News & Stories

Nuremberg. In 2019, Europeans will have an average of 14,739 euros per capita to spend and save. However, the difference in the level of net disposable income in the 42 countries is partly serious. This is the result of a recent study, which is now available.

Munich. They all have decades of experience with the big international hotels and today are responsible for a large number of hotels and employees. But the present dynamic is currently turning the industry completely upside down, placing it repeatedly before new challenges. Three top managers from IHG, Accor and Steigenberger spoke about how this was driving them crazy, or not, at the Leaders Talk at the Expo Real hotel conference.

Zurich/London. The wave of consolidation is currently affecting smaller hotel groups: the parent company of the Swiss Victoria-Jungfrau Collection has now also purchased Seiler Hotels in Zermatt. And British Generator Hostels have grown by four American Freehand Hotels.

Neustadt. Resorts are trendy. They're elevated by the current hype. Nevertheless, at Arborea Marina Resort, a promising concept in Neustadt/Holstein, it all went awry: On 11 October, last Friday, the Hamburg-based operating company RIMC assumed the reins for the 15-month-old resort at the local harbour, also acquiring brand name and sustainable concept. This little story raises questions regarding the hype: How much energy, money and luck does it take to establish a resort brand? And why is this much more difficult for resorts than it is for city hotels? Consultants, resort experts and successful resort makers explain the challenges, Arborea founder Johann Kerkhofs and RIMC Managing Director Marek Riegger explain their views.

Vienna. Fine-dining restaurants are in decline in Austria, especially at gourmet level. Now, Alpine cuisine is to compensate and re-enthuse guests with local meat and wild herbs. Pure nature on your plate... But costs aren't any lower just because the nettle, a typical ingredient in springtime Alpine cuisine, grows on the doorstep. Nevertheless: Cuisine from the Alps is to stand apart from the uniform global mush.

Hamburg/Brussels. On the agreed deadline, 4 October, the Radisson Group has now exercised its option under the 2016 contract and purchased the remaining 51% of prize Holding GmbH. At the beginning of 2020, all hotels and the brand name prizeotel will be transferred to the Group, which has since been taken over itself and now belongs to Chinese Jin Jiang Hotels.

Hohenschwangau/Cologne. The realisation of the Ameron Hotel Neuschwanstein took eight years. But now, it is part of a sensitively re-vitalised building complex located directly at lake Alpsee, and close to King Ludwig's world-famous castles Neuschwanstein und Hohenschwangau. The upscale brand of the originally purely luxury group Althoff Hotels from Cologne is hence leading the way into the next expansion phase with newly constructed hotels at premium locations and "need-based" F&B. Thomas H. Althoff, founder and owner of the group, on the status quo of the "typical German medium-sized company," suddenly with a pipeline. Also, the first young brand Urban Loft is under construction.

Lille. In 2008, the Trigano family welcomed its initial guests in the first Mama Shelter Hotel. Six years later, Accor acquired a stake in the French group and since then expansion has picked up speed. One reason for this is the high degree of standardisation of this en vogue brand.

Cologne. 60 years, 60 hotels. It's done. After many ups and downs, one of the oldest hotel groups in Germany, Dorint Hotels has stabilised and is looking to the future again. The company celebrated this on Wednesday with many investors and business friends in the Dorint Hotel Köln Messe.

Wiesbaden. What do investors and operators think about the current flood of brands? They have become quite critical, as research for this second part of our brands' story has revealed. The capital providers also criticise the incomprehensible flood of brands; they also weigh up the use of brands by large chains and criticise the groups' creativity in inventing new fees over and over. "Chains, please stop creating brands and get back to the basics!" demands one investor.