News & Stories

Berlin. On September 22, Germany will go to the polls in federal elections. The election campaign is in full swing. However, politicians show little interest in tourism. The Federal Association of German Tourism criticises: "Most parties reveal a complete lack of understanding in the frame conditions of tourism."

Duesseldorf/Munich. The German Lindner Hotels are making an attempt at "big data". With the aid of social media, they want to tackle their own mountains of data; they want to rummage through, filter and translate its hidden contents into specific customer promotions in the end. The hotel group is exhausting these new marketing opportunities directly from the Facebook profiles of their customers. Linder automatically reads what they "like" or "post" on Facebook & Co. The hotel group is carrying out this "experiment" with its most valuable clientele: the members of the bonus programme "Lindner Night".

Salzburg. The "morning paper" at the hotel seems to be essential for many holiday guests. 90 percent of the Austrian resorts in the 4- and 5-star categories deliver current property information to their guests daily. However, the paper greeting presents itself as a predominantly painful and bumpy matter for hoteliers and staff members. In Austria, a start-up is taking care of the more professional offerings, but drives the costs up further along with it. What is the property newspaper really worth?

Paris. Obviously working on his image and willing to appear more "human” and less "voracious”, Sébastien Bazin, Accor's new CEO played it "emotional" in front of Accor employees he met last Friday.

Chicago. Preferred Hotel Group launches a new "iPrefer". The loyalty program for the global collection of independent hotels now includes a points program and membership tiers that offer additional amenities.

Dubai. By 2020, Muslim travel will account for 14 percent of the international travel market. This sober figure hides a segment with huge potential. Today already in Arabia, a range of national hotel groups serve Muslim tourists, tourists who want to eat halal and a Muslim-friendly environment. Shaza Hotels go further than that though - beyond geographic frontiers: Their concept is the essence of a lifestyle brand which can even be marketed in Europe. What began as a regional sub-brand by Kempinski has meanwhile established itself as a culture of a very special kind.

Bad Doberan. The next round has been initiated. The leader of Halloren Schokoladenfabrik AG is once again making his move on the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm.

Delhi. Amanresorts is literally up for grabs. And who will buy this super-luxury hotel chain is a million dollar question. Speculation is rife ever since the closure of the sale between DLF Limited, India's real estate giant, with the chain’s founder Adrian Zecha reportedly did not materialise.

Cologne. The German newspaper "WAZ" reported the last Saturday, that Dirk Iserlohe, Managing Director E&P Holding GmbH & Co. KG before, in a penal procedure around the sales of the former "Senvital" seniors residence a witness should have bribed. Iserlohe defended itself in a statement yesterday massively against it. Yesterday at the same time the insolvency governor informed the press about the fact that the Parkhotel Bremen is led now in future as a 5-star Dorint. Dorint is the hotel-operator's companies from E&P.

Boston/London. IHS GmbH, a facilitator of technology and marketing solutions specialized in the international hotel industry headquartered in Frankfurt, was sold. IHS is backed by Trust International, Worldhotels, Nexus World Services, and IFH Institut.