News & Stories

Vienna. Regional tourism managers are gradually becoming leisure managers. Classic advertising campaigns will in future no longer be used, the Österreich Werbung states. They will be replaced by social media and funny games for younger target groups.

Frankfurt/Singapore. "They are very happy," Steigenberger CEO Thomas Willms says, referring to the big story this week: The Chinese hotel group Huazhu acquires 100 percent of the German hotel legend Steigenberger Hotels AG at a price tag of 719.9 million euros. The deal gives the group the desired push in the upscale and luxury segment as well as its entry into Europe. Huazhu was founded in 2005 and today counts 5,151 hotels in 400 cities. Above all, the Steigenberger and Intercity brands are now expected to grow rapidly. Jenny Zhang, CEO of the ninth largest hotel group in the world, talks to us about the power of Huazhu and the perfect fit from Germany.

Augsburg. Accor and the Alibaba Group will collaborate to develop digital services and loyalty programmes. This was announced by the companies at a special ceremony during China International Expo 2019. The aim of the strategic cooperation is to improve the experience for consumers and travellers within the next five years.

Frankfurt. Huazhu Group Limited just announced that the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary China Lodging Holding Singapore, entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire all shares in Steigenberger Hotels Aktiengesellschaft, Germany, for a base cash consideration of about €700 million, which is subject to net working capital and other post-closing adjustments as provided in the Agreement. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and certain other closing conditions, and is expected to close on or around early next year.

Berlin/Luxembourg. The planned billion-heavy merger of the large commercial real estate groups Aroundtown SA and TLG Immobilien is entering its next phase. At its core is a voluntary takeover bid for all TLG shares. As a result, one of Europe's largest real estate groups for office, hotel and residential properties could soon emerge. This is likely to create a significant stir in the market.

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.