News & Stories

Zurich. The famous Swiss hotel, the Dolder Grand in Zurich, continues to hit the headlines - despite the fact that the luxury hotel denies everything once again. But it is a fact: one of the hotel wings is currently closed. Next month, the expensively renovated hotel celebrates its first birthday.

Berlin. The services of Grand City Hotels & Resorts are increasingly in demand by other hotel groups. Aside from Mark Hotels, which are managed by Grand City, Precise Hotels have now concluded a strategic collaboration with GCHR. Furthermore, Grand City aims at restructuring collaboration with franchisors. In the course of this, Best Western will be among the winners. But the group's own Grand City brand is to get its fair share as well.

Berlin. Despite the current global economic slow-down, Marriott International expects to add approximately 130 hotels and 32,000 rooms over the next 48 months outside of North America. Most of these properties have been previously announced and represent the company's JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard and Marriott Executive Apartment brands. They are part of the company's announced global pipeline of 125,000 rooms worldwide. The new hotels are expected to create some 38,000 new hospitality sector jobs across the world.

Frankfurt/M. "Impact 2009" is the name of Worldhotels new strategy: It includes a number of initiatives designed to combat the economic downturn and to grow revenue and market share across a number of markets, business segments and channels. In addition to "Impact 2009", Worldhotels offers packages for individual guests and tests ecological standards.

Sevilla/Ruesselsheim. Marketing spending is not being reduced despite the crisis. This was the outcome of a current survey, according to which 62% of German hotels want to increase their spending on marketing in 2009. By the same token, in particular, staff expenses and administration expenses are to be cut back.

Barcelona. The Spanish hotel consortium Prestige Hotels of the World, by Keytel left the starting blocks in summer 2007 with 38 hotels - today, the consortium has grown to over 90 hotels in 20 countries. This year, plans are to increase activities in Germany.