News & Stories
Munich. No, the midsummer business has not been cancelled for Susanne Andersson Pripp. "Because in Sweden, it is a family celebration and most people stay at home anyway," says the owner of the Best Western Hotell Ett and Best Western Hotel Gamla Teatern in Oestersund, a city with a population 50,000, located in the middle of Sweden. Apart from that, everything else these two hotels normally live off has been cancelled or is non-existent. Despite all good intentions, the Swedish special path has come to a dead end. The industry is suffering and has now become one of the late starters in the European market.
Vienna. The EU is critical of vouchers as a "means of payment" in tourism, whereas the Austrian Hotel Association took a massive and proactive approach to the issue in May. It even set up it own website for this very purpose. Vouchers are intended to strengthen the liquidity of hotels. One study analysed three different scenarios.
Innsbruck. Schlosshotels & Herrenhäuser, based in Austria, underwent a particularly radical brand restructuring in the middle of the corona crisis. They are now called "The castle in another country". It certainly takes some getting used to.
Hamburg. The German hotel group Novum Hospitality has been one of the most expansion-oriented chains in the German hotel industry in recent years with over 130 hotels in operation before the corona crisis, some of these operated under franchise brands of international chains. CEO & owner David Etmenan reveals in an interview with hospitalityInside.com today how he is fighting for his company and with which lease model he wants to bridge the crisis.
Berlin. Insolvency fund instead of vouchers: The German government has now pushed through a new regulation that will oblige travel organisers to pay contributions into a fund in the event of insolvency – to bring back stranded package holidaymakers from abroad or to reimburse them the full cost of trips they have missed.
Venice-Mestre. Re-start in Italy: The travel and hospitality industry is looking forward to this long-awaited moment. The Italians are allowed to move again between all regions, while the first borders towards several European countries will open on 15 June. But there are still many uncertainties and more important, a few official rules to comply with for the travel segment. At least, this is the complaint of all tourism companies: from tour operators to cruise lines and hotels. So, how can they prepare themselves for the re-start? Massimiliano Sarti talked to Luca Boccato, CEO of HNH Hospitality: a white-label company based in Venice-Mestre that currently manages 13 hotels, mainly in the north-eastern part of Italy with two more openings announced for 2020 in Rome and Verona. Many properties are flagged with international brands such as Best Western, Doubletree by Hilton, Indigo and Crowne Plaza. All of them remained closed during the lockdown period.
Berlin. Repayments to bookers for trips cancelled during the Corona crisis continue to drive the German travel industry towards a financial catastrophe. After the EU rejected Germany’s proposal for a mandatory voucher scheme and the country is now opting for voluntary action, the associations of the travel industry are calling for a rescue fund.
Vienna. On Thursday, 28 May, the time had come: Two weeks after restaurants were allowed to open up again, the hotels are now allowed to open up and accommodate tourists again, respectively. An initial light at the end of the tunnel for resort hotels, which were overly well-booked during Whitsun, while both Vienna and Salzburg remained almost empty. Renowned hoteliers demand fundamental changes to ensure economic survival.
Vienna. Many attest the Austrian politicians to have token the right decisions in managing the Covid-19 infections. However, when it comes to financial aids for the hotel industry, the praise ends, as a current industry-wide survey shows. Michaela Reitterer, President of the Austrian Hotelier Association, does not hold back with her criticism. So far, mainly short-time work and tax deferral has helped, apart from that nothing. The pressure is growing: From 2021 onwards, most hotels will have diminishing investment powers.
Amsterdam. Tourist-free Amsterdam is more beautiful than ever. Locals enjoyed having their streets back during the lockdown and the city would like to keep it that way. At least while they are re-designing a more social, economic and ecologically sustainable tourism frame. With 29 million visitors expected in 2025, the mayor wants "the right kind" of visitors to come. Fewer coffee-shop enthusiasts and more history lovers. For hospitality entrepreneurs, it seems more urgent to welcome back tourists, all of them.