Holiday Inn. The franchise model is to be renewed, the classic Holiday Inn freshened up, and two US brands are about to be launched in Europe. An interview with Robin Wicks, since July Director of Operations, Franchise and Development in Continental Europe.