Paris. While the financial community was expecting from him an acceleration of Accor real estate assets sale, Sébastien Bazin, who was pushing that way as a shareholder when he was still the head of Colony Capital Europe, expressed a totally different point of view last Wednesday in Paris during "The Investor Day" conference. Accor's new Ceo came out with an unexpected "road map" based on a new organization, a new executive committee and the review of its real estate strategy. None of it reassured the stock exchange. After the announcement, the Accor title fell by over 7%.

Zurich/Frankfurt. Moxy is expanding slowly: in 2014, the budget brand under Marriott's license will open at three locations; in addition, the brand has been in specific negotiations or exploratory talks regarding eight hotels for 2015. As the presentation of the model room at the "International Investment Forum" in Berlin last March gave people plenty to talk about, the Moxy bosses have remained publicly silent for months. Finally, Ramesh Jackson, Vice President & Global Brand Manager at Moxy, and Markus Lehnert, Vice President Hotel Development at Marriott International, have described the rooms and the expansion plans in more detail. In another interview, Gitta Brueckmann, Area Vice President Central Europe, confirmed that the Marriott's budget baby is attracting wide interest in the market. She said: "It can't happen quickly enough."

Munich. News such as the most recent that from now on, Marriott Hotels is allowing their guests the first mobile check-in at 20 hotels around the globe demonstrates that the mega chain has not stopped working on innovations and implementing them. Up to the Lehman crisis, Marriott had communicated superlative expansion figures only, then the chain became increasingly quieter as to not have to talk about their worsening figures … Slowly they appeared again and not only communicate locations today, but also new qualities, e.g., the new meeting concepts "Next Generation Meeting Spaces".

Berlin. After almost two years of debate, the Berlin Assembly passed the Alienation Prohibition Act for Residential Space on November 21, 2013. This also affects the hotel industry and holiday lets business. It will take two years though before a visible change is apparent on the "grey market".

Berlin. The number of the destinations by Relais & Châteaux is growing with the first member hotels in Russia and Turkey, but the consortium should also receive more weight in the future with emerging travel markets such as in the individual districts of China. About 500 representatives from the member hotels found their way to Berlin last week to choose a new president and establish new emphases at the 39th annual meeting. As a new pillar in its portfolio, R&CH has taken up villas and private properties this year. Relais & Châteaux will be 60 years old in 2014.

Vienna/Munich. The Lehman crisis also left its mark on Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group and obviously contributed more towards consolidation than to expansion - and encouraged greater reflection before an announcement. Nevertheless, FMTG Board Chairman, Otmar Michaeler, explained to hospitalityInside.com on Wednesday in Munich that the group was now passed the worst and that it has new resources for new focal points. "In recent years, Germany hadn’t been one of our focal areas, which looking back was a mistake," he said. Now, the Vienna-based hotel group with roots in South Tyrol finally turns its gaze towards the unavoidable mega market in Europe - primarily with city hotels in the 4 and 5-star category. At the same time, scouts are underway in Italy: Economic hardship there could conceal a whole range of bargains. An update.

Hong Kong/Munich. In the last two years, The Peninsula Hotels have had to cope with economic challenges and the consequences of the tsunami in Tokyo in addition. This year and looking forward into 2014, happier times are awaiting the top luxury hotel group from Hong Kong – crowned by the opening of its first European hotel, The Peninsula Paris. The opening date is now definitely set for August 1, 2014, after 18 months of delay. First concepts already exist for a project in London, which has just been announced, located directly next to the Lanesborough at Hyde Park Corner. Peter Borer, Chief Operating Officer The Peninsula Hotels, and Nicolas Béliard, General Manager at The Peninsula Paris, revealed details in Munich this week about the development of the group, the new hotels on the Seine and the Thames, as well as innovations in the luxury segment.

Munich. The Starwood brand, Le Méridien, has restyled the lobbies of its hotels as "Le Méridien HUB". The hotel in Munich was the first in Germany to introduce the new design. Instead of a cool entrance hall, the guest immediately arrives into a living-room environment with artistic elements and a coffee bar.

Vienna. More and more people are getting out of alpine skiing. As a result, the ski regions of Austria are trying out new ideas and packages. Above all, the threatened, smaller skiing areas are smelling their opportunity. The Austrian Tourism Office and the industry providers are also present.

Moscow/Munich. Russia's biggest national hotel chain, Azimut, is restructuring. With its new strategy, it wants to sharpen its profile and raise brand awareness both at home in Russia as well as in Germany and Austria. Last week, as reported, Walter Neumann assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer based in Moscow and will be supported by the former Acting CEO and Chief Operations Officer Sebastian Kraemer. Azimut owner Alexander Klyachin has great hopes for his new German "dream team" whose current task spans eleven hotels in Russia, seven in Germany and one in Austria.