News & Stories
Zurich. The Baur au Lac in Zurich is the most successful luxury hotel in the city and in Switzerland - and a prime example of a traditional family-run business. It's now in the hands of the 7th generation of the same family - coinciding with a change of directors. Wilhelm Luxem retired yesterday. Over the past ten years, he has shaped the success story of this grand hotel. And motivates colleagues today: The luxury hotel industry is once again poised for an age of prosperity. Why? And what do you have to do for that?
Madrid. For Federico J. González Tejera, CEO of Radisson Hospitality Group, all is right again after corona. And following the $675 million sale of the Americas business to Choice last week, probably even more so. In a conversation with hospitalityInside - which took place before the latest big news - he presents a picture of harmony with the Chinese parent company Jin Jiang and is sticking with plans from 2019, albeit with a slight delay.
Kiel. After corona, competition will focus, even more than before, on two factors: a solid financial base and quality. The Atlantic Hotels Group based in Bremen can and wants to deliver both. Its new 5-star hotel Severin's in Rottach-Egern on Lake Tegern is to top the flagship in Sylt, while its new smart brand unique, on the other hand, will mix up the lifestylish copy-paste concepts. A conversation with owner and investor Kurt Zech, and the two Managing Directors Markus Griesenbeck and Marc Rohe.
Minnetonka/Brussels. Choice International is to buy Radisson Americas for 675 million dollars. This was the news of the week. There was speculation ahead of the deal that Radisson would be sold soon, but bets were on Hyatt or Wyndham to sign it, not Choice. The American master franchisor surprised everyone as it agreed to take over 68,000 additional rooms – while Radisson is cutting itself off from an important source market. Was Jin Jiang forced to sell?
Vienna/Milan. Italy is the main focus of Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group, whose CEO Dr Otmar Michaeler has now unveiled ambitious expansion plans to make premium quality the standard: Going forward, the company wants to operate only at the luxury level: with hotels that will all belong to The Leading Hotels of the World, with 5-star serviced apartments and premium camping. With the new business unit "FMTG Invest", the company also aims to become the alternative financial vehicle for the hospitality industry.
Berlin. The Radisson Hotel Group has long struggled with the acquisition of the prizeotel hotel brand: In 2016 it acquired only part of the shares. The rest followed in 2020. Insiders already saw the brand in resale. Corona then provoked a collective rethink. Now not only prizeotel CEO Connor Ryterski is happy, but also Radisson. The concept and design have been overhauled and the company is set to expand rapidly.
Berlin/Paris. "I've been looking for positive news for the last two and a half years," Sébastien Bazin says as he introduces the 30-minute meeting at IHIF Berlin last week. Now there is positive news: higher room rates and returning group business. The Accor CEO continues to drive the chain toward stronger cross-brand thinking, multiplying success stories and a condensed expansion. Will he also condense the 43 brands? "I created my own monster," he admits, promising to clean up. An update.
Paris. Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs has revised its current operating profit target for 2023 downwards, citing postponements of real estate programmes, greater selectivity in its development projects, and rising costs and salaries. Together with its investors, the European leader in leisure residences has given itself 12 to 24 months to reach the objectives of its "Reinvention 2025" strategic plan.
Berlin. The conclusion of IHIF 2022 in Berlin is: optimism meets worries. The Easter boom showed: travellers just want to get away. Investors and operators would like to take off, but at the same time they are completely thwarted: there are no products, few transactions, but massively exploding costs and fierce inflation, far too expensive properties and rising interest rates... Anyone who signs now is betting on pure risk.
Berlin. Scientists from Germany have compiled in a study what could inspire the new start of tourism from Easter onwards: "Low Touch Tourism", minimised risks, a larger offer and open communication, even on price increases.