News & Stories
Heilbronn. The German Plaza Hotelgroup meanwhile counts 33 hotels, in the next five years, it's to be at least 50. The general market wind in Germany drives this group forward. Up to now, we have heard little about it. The group's headquarters regularly records new hotels coming on board. At present, Plaza Hotels operates in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands, most of these under the Best Western brand. Further brands could follow.
Bethesda/Beijing. Marriott and Alibaba have created a joint venture to redefine the travel experience for hundreds of million Chinese holidaymakers. The entity will manage portfolios, mobile distribution, loyalty programs, online payment and much more. A new approach of two giants.
Hamburg. "We have been catapulted into a success story", David Etmenan says, Chief Executive Officer of the German Novum Hotel Group. The group announces new acquisitions on an almost weekly basis. The portfolio grew from 12 hotels and 560 rooms in 2010 to 106 hotels in operation in July 2017. Pipeline included, Novum currently counts 146 hotels with over 16,000 rooms in over 65 destinations in Europe. This makes the group one of the biggest hotel chains in Germany. Now, 250 hotels are the next target. For some, this all sounds a little like the group is overestimating itself and like mysterious financing methods. Novum's super fast growth has caused a lot of confusion in the industry – though has also received approval. CEO David Etmenan and his Chief Financial Officer Torsten Scholl have made an effort to improve transparency in their answers to hospitalityInside's questions. For the first time, the company publishes concrete results for the 2016 financial year.
Paris. In June, the French consortium Société Européenne d'Hôtellerie signed a partnership with German consortium GreenLine Hotels adding 70 properties to its portfolio in one shot. Many more entities just like these exist across Europe and seem to be ready to join forces in order to compete against hotel chains and OTAs. SEH has become the first multi-brand network in Europe. SEH's playground is clearly not limited to France anymore, but also reaches out to Eastern, Southern Europe and even the province of Quebec in Canada. Being an independent hotel is a must to join the group.
Duesseldorf. "We would like to grow," Otto Lindner says, Chairman of Lindner Hotels AG. "We could do this on our own steam, but the beauty concept of an expanding group must today include a story" – a story with a character like Clemens Toennies. With 31 hotels in operation in seven European countries, Lindner Hotels & Resorts has been part of the German Mittelstand since the 1970s. It has grown organically but today has reached critical size. The new character in Lindner's life is Clemens Toennies, a meat and meat products company, better known as the chairman of the football club Schalke 04. Both medium-sized companies are now to make targeted investments in Lindner's newest lifestyle brand me and all hotels. Thanks to this new partnership, officially concluded in mid-June of this year, Lindner Hotels has already won the first hotel pitch – and pushed renowned chains hotels aside. The Mittelstand is coming together.
Frankfurt. As of winter 2017/18, the tour operator DER Touristik will implement an animal welfare guideline: hence, all six brands will successively remove all their offers, which feature direct contact to wild animals, from their programs by 2020. But DER is not the only one.
Madrid. The travel industry must be better prepared for economic and political disruption if it is to make the most of future economic growth. This is a very big challenge but also a great chance. And: It is important to keep an eye on four scenarios.
Vienna/Bangkok. Five months after the acquisition of Vienna House by the Thai investor U City, the process of synergy building has begun: In future, the Austria hotel group will expand its brand in Asia and U Hotels & Resorts will venture the leap to Europe.
Vienna. According to recent brand value estimates, the Hilton brand, the most valuable hotel brand worldwide, is worth USD 8.370 billion. This is followed by other US giants such as Marriott, Hyatt, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn and Ramada. In light of such dimensions, Austrian hoteliers have decided to have their hotel names valued. At least two now know the answer.
Amsterdam. The innovation and rise in popularity of co-working spaces confirm that the concept is becoming mainstream. The sector has grown very fast and created a sort of frenzied reaction among investors, banks, real estate companies, and hedge funds. Even hoteliers are interested and this time, they may have more to offer on the matter than one might think. The Student Hotel, Zoku, Mama Shelter, Ruby Hotels, Virgin Hotels, etc. are already developing their own version of co-working spaces, somehow trying to prove that their hospitality expertise is perfect to answer the needs of the "co-living/co-working" adepts.