News & Stories
Berlin. A red carpet directly led from the showrooms at the InterContinental Berlin into the module box with the new Super 8 room: Wyndham presented its room model for the American budget brand at the International Hotel Investment Conference last week. With its start also now in Germany and Poland, the respective contracts were publicly signed at the IHIF. Wyndham CEO and President Eric A. Danziger wants to create a quick rollout through "flexible franchising", as he said in a conversation with hospitalityInside. Why the largest chain in the world is now jumping into the budget trend in Europe.
Prague. The central and eastern European-oriented Mamaison Hotels & Resorts is in search of other boutique hotels in these regions. After the build-up of the last years, owner and operator are pushing the expansion.
Eschborn. The Best Western Hotels in Germany have closed the 2011 financial year with a two-digit increase in turnover. All business segments lay in the increase.
Frankfurt. As reported via "breaking news" on Wednesday, Arco Buijs, CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG, will be leaving Steigenberger Hotels Group at the end of February. Officially, the group speaks about "different views". But who will be next on the hot seat? Two CEOs in less than four years, a lot of headlines, almost no results, no commitment of the owner. Steigenberger is putting its good name at stake. An evaluation.
Berlin. The Academy of Arts across the way provides for the "Neighbourhood Story" of the first Indigo in Continental Europe. The location on the corner of Hardenbergstrasse in Berlin is top, the semi-circular construction and the blue, intensely luminous Indigo logo on this half-round ensures a high visibility, particularly in the evening and at night. The new boutique brand of InterContinental HotelGroup also comes along as fresh and stylish on the inside. During these days, the craftsmen are finishing up at the pilot hotel within sight of the Bahnhof Zoo Rail Station; nevertheless, a room could already be visited by hospitalityInside.com. At minimum, IHG plans to cover Germany alone with two dozen Indigos. The second Indigo for Berlin is already under construction.
Vienna. The disentanglement from Vienna International has its drawbacks: On the one hand, the unexpected dismissal of CEO Rudolf Tucek from VI one year ago could smooth the waves but, on the other hand, clarification of the ownership status still remains to be announced. The courts will decide there. And until then, the development of Cube Hotels, Tuceck´s own budget brand in the leisure segment, is blocked. He does not hold a lot of weight in big announcements of his own projects; he likewise critically views the latest announcements by his CEO successor, Andreas Karsten with VI.
Vienna. Since September 1, 2011, Dr. Andreas Karsten, former CEO of Magic Life, has been CEO of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. In terms of ownership, the company is closely aligned with Warimpex, a publicly traded company for which VI has been developing and managing numerous hotel projects in Central and Eastern Europe. After quarrelling with majority shareholders, Andreas Karsten now aims at rapidly expanding the chain. In an interview conducted by Fred Fettner, our Austria correspondent, Karsten specified how VI is to be made fit for the stock market and how he wants to expand – particularly in Germany. Here, he considers the minimum number of hotels required to be perceived as a hotel chain to be 40 hotels.
Shanghai. A German could revolutionise China's hotel industry. Bernold O. Schroeder, the new CEO of Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., wants to grow with new brands domestically and then begin the global triumphal procession. His goal: To mix within the Top 10 global players – a challenge with an open-end. As it stands today, a conglomerate with more than 700 hotels and just under 110,000 rooms is already hidden behind the Jin Jiang Group. Nevertheless, groundwork still needs to be conducted throughout. An almost unbelievable balancing act because even without additional purchases, Jin Jiang will still receive about 50,000 additional beds over the next five years. The brand refitting of 3-star hotels to luxury hostels stands. However, the economy can call all plans into question and the Chinese government still plays a crucial role in this hotel group. hospitalityInside author, Peter Hinze, a much-travelled journalist and Asia expert, has educed fascinating views and insights from Bernold Schroeder in a visit to China.
Minneapolis/Brussels. Carlson and The Rezidor Hotel Group announced on Wednesday that they have established the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. The closing of ranks between the parent company and its subsidiary will blow up the group over night to a "giant" with 1,300 hotels.
Munich. Nowadays it is often the parking fees at the airport that are the most expensive factor about flying. It costs 26 Euro per day to park a car in one of the four car parks at Munich Airport. In the more distant "holiday parking spaces", the fee is 14 Euro per day. The special provider Holiday Extras promises to reduce the parking fees by up to 70% compared to the official fees at airports, and not only in Munich, but at many airports in eight European countries. The company offers not only parking spaces at its own "Airparks" or rented areas at airports, but also cooperates with airport hotels or hotels at river, lake and cruise ship harbours. At the moment, 121 hotels at 42 airports are participating. Holiday Extras CEO Martin Pundt wants to increase the number of hotels systematically: the hotels provide the car specialist with large profits despite favourable fixed rates for travellers. Driving and sleeping are a fruitful symbiosis in this global franchise model.