News & Stories

Paris. Two weeks ago in Turin, during the annual meeting, the 36 new members of Relais & Châteaux for 2013 were introduced to the rest of the "family”. Among them, several owners of amazing properties in Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, as well as in Guatemala, Chili and Peru. This year, business was challenging all over "but we made it", says President Jaume Tàpies. Europe is proving business to weaken. In an interview in Paris, he revealed the latest business figures and talked about future market perspectives and challenges like distribution and occupancy. In the on-going law suit against former President Regis Bulot he says: "We learned our lesson." The members of R&C are waiting for judgement.

Hamburg. A German insolvency administrator has been brought into the insolvency proceedings regarding the property of the InterContinental Hotel in Hamburg. The hotel's business operations have been secured until the end of January 2013 for the present.

Paris. Two weeks ago, Ascott Limited revealed its plans to launch and develop a new upscale brand called Citadines Suites. Our Paris correspondent Sarah Douag met Alain Ferracani, Vice President Sales & Marketing Europe to share more details about this new label and explain what are the group strategy and ambitions in the near future. Ascott's approach seems to touch traditional hotels in terms of interior design and pricing; the first Citadines Suites will open in Paris to be followed by others properties in UK, Germany and Eastern Europe.

Berlin. The rebranding of Accor's brand ibis has now taken visible shape in the chain's second most important market of Germany. Last week in Berlin at Accor's hotel park at Potsdamer Platz, the German Accor management presented the new design for ibis, ibis budget and ibis styles as well as the new bed concept "Sweet Bed by ibis" to international journalists. At least the French media made sure that the new design concept will be put into practice as consistently as in Paris. Accor is working on its credibility and its modernisation speed.

Hamburg/Zug. The future of the InterContinental Hotel Hamburg will be decided today after the owner filed for insolvency on Wednesday. Obviously the bank pulled the plug.

Berlin. The Board of Directors of Kempinski AG as well as Anno August Jagdfeld, Managing Director of Adlon Funds, have agreed on an early extension of the lease for the Berlin Hotel Adlon Kempinski.

Duesseldorf. Insiders talking shop about the trends in the apartment market: for the first time, the interactive "Apartment Camp" will take place in the new Derag Livinghotel Duesseldorf on November 8/9, 2012. Invited are providers, agents and consumers.

Munich. TThey are a tiny group in Germany that has placed its ambition in setting up its own brand - and within the shortest period of time has discovered that they've done much better with their "limited service design hotel" than with their classic full service hotels. The group we're talking about is Rilano Hotels & Resorts based in Munich: With their limited service brand Rilano 24/7 - launched in January 2011 - they are represented in three German cities like with their original first class product. Highest demand from investors is for the lifestyle product, Rilano Managing Partner Holger Behrens reports on the fringes of the Expo Real. "24/7 hasn't produced any hype, but has resonated well," he reports.

Munich. The die is cast: In the gala evening of the "hotelforum" on the outskirts of the Expo Real in Munich, the Hotel Topazz was distinguished on Wednesday evening in Vienna as the "Hotel Real Estate of the Year 2012". In addition, the jury conferred three further awards.

London/Prague. The Rocco Forte Collection is in danger of being expulsed from the Augustine Hotel Prague: the owner is accusing the operator of significant underperformance. Richard Power is defending the company.