News & Stories
Munich. Who belongs to whom? Even insiders have a hard time allocating hotel brands to their brand owners nowadays. hospitalityInside.com has supported PKF hotelexperts Munich in developing a database that is able to give answers to such questions - and many more. As a first extraction from the new database, the English "brand report" will be presented at the Expo Real Munich. The real estate fair starts next Monday.
Munich. The term "budget hotel" is often used and rarely defined. The range spans from low-budget bunk beds and rooms for eight persons to middle-class products, and all of them hope to achieve higher occupancy by using "budget" as a marketing label. The Munich-based consultancy PKF hotelexperts prepared its first report about "budget hotels in Germany" in collaboration with hospitalityInside.com. The extensive report provides numerous summarising statistics and figures from budget providers and can be obtained as of now.
Paris. The Paris based marketing consortium Relais & Châteaux underlines its further internationalisation by establishing new delegations in Australia, New Zealand and Latin America as well as new subsidiaries in France, South Africa and Asia.
Berlin. The love for animals opens up a new potential target group for hotels. hospitalityInside.com has already provided several reports on this issue. Near Berlin, a hotelier has adjusted his hotel's infrastructure fully to the "guests with paws" - humans are of secondary importance. The concept, ambience and location all ensure that animal lovers preferably choose this hotel as a conference location or even spend their holidays here. The animal guests can expect an entertainment and spa programme appropriate for their kind.At the Pfoetchenhotel Beelitz-Schoenefeld south of Berlin, you enjoy being a dog. Crossbreed Benni marches adventurously across the yard of the Pfoetchenhotel his tail upright and curiously sniffing with his nose. He probably does not mind the fact that the red brick buildings from 1929 he passes by are listed. Things like that are the business of humans. He sets much greater store by the huge meadows for romping, the dog beach and the dog school waiting for him.
Frankfurt. What will happen to Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts? As reported last week, the hotel chain was sold relatively surprisingly to Travco Group from Egypt. There is hardly any news from Steigenberger's headquarter in Frankfurt. General Managers of Steigenberger also appear totally intimidated. In the meantime, there is some more information about Hamed El Chiaty, Steigenberger's new shareholder.
Berlin. The German Advertising Council, the self-regulatory organisation of the German advertising industry, has reminded companies to have more respect for the feelings of consumers. As a speaker for the Council recently reported in Berlin, the number advertising campaigns subject to complaints from the general population has increased by one quarter to 147 in the first six months of the year. A German hostel chain whose campaign was claimed to be humiliating was also subject to the Council's criticism.
Madrid. Spain has been the scene of rapid hotel development over the past two decades, led by major domestic chains, such as Sol Melia, NH Hoteles and Barceló - just to mention three. Yet the budget segment has been left virtually untouched, in spite of the rapid expansion of the service economy in recent years. It is indeed a mystery as to why one of the big local market players has not come forth with a budget lodging product, as has been the case in most other major European hotel markets - the only exception being Italy where the budget hotel sector remains even less developed than in Spain, due to restrictions on room size. Finally, a Spanish budget chain is in sight: Sidorme.
Frankfurt. Dr Ralf Corsten, member of Steigenberger’s supervisory board, evidently fixed up what many have ruled out: Steigenberger Hotels AG has been sold. Today at noon, the agreement was signed in Frankfurt, and the employees were informed in the afternoon. Travco Group International Holding S.A.E. headquartered in Cairo, Egypt’s leading tourist conglomerate, owner of a fleet of Nile ships and three hotel brands with 43 hotels, will act as buyer. It took over the entire 99.6 percent share of the Steigenberger family. The agreement is valid from today. In terms of scope, the deal is comparable to the sale of 54 Astron Hotels to NH from Spain in 2002.
Paris/Duesseldorf. The takeover of Golden Tulip by Starwood Capital is home and dry. Top International Hotels & Corporate Partner, Golden Tulip's former joint venture partner, are devising new strategies for the future.
Rostock. As of last week, German Arkona Hotels have a new name and a new definition: From now on they are "arcona" and will be marketed under the slogan "arcona. Good hotels". The company continues to place its expansion focus on city hotels and no longer always under the name of its franchise partner, Steigenberger. Managing Director Alexander Winter also sees a future for boarding houses. The details of a brand relaunch.