News & Stories

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Unrest in Berlin and among luxury hotels

Rate comparison of online systems: Do rates decline or not?

28.11.2008

Wiesbaden. The European hotel industry is sticking resolutely to its promise to keep room rates stable. But off the record, hoteliers are already pointing their fingers at those who have broken their word and decreased their rates in the face of the threatening economic crisis. The comparative figures of hotel.de emphasise these accusations. And regarding the company segment, travel managers are hesitating to make agreements given the uncertain situation. hospitalityInside.com carried out random checks in the online reservation systems.

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The new ailments of the luxury hotel industry

Leading Hotels Convention: Talks on the crises facing the super rich

21.11.2008

Boston. America's Ueber-Rich are suffering: The crisis has them in its grip and overnight has brought them into a liquidity problem. Currently, they remain with their villas, yachts and artworks. The average super rich person has, after all, eight cars and three to four houses. Two speeches at the annual conference of The Leading Hotels of the World in Boston last week centred in on the new "misery" of the rich and their ideas on service. Leading hoteliers can learn from both - and emerge from the imminent luxury crisis victorious.

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Everything but interchangeable

Fairmont and Raffles expand with modified concepts

14.11.2008

Singapore. Singapore's most famous hotel, The Raffles, once formed the very core of the Asian hotel group by the same name. Since February 2006, however, Raffles has been merged with the North American hotel group, Fairmont Hotels, and Swissôtel, originally a Swiss company. In Singapore, these three hotel brands stand directly beside one another, their proximity standing for the synergies gained from the fusion. During the "ITB Asia" three weeks ago, hospitalityInside.com spoke with Fairmont and Raffles managers on profile changes, new distribution emphases and their global expansion plans - now extended to Europe.

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Progress in Concorde and JJW negotiations

14.11.2008

Paris/London. Starwood Capital is thinking seriously about selling the majority of its luxury hotels, among them the 33 Concorde hotels and resorts. JJW Hotels owned by the Arabian Sheikh and business man Al Jaber displays interest.

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Research: Non-smokers spend more money

31.10.2008

Nuremberg. Even renowned scientists have now confirmed it: since the smoking ban has been in force in Germany, frequent smokers visit pubs, discotheques, restaurants and cafés significantly less than before the ban. Regarding non-smokers, the reduction in guests is considerably lower. Furthermore, they spend a lot more money than before.

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Time to tidy up

Chairman André Witschi on Steigenberger rumours and his strategy

31.10.2008

Frankfurt. A banal article in the German "Manager Magazine" draws attention this week to the Steigenberger Hotel Group. According to the article, the Group is to be sold to Marriott. Marriott CEO, Ed Fuller, however, quickly and categorically denied the rumours - a response otherwise never seen from Marriott. André Witschi, Board Chairman of the Steigenberger Hotel Group said: "I`m not aware of any such plan and we aren`t involved in any sale process." Admittedly, these words still leave lots of room for speculation as to whether the owner family, the Steigenbergers, are entertaining talks unbeknownst to supervisory board and management. On the other hand, it`s common knowledge that Steigenberger has baggage. For the time being, the bride still isn`t pretty enough for the wedding. hospitalityInside.com took this opportunity to ask André Witschi about current Steigenberger changes and plans. For the first time since he assumed office with Germany`s best known hotel group in February, he gave an interview on company strategy and on further rumours.

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Growing by reginal know-how

Thomas Cook introduces the new Sentido brand in detail

24.10.2008

Frankfurt. Karl Anton Schattmaier, Chief Executive Officer of Sentido Hotels & Resorts, and Thomas Cook Chairman Dr Peter Fankhauser presented details of Thomas Cook’s new hotel brand, "Sentido", last week in Frankfurt. The focus of the franchise company’s expansion is on sun destinations.

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Activating European potential

Preferred Hotels grant yield to members

24.10.2008

Frankfurt/M. This sounds like fighting the current crisis but it is already the second time that the Preferred Hotel Group has given its members a "promise for yields" after 2005. The US is still the group's main market and the American cooperation is only gaining ground in Europe gradually. To the four already existing brands under the umbrella of Preferred, the fifth brand is soon to be added in Europe: Historic Hotels. Numerous activities show that the cooperation is speeding up in "good old Europe." The inter-European markets should be connected more strongly with one another.

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Hoteliers want to avoid price dumping

Financial crisis does not result in crisis marketing

24.10.2008

Wiesbaden. Due to the given financial crisis the tour operator Thomas Cook announced it wished to strengthen its resistance against external factors. Similar statements are made by the hotel industry; however, the industry does not speak of special marketing plans for the crisis or of price reductions.

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New York Palace changed hands

17.10.2008

New York. Niklaus Leuenberger, General Director of the New York Palace, is pleased: As of recently, his hotel is now owned by the Brunei Investment Agency - and million Dollar investments have been guaranteed.

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