News & Stories
Munich. The Serviced Apartment segment is moving through the current crisis with greater ease having suffered fewer blows. The strategies oscillate between classic hotel business and residential concept. Issues such as growth via franchise or senior living concepts marked the new hybrid spectrum, but also the growing pressure from all directions - also from the hotel chains. In the next few months, a separate ranking for Serviced Apartment operators is to be created.
Cologne. "It was an opportunity to be present in other spaces again, for banks, investors and insurance companies, and have good discussions, even if they do still treat the hotel industry with kid gloves," Karl-Heinz Pawlizki, CEO of Dorint Hotels & Resorts, says drawing a positive conclusion on the quieter Wednesday of Expo Real. For those he had discussions with, he had the 2020 Annual Report with him. The company again sees itself on a good path.
Frankfurt/Munich. With the Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels brand announced in mid-July, Deutsche Hospitality is now stepping on the gas on its journey to global luxury lifestyle heaven. CEO Marcus Bernhardt explained details about the contract, design, costs and expansion in a conversation with hospitalityInside.com.
Augsburg. How resilient is the hotel industry in this crisis? It is certain that the businesses are still experiencing highs and lows. Investors and operators are questioning each other, banks remain selective for now, while new diversity and new competition is emerging under the cloak of "hospitality". A snapshot prior to Expo Real 2021, which starts on Monday in Munich.
Augsburg. Holiday hotels and holiday apartments are booming right now. The latter benefit from social distancing and their housing concepts from an increase in demand. Since 2010, this segment has become increasingly professional and is now narrowing the gap to the classic hotel industry, also driven by the consumer trend towards bleisure and workation. A comparison of sales figures and official statistics.
Berlin. The pandemic has made it impossible to pay higher salaries. Other solutions are needed: The new "talent pool" is made up of refugees. And the next big opportunity to fill empty spaces in hotels is the "remote industry" that is now emerging. Covid-19 has given Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor, the necessary space for a rethink of certain highly charged issues. He has become humble, but tackles problems with vision and new insights. Maria Puetz-Willems met him in Berlin.
Toronto. On Wednesday, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced that longstanding shareholder Cascade Investment LLC has agreed to buy about half of the existing 47.5% stake owned by Saudi Arabia Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for 2.21 billion dollars, valuing FS at 10 billion dollars on an enterprise basis.
Paris/Amsterdam/Brussels. France, Netherlands, Belgium: in all three countries, tourism professionals and businesses hope for a return to normality. France officially ends the solidarity fund but continues to support the tourism sector. For the other two countries it will be bitter.
Munich. Business is slowly coming back; development continues as planned. The topic of staff members is cause for anguish. Duncan O'Rourke, CEO Northern Europe at Accor – which encompasses 31 countries – matter-of-factly evaluates the situation after one and a half years of pandemic. He learned that some changes are necessary concerning Accor's structure and focus.
Chicago. The run on resorts within the major international hotel groups continues. Hyatt has announced the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group, doubling its number of resort hotels.