News & Stories

Wiesbaden. Rising land and construction costs are driving up prices for hotel buildings in Europe – and have a massive impact on room sizes in sought-after city locations. And now there are even 4-star hotels like Radisson with rooms in the 16 sqm budget format. Will we end up with rooms the size of rabbit hutches or is a counter trend in sight? An interview with architects Peter Joehnk, Oliver Massabni and project developer Olaf Steinhage.

Fribourg. Aevis Victoria plans to become a hotel chain of national importance in Switzerland. The owner of the Victoria-Jungfrau Collection just added eight properties – sold by Credit Suisse for a discount.

Paris. No longer had Huazhu acquired Steigenberger, Accor announced a partnership with the Chinese distribution giant Alibaba. Yet Accor owns 10.8% in Huazhu, behind is the founder of Ctrip. Now, four weeks later, it plans to sell Huazhu shares amounting to around 5% in the company. A withdrawal by instalment?

Hamburg. Mixed use projects only work with reliable partners, affordable technology and digitally networked real estate. Only then does the neighbourhood thrive. That was the quintessence of the third "H3" think tank, which challenged experts gathered in Hamburg from the fields of Housing, Hospitality and Healthcare to put forward their perspectives. It became clear: Investors in particular do not see the need for comprehensive thinking, planning and partnership concepts. So much irresponsibility when it comes to buildings that will stand around for decades drives startups the flush of anger to their faces.

Berlin. According to various reports, Germany is on the verge of an economic downswing. Initial figures speak for themselves. What are the consequences for the hotel industry and the hotel investment market? The fear of a slowdown of the domestic economy has become greater than the fear of geo-political risks and the lack of skilled labour. Some experts remain positive while other industry players start to react.

Munich. A former dentist is now a lateral entrant in the hotel business – and is finding his first successes in real estate niches. Wolfgang Kaefer, founder of BOLD Hotels based in Munich, has access to his own 100 properties. Having established four hotels in Munich, Frankfurt and Königstein near Frankfurt, he is now beginning to diversify into city hotels, hostels, upscale 4-star conference hotels and apartment hotels/Co-living.

Bangkok. Before the leading luxury hotel group in Thailand introduced its new ASAI lifestyle boutique brand, Siradej Donavanik, Director of Development and Projects of Dusit International, looked around in Europe. His grandmother founded the Dusit Thani Group back in 1948. Today, her grandson is introducing new aspects with a community-focused brand that comes with unusually sized 16-sqm rooms for Thai and other Asian standards, as well as a sustainability concept. In contrast to Europe, food and beverages play a vital role in this.

San Francisco/Lausanne. Airbnb and the International Olympic Committee today announced a significant agreement to support the Olympic Movement through to 2028. The organisers and athletes as well as the environment and the host cities will benefit from this. Now it is hailing criticism - and complaints and law suits from Paris.

Luxembourg. The next stage of the billion-euro deal has begun. On Tuesday, they submitted a concrete bid. The voluntary offer to the shareholders is apparently not subject to a minimum acceptance threshold. Conclusion is therefore expected to be prompt. The merger could possibly also create a new Dax candidate. Up to now, Aroundtown has been listed on the M-Dax index.

Munich. The dissolution of ArabellaStarwood Hotels nine years ago is now referred to within Schörghuber as the "foundation for the comeback". The Munich-based brewery and real estate group had at the time dissolved its joint venture with Starwood Hotels, resulting in the dissolution of the operating company as well. Today's Arabella Hospitality SE sees itself primarily as an investor, though it still acts as a manager and franchisee. The portfolio has now been adjusted and will be opened to further brands with no connection to Marriott, the new COO, Martina Maly-Gärtner, announces.