News & Stories

Miami. This story reads like a film script. The setting: the renowned luxury hotel The Setai South Beach in Miami. The parties: Operator GHM, owner Lehman Brothers and the Trevi Luxury Hospitality Group spearheaded by the former Rosewood CEO Atef Mankarios. The action: a surprising night-time hostile takeover of hotel management - accompanied by "armed guards and uniformed police officers". At least this is the claim made by GHM. The other side tells a completely different story.

Munich. For the first time, TripAdvisor initiated a global and large-scale survey among hoteliers incorporating responses from more than 9,000 accommodation owners and managers around the world regarding the industry's outlook, social media activities and the utilization of services and offers.

Berlin. With its expansion strategy abroad, the Spanish hotel group, Meliá, is leaving the crisis in its own country behind. The Arabian spring there is helping the resorts to grow again. Yesterday, Meliá presented a new valuation of its property assets.

Zurich/Berlin. The hotel company bearing a pigeon in its logo is approaching a new era. The deceased founder Ueli Prager would be happy about it, as his gastronomical heritage is to define the new age of Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts. The next milestone consists of four digits: 2015. As reported, the hotel group wants to expand its portfolio to 100 hotels by then. The regional player based on medium-sized structures will then finally become a global player of international character. Jean-Gabriel Pérès, who has been leading the company for 13 years, has silently modified the company's structure and management. Read more on Moevenpick's new acceleration skywards – latest details from ITB and background information resulting from a visit to the headquarters in Zurich.

Munich. Leonardo hotels will further diversify its brand portfolio. The core brand Leonardo, the 5-star Leonardo Royal and Leonardo Boutique brands are no longer enough. At the same time, the chief managers, David Fattal and European General Manager, Daniel Roger will intensify the expansion outside Israel and Germany. The first contracts are signed and additionally, the initial real estate has been purchased. Germany is a still highly attractive market in the eyes of Fattal and he will expand further – only no further in Berlin. Maria Puetz-Willems met David Fattal and Daniel Roger in Munich.

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.