News & Stories

Dubai. One of the most beautiful hideaways in the world is now in the hands of a standardized hotel chain. The Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa in the desert of Dubai has been part of Starwood Hotels’ “Luxury Collection” since November 1. This could be the first sign of a new strategy.

Budapest. Markus Luthe from Germany was elected into the Executive Committee of HOTREC, the European umbrella organisation of the hotel and restaurant association. At the General Assembly in Budapest, current topics of interest in the industry and the admission of Slovakia were the focus of attention.

Chevy Chase. Even after many years spent in the USA, Hervé Humler's has still not lost his distinctive and very charming French accent. He came to the young Ritz-Carlton company in 1983 as "number 4" under the direction of Horst Schultze. In August 2010, Humler finally attained his dream and since then has held the position of President and Chief Operations Officer of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He succeeds Simon Cooper here, who left Ritz-Carlton to take on a position with Marriott International. Cooper is now responsible for Marriott's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. His recent statements on the status quo at Ritz-Carlton clearly show his close connection to the parent company. And Ritz-Carlton now publishes figures for the first time.

Munich. For the West Paces Hotel Group, the search for locations for sophisticated individual hotels of the brands Capella and Solis has not become easier in the last two years. In the meantime, the requirements of the American operating company, founded by Horst Schultze, have been stepped up.

Nuremberg. Up to now it was a colourful mixture of very different hotels. Now, a new brand and a new design is to bring them into line: One by one, Gold Inn hotels will be realigned and renamed Dormero Hotels. Their concept: design, high-tech, a touch of local lifestyle and streamlined centralised administration. Their market: Germany. Their expansion target: two to three new hotels per year, 20 hotels in a maximum of ten years. hospitalityInside.com met the entire management team at the Expo Real, the head of which is a well-known name: Hans Rudolf Woehrl. The change.

Bethesda/Madrid. The Spanish hotel group AC Hotels and Marriott International will form a joint venture that will manage and franchise a new lodging co-brand across Europe and Latin America - "AC by Marriott." Both parties have reached a preliminary agreement.

Munich. The jury’s heart beats for creative and “green” hotels. Accordingly, two hotels and an extraordinary hospitality company received their awards at the annual “hotelforum” gala at the end of Expo Real last week.

Frankfurt. Revenues of German NH Hoteles rose in the first half-year of 2010 to 119 million EUR, EBITDA stood at 5 million EUR. As Germany Chief Maarten Markus announced last week in Frankfurt, the group is currently in the process of renegotiating numerous lease agreements soon due to expire.

Berlin. Berlin is overflowing with beds – and has therefore come up with a special campaign to entice its own inhabitants away from home to spend a night in a hotel. The city invites its occupants to take a short break in Berlin.

Paris. The Carlyle Group announced the acquisition of the B&B Hotel Group last Wednesday. The chain of 217 budget hotels across France, Germany and Italy, is bought from French investment firm Eurazeo for an enterprise value of around 480 million Euro.