News & Stories

Berlin. It all started with the acquisition of some 5 hotel assets and the known hotel brands such as Ibis, Ramada, Steigenberger, Mercure on the roof remained untouched. Nothing much has changed ever since. While Ibis or Radisson is the brand, Grand City is the management. Today Grand City is on the way to become that largest hotel group in Germany right after Accor. Grand City counts 80 hotels after 7 years - and already overtook Steigenberger who has 77 hotels after 80 years. Grand City is not particularly eager to improve the brand awareness of the Grand City brand. The reason for this is that behind their concept is not the classical hotel-operator model but rather the principle of asset value appreciation.

Interlaken/Mumbai. Victoria-Jungfrau Collection, the Swiss luxury hotel group, enters an alliance with the Indian Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces hotel chain. However, the joint venture only refers to a certain selection of hotels.

Munich. The Swire Group from Hong Kong is known to insiders as stakeholder in the airline Cathay Pacific. In reality, it's much more than that, and now there's a new hotel group to add to it: Swire Hotels. The first two hotels in Beijing and Hong Kong are already open for business, now, the focus is on Europe – more precisely on Great Britain. The parent company has long had hotel experience – as investor in various hotels around the world. The company's own Swire Hotels will occupy a niche: the creative 5-star boutique segment – and possibly make defy a chain or two along the way.

Frankfurt. After the abrupt resignation of Andre Witschi, Chairman of Steigenberger, at the end of the year, unrest has increased inside the company. Miche Novatin, who was hired as a consultant in December, threw in the towel in late January. Managers are suffering from lack of communication with the top decision makers.

Zurich. "Swissôtel has been sold many times, but a good brand doesn't die," CEO Meinhard Huck laughs - despite his being "sold" along with the brand each time. Huck has spearheaded the small and initially purely Swiss hotel group, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, for eight years. Now, Swissôtel counts 27 hotels and is represented in 17 countries. The group's "Swissness" hasn't been lost through the expansion though. In fact, it's quite the opposite: The Swiss touch has been integrated into the group's corporate identity and subtly cultivated from there. The small Alpine emigrant has obviously stood up well as upscale brand of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, especially in these difficult times. A snap shot of developments.

Vienna. Dr. Alexander Roessler takes over the position as Chief Operating Officer in the headquarters of the Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group in Vienna, starting on May 1, 2010. Additional changes are under way.

Hamburg. Cost conscious thinking is Gregor Gerlach's maxim, owner and CEO of Seaside Hotels and co-creator of the system food chains Bagels Brothers and Vapiano. His newest idea has been partially realised in Leipzig: "Vasano Suites". Just a few weeks ago, the first guests were welcomed. In spite of the term "suite" and 5-star design and furnishings, a slim-lined concept at 4-star prices awaits the guest. The target group consists of guests not looking for the personal service typical of luxury accommodation providers. A new idea of 'system comfort'.

Zell am See. The Germans place their hopes on the recent reduction in VAT, the South Tyroleans on a stop on beds, and the Swiss and the Austrians are focussing on quality. At the annual conference of the Austrian Hotelier Association last week in Zell am See, the four German-speaking hotel associations discussed their focuses. There was also a call to bring the network closer together - in spite of varying framework conditions.

Zell am See. The crisis has finally caught up with Austria’s hotel industry with a two-digit drop in rates. Pessimistic outlooks together with increased financing costs could half the investments of the hospitality industry. The Austrian Hotel Assocation considers the relationship with the banks to be disturbed. Now the association and a hotelier from Salzburg have initiated an online bank evaluation platform. The annual OEHV conference counted 550 participants, a record attendance – and a signal for the worries of hoteliers about the dark clouds looming over the tourist country of Austria.

Paris/Munich. In November, Jaume Tàpies was elected President of Relais & Châteaux for a second term of four years – and year after year, the Spaniard works harder. The consortium headquartered in Paris will be working on a decentralised basis, after predecessor Régis Bulot led the company in a nationalistic French way. The individual countries will bear more responsibility. In addition, R&CH will be expanding towards the major cities and activating an "internal" tour operator in order to boost distribution. In contrast to many chains, the consortium has a secure foundation in financial terms. Last Monday at the New Year's reception for the press in Munich, Jaume Tàpies revealed the details.