News & Stories
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.
Sydney. Going niche and exclusive is the new mantra of luxury travel. Helen Logas, founder of "Luxperience", a Sydney-based experiential luxury travel fair, is certain about that. As her second season of the "Luxperience" ended on a positive note, she hints there is much more in the pipeline. The fair promises exclusivity to both buyers and exhibitors. Exhibitors are defined by the quality of their offering, and the organizers add value by arranging travel pop-ups around the world. Hoihnu Hauzel met Helen Logas in Sydney to talk about the future of luxury B2B travel events.
Sydney. Luxury may mean different things to different people, but in essence, it is now veering towards what's now popularly called an "experiential travel". Either soul-searching travellers find instant nirvana in the rhythmic silence of a nature reserve, or they are keen on learning new things about their holiday environment. Today's luxury guests are looking for experiences beyond five-star: for a completely different thrill, for a rare experience, for enjoying inhabitants' customs and daily live. "Luxperience", a luxury and experiential travel fair held in Sydney last month, talked and discussed veered around the evolving luxury travel market. It is being redefined like never before.
Paris. Julie Grégoire, Senior Vice President Operations MGallery Europe wants to grow the brand to more than 100 hotels soon. The development plans and contracts of Accor's lifestyle brand with the M for 'Memorable hotels' in its name.
London/Munich. Great Britain's biggest budget hotel chain has set its sights on the German market: Premier Inn counts a total of 670 hotels, most of them located in Great Britain, the minority in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and India. In Britain, the group operates 53,000 rooms. CEO Mark Anderson told hospitalityInside.com at the Expo Real that the group intends to raise capacity in Great Britain alone by a further 50 percent. Behind Premier Inn is the listed and powerful brewery, restaurant and public house group Whitbread. The hotel subsidiary also has an excellent credit rating, and so Mark Anderson's most important statement sounds like a field march: "We're buying!" Premier Inn will buy not only the land, but will also develop and operate the hotels itself. The group will stay away from franchising. Accor, B&B and Motel One are watching closely.
Hamburg/Munich. Exactly one year ago, Munich Hotel Partners started as a new hotel investment and hotel management platform; now, the young business has signed its first notable deal in Hamburg.