News & Stories

Dubai. Accor, Europe’s largest hotel operator, plans to add 44 new hotels in the Middle East and North Africa by 2014, with a focus on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, banking that their oil wealth, robust economic growth and vast infrastructure projects will spur demand for rooms, the firm’s Chief Development Officer Christian Karaoglanian said. Novotel is one of the most popular brands in the region. The Pullman Dubai is a real flagship and the initial difficulties with the economy brands have become a thing of the past, adds Charlie Langlais, Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East, Africa, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean. hospitalityInside.com met both managers in Dubai two weeks ago.

Prague. Mamaison Hotels & Residences describes itself as a leading provider of personalised hotel experiences in Central and Eastern Europe. Founded in 1999 with its base in Prague, today the group operates ten individual hotels with approximately 650 rooms in Moscow, Warsaw, Prague, Ostrava, Bratislava and Budapest. Christian Kettlitz has been determining the fate of the boutique brand as the CEO since January, 2011. In a conversation with Franco Peruza, he seems convinced of the positive future for the CEE markets and of the strength of personally managed hotels.

Madrid. Chinese hotel chain HNA wants to become shareholder of Spanish NH Hoteles. Together the two companies plan a joint venture for the management of hotels in China under the brand name NH.

Interlaken. Victoria-Jungfrau Collection AG, quoted in Switzerland, will transfer the Palace Luzern building to the Credit Suisse Real Estate Fund Hospitality on June 1, 2011. The company had to cope with a loss in revenues in 2010 as well. Shareholders are to waive their dividend payout. However, VJC sees itself on the right track.

Offenbach. The internationally active marketing presence "Lobster Experience", a specialist for high-end hotels, gave birth to a new baby: "Little Lobster" – for small top luxury hotels.

Gothenburg. Branded hotels perform better than independent hotels, especially during an economic recession, according to a study done by researchers in the U.S and Sweden. The study, which covered a full economic cycle with recession and expansion, indicated that affiliated hotels are more profitable in all phases, but even more when the economic climate is frosty. A guest article by Mats Carlbäck, researcher at Gothenburg University in Sweden.

Palma de Mallorca. Children prohibited! The Meliá de Mar at the island of Mallorca does not speak it out that clearly but describes itself as an “adults only” hotel promising more exclusivity. In future, the hotel will only allows guests over the age of 15.

Ludwigsburg/Haar. Axel Mehn is contented with his "national product". As the founder of Nestor Hotels in 1987, he ventured to step into independence, but the breakthrough did not reveal itself with these 4 star products. The time came for an intensive market observation and the concept of a new brand: the 3-star acomhotels. Now there is the steep, uphill journey with them: Three of these refreshing, need-oriented, coordinated hostels in the best micro-market conditions are currently in operation, the next five are in planning, construction or negotiations. These include prime cities. Financing with well-known banking partners has been secured." I have used the time to do my homework to document the lastingness of the acom concept," says Mehn, the Managing Partner of the A.S. Hotel Holding Company mbh from Ludwigsburg, the parent of Nestor and acomhotels about his strategy, the expansion and the concept of which he thinks is extremely stable.

Berlin. The InterConti logos were promptly taken down before 1 April. With this, the top brand of the world's largest chain is no longer present in Berlin, Duesseldorf and Cologne - by appearances at least. As lessor of the three hotels, Neue Dorint held a press conference last Friday. Nevertheless, Managing Director Olaf Mertens could not provide satisfying answers to the waiting band of journalists: Negotiations are still underway in respect of two of the three locations, he explained, and subject to certain conditions, the new operators are to be introduced before Easter. Meanwhile, certain financial and contractual issues raise new thoughts.

Berlin. Lucky Berlin – the numbers of tourists are constantly on the rise, the two airports report record numbers of passengers despite the cold winter, and the city’s record attendance at the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall from 2009 is once again obsolete. Now, Berlin is about to become the international tourist magnet. Crowded public transportation, loud parties lasting several nights, and dubious apartment rentals have sparked off a debate throughout the capital. Tourism – a blessing or a curse?