News & Stories

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.

Wiesbaden. Even insiders can no longer accurately say which brand belongs to whom. Hotel chains are getting high on ever new brands, because they supposedly make their own world more beautiful and investors happier. Garnished with promising loyalty programs, brands are turning into real "happy pills". The intoxication is usually followed by the bitter reality: Operators are, in fact, devaluing their own system with it. Where is all this going to lead? On the lookout for background information and motivation.

Jakarta. Southeast Asia, as represented by the ten ASEAN countries, is one the most dynamic regions in the world, with an economy forecasted by the International Monetary Fund to grow at an annualised rate of 7.3% over the coming 5 years. In addition, the region is slated to be one of the few beneficiaries of the ongoing trade war between the US and China, as multinational companies continue to shift their supply chains away from China.

Frankfurt. The new man from the construction industry resets the sail for Premier Inn's cruise through Germany. Dr Michael Hartung, Managing Director and Head of Development at Premier Inn Investments since 1 April 2019, is now pushing the already ambitious, expanding British hotel group in the direction of mixed use. 300 Premier Inn hotels in the German market are the goal. The speed at which this goal will be achieved, will also depend on partners. Wanted: new partners from project development and from other industries, including retail. Premier Inn now thinks laterally and its focus is already digital at construction phase.

Vienna. The economically successful Austrian resort is one that offers luxury and is very popular among guests – but that is deceptive: This picture is dominated by a small elite with 90% of businesses left scrambling for the remaining half of total turnover. In general, Austrian resorts offer a small number of beds and profit margins continue to shrink. The gap separating the top hotels from other types of accommodation continues to grow.

Augsburg. Investors still want to invest in hotel real estate or buy brands and operating companies. And so it still boils in the kitchen of the big names. Sometimes sales are announced, sometimes shareholders are exchanged, sometimes joint ventures are founded... A snapshot.

Innsbruck. After Salzburger Land, the Austrian province of Tyrol is now starting to intensively market mountain pasture tourism. Many long for alpine life and culinary delights on an alp. Although leisure-oriented people, cattle and predators are increasingly getting in each other's way.

London. In a deal with banks, Fosun proposed to recapitalise Thomas Cook plc in a 750–million-pound deal. The Chinese company will gain control over TC tour operator and get a 25% stake in TC airline. The background.

Frankfurt/Main. Credit card fraud is on the rise, yet the subject often goes undiscussed among hoteliers out of a sense of shame. Together, payment transactions service providers and banks are now taking action. The hotel business must support them.