News & Stories

Mumbai. The message from Indian Hotel Company Ltd was clear: It announced  that it acquired a stake of 10 per cent in Orient-Express Hotels and wants to pursue possible associations between its brands and Orient-Express. But Orient-Express doesn't want to pursue the proposal.

London. The first Yotel opened at London Gatwick, but there are still some details to improve. An interview with Gerard Greene, CEO of yotel hotels, and Nigel Buchanan, Operations Director, gives background-information to the hotel concept, to things that will be changed and to the approach to other countries.

Hongkong Luxury hotel group Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has launched a two-year development strategy to enhance its corporate social responsibility activities. A corporate CSR Committee, spearheaded by the group's chief operating officer Simon Bridle, has been established to continue to fulfill the group's responsibilities.

Beverly Hills Hilton Hotels Corporation announced that at a special meeting held on the September 18, its stockholders approved the merger agreement with investment funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P. Over 98% of the shares that voted were cast in favor of the merger.

Beverly Hills. In preparation for the special meeting of stockholders of Hilton scheduled to be held on September 18, 2007 interesting details became public: Stephen Bollenbach will leave the company with 10.5 million USD.

Amsterdam. A new type of hotels called citizenM is going to open at Schipohl Airport in Amsterdam at the beginning of 2008. It’s target group are modern travellers, called "Mobilie Citizens". The concept is a modern mixture of luxury and budget-items. The rooms' ambiance can be costumized by the guests, by programming the room card. 20 hotels in Europe are to be rolled out. 

Kuala Lumpur. Datuk Tony Fernandez, head of the Malaysian low cost carrier, Air Asia, has now also made his move into the super low budget hotel business. Towels not included! easy Group founder Stelios Haji Iannious obviously serves as role model.

Frankfurt/M. When it comes to importance, tourist brands lag far behind other business segments. The reason for this is the lack of ideas within the industry concerning working out distinct profiles, but also the poor degree of penetration and communication among brands due to a lack of time and money. Against this backdrop, it was a clever move of the Travel Industry Club to make the Kommunikationsverband Deutschland and its brand experts join its symposium about the topic "Tourismus trifft Marke".