News & Stories
Heidelberg. "Hotels are not my dream investment," says Dietmar Hopp, founder of the software giant SAP and today, a sought-after billionaire and investor in various fields of business. That sounds somewhat dispassionate, but it is not at all. Dietmar Hopp, a calm person as a rule, is very explicit when talking about the current quarrel with the Spanish NH Hoteles concerning the Buehlerhoehe. The grand hotel near Baden-Baden is the most exclusive hotel property owned by the Hopp family. Once again, Dietmar Hopp is demanding the operator NH "to leave the Buehlerhoehe and make an indemnity payment". An interview about Hopp's hotel trouble and hotel plans.
Munich/Brussels. Starwood Hotels & Resorts will also operate Le Méridien Hotels following the completion of the takeover deal by Starwood Capital. Here in Germany, this could lead to conflicts of interests with ArabellaSheraton. The Munich hotel group is Starwood's majority holding joint venture partner. Nevertheless, it looks like Starwood is to make its own way.
Pichl-Mandling. One of the biggest holiday hotels in Austria, the "Pichlmayrgut" in Pichl-Mandling, has for years successfully managed to bridge the gulf between seminar, wellness and family holiday. The hotel runs counter to any theory for the necessity of specialization. The all-rounder continues to invest.
New York. Cendant Corporation announced that it would enter the upscale lodging sector by acquiring the Wyndham hotel brand and franchise system, relating to more than 100 full-service lodging properties in major U.S., Mexican and Caribbean markets. As a part of the deal Cendant acquired management contracts for the first time. Just weeks ago Blackstone had acquired Wyndham.
Bad Griesbach. A new investor entered the indebted former imperium of Alois Hartl in Bad Griesbach. With help of famous people like Boris Becker, he wants to win over new types of guests for the thermal and golf resorts.
Stromberg. Next spring, the YTL Hotels & Properties hotel group from Kuala Lumpur opens its third luxury resort in Malaysia. Dato Mark Yeoh Seok Kah, Executive Director of YTL Corporation Bhd, announced further expansion plans during his trip to Germany. They reach beyond the borders of Asia.
Munich/Geneva. The only goal is raising the company value. That is why Kempinski Hotels & Resorts are now speeding up their expansion and will reduce their size again in the foreseeable future. CEO Reto Wittwer announces plain rules to his owners and prescribes a clearer language for himself as an operator. In addition, new business fields are opening up apart from the classic hotel business. Kempinski is tidying up.
Roissy/Paris Sales and marketing, e-commerce, distribution and IT are moving significantly closer for internationally better coordinated brand marketing. Hilton International has changed its structure in order to keep on track with developments. Jurgen Fischer, new President of the "Commercial Operations Group", explains the details.
Geneva. Sometimes its only a matter of weeks before the next announcement is made of a new Kempinski hotel. To date, the group counts 46 hotels, 29 hotels are under development. The Thai hotel company with German roots is however at the same time struggling with difficulties in sales and marketing.