News & Stories
Amsterdam. Europe is ripe for alternative accommodation formats, aside from established boutique hotels or mixed-use resorts for example. Very few regions in the world can actually rely on such a closely-knit network of "power cities" which are craving for dynamic accommodation solutions. Yet the continent remains in the shadow of North America when it comes to investments. Alternative accommodation should have a bright future in Europe, especially knowing that business travel expenditures are higher here than in North America, reveals AHV Associates, London. So why are investors still sceptic about the model? We asked a couple of them who believe in the model, to explain the pros and cons when it comes to investing in Serviced Apartments.
Amsterdam. The rise of Airbnb and similar rental platforms has turned the idea of booking an "apartment" instead of a hotel room, into a more common occurrence. Today, a vast majority of travelers appreciate feeling at home while being offered a range of services. Thus, Serviced Apartments have a bright future ahead of them across the world. The sector is booming. And certain markets are more mature than others. Today, hospitalityInside.com has chosen to portray two companies which do not have much in common apart from betting on the same flourishing sector of Aparthotel and Serviced Apartment. Short Stay Group is Dutch and among the largest operators in Europe in the short stay segment. The other one, Becar Asset Management Group reigns over Russian commercial real estate, but has recently found interest in micro-living spaces for tourists and corporate guests.
Cologne/Berlin. Whether they'll become the dream team of Dorint Hotels & Resorts? Whatever the case, they are certainly the new face of the hotel group: Karl-Heinz Pawlizki has been CEO of the German hotel group since last October and since January has been supported by his former IHG colleague Joerg Boeckeler as COO. The latter returned to his native Germany after seven years at the helm of the InterContinental Sydney. He arrives at a good time: After over 15 painful years, the hotel group is again back on its feet, it's expanding again and the management team, unburdened by the turbulent past, is pushing on forward and sharpening the company's profile. For the first time in a long while, there's a master plan again. Maria Puetz-Willems met the two managers last week for breakfast at the InterContinental Berlin.
Berlin. Motel One is getting bigger. And more colourful. On Tuesday evening, the budget design group celebrated the opening of its largest hotel to date on Berlin's Alexanderplatz: 708 rooms in a 60m-high 19-storey building with S-Bahn station just around the corner. It's nearest rival, the Park Inn by Radisson with 1,012 rooms, is also in direct eye-shot. The Motel One Berlin Alexanderplatz is the tenth hotel of the group in the German capital and the youngest of the 22 Motel One Hotels with more than 300 rooms. Maria Puetz-Willems asked Dieter Mueller, founder and CEO of Motel One Group, whether he will tend towards even larger hotels. His Excel tables make clear: The bigger, the more profitable.
Vienna. Celebrations, hustle, cheerfulness. This was the image of the 65th Annual Congress of the Austrian Hoteliers Association in Vienna's Hofburg in mid-January. The reason for the change in mood at the industry event, which had previously stood out for its criticism of poor framework conditions, was the promise of tax relief from the new coalition government. There is also now a Minister for Tourism and Sustainability. This points to future controversy. The working time regulations and the drastic increase in labour costs are also causing concern.
Beijing/Madrid. Chinese investors under pressure: Stricter investment rules by the Chinese government are pushing HNA to sell non-core assets and NH Hotels is officially on the list now. HNA also faces debt problems with its aviation division.
London (February 2, 2018). As announced last week, Yotel plans to open five hotels next year with mini apartments called YotelPads for longer stays. YotelPads will enter the market with the intention of making every bit of space functional. A new app for the brand will be the digital key for services and experiences in the local community. HospitalityInside.com talked to VP Brand Jo Berrington about the specific characteristics of the new brand and its amenities for guests.
London. Yotel announced its entry into the multi-billion dollar market segment of extended stays. The brand, known for its hotel pods Yotel and YotelAir is making an old dream of CEO Hubert Viriot come true. The name of the new baby will be YotelPad. The brand will give its debut in the USA, followed by Europe and Dubai.
Frankfurt. Between 2021 and 2022 the Rezidor Hotel Group is supposed to deliver its strongest growth. This period marks the last years of a 5-year plan presented by President & CEO Federico J. González this week in Frankfurt during its Investors Day. The Radisson portfolio will be rearranged.
New York. The hotel industry has changed rapidly. Hotel chains face new competitors like Airbnb, boutique hotels and OTAs which reach impressive growth rates leaving the ones of standard hotels far behind. This also shows that the benefit of loyalty programs is over estimated. A new study gives an impressive insight into this development and delivers warning facts and figures.