News & Stories

Berlin. The mood was great. More positive than last year. Full stop. This is the brief conclusion of this year's ITB as there was no revolutionary news. Everybody was glad to have survived a difficult year, and the rising figures in January and February 2010 have been considered indicators for the emerging upswing for the entire year. However, the industry, keen to celebrate, surpassed itself with parties and events mainly on Wednesday evening. The 44th ITB Berlin counted a total of 180,000 visitors – with a slight increase in the number of exhibitors and a constantly high number of experts. A top performance in difficult times. The ITB Berlin Convention is attracting a growing number of people: with 12,500 participants, the number increased once again. 1,400 of them participated in the "ITB Hospitality Day", which were 200 more than last year. hospitalityInside was media partner and responsible for the content of the forum. The hotel convention thus had the most visitors of all conventions - together with the CSR Day.

Frankfurt. Three cities may call themselves "European Cultural Capital" simultaneously in 2010: Istanbul in Turkey, Pécs in Hungary and the Ruhr district in Germany. However, the latter sticks out, as the German "Cultural Capital" is not a single city, but a region consisting of 53 cities. A very unique situation. The region's image so far means a lot of work for external marketing. In addition, Duesseldorf, a fierce competitor in the hotel sector, is only a few kilometres away. A look at the Cultural Capital from a hotelier's perspective.

Bern. In the crisis year 2009, the para-hotel industry in Switzerland has grown in significance. Camp sites and holiday homes are recording considerably more bookings than in the previous year. Youth hostels too are recording growth.

Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi aims at positioning itself as destination for exclusive luxury trips and as cultural capital of the Middle East. By 2012, the number of hotel rooms is planned to rise from 17,500 to 25,000. The list of hotel projects in planning is long, and almost every renowned hotel brand will be present in the sheikhdom. The crisis in neighbouring Dubai is no reason for the richest and largest emirate to adjust its gigantic construction projects. With unbridled self-confidence, Abu Dubai continues to indulge in the craze for the huge and spectacular.

Berlin. The "green spa", the "healthy" spa, the "spiritual" spa - what is behind these key words? The ITB Wellness expert forum on Thursday, March 11, 2010 will examine these issues and take a close look at them based on actual case studies.

Berlin. A recently issued brochure lists certified exhibitors, areas and numbers of visitors for 2,195 trade fairs in Europe in 2008. The brochure includes data of eleven organisations in 20 countries dealing with the certification of trade fair figures.

Istanbul. The Turkish city has repeatedly been listed as a top destination and the development impressively emphasises this evaluation. Over the last five years, an international hotel scene has established itself; however, there is still room for more hotels, "especially in the 4-star sector", says Gerhard Struger. He is General Manager of Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul and has become the "second oldest" GM of the city with his eight years of market experience. Furthermore, he works as Regional Vice President Turkey & Eastern Europe for Swissôtel. The hotel manager talks about the current situation, rates and investors.

Istanbul. All kinds of new hotels are currently opening in Istanbul. Room capacities are therefore at peak level at the moment. The result is price pressure. Even the additional guests that are expected due to the city's status as a cultural capital will not entirely compensate for this. A foray through new hotels, e.g. Turkey's first Art Tech hotel, the new Grand Hyatt and the refurbished Pera Palace.

Bukarest. Along with the rest of Eastern Europe, Romania’s hotel sector has been particularly hard hit by the current economic and financial crisis. The weak currency is a permanent problem. But there are still opportunities in secondary cities; also the penetration by international chains is quite low. 40 new hotels should open across Romania over the next two to three years. The Romanian hotel market - a summary.

Davos. Last week’s 40th World Economic Forum in Davos was apparently more relaxed than the year before. There were no panic-fuelled and hyper-ventilated discussions, but instead specific and level-headed talks about global developments and problems of the international community as well as possible solutions, reported a hotel manager discreetly with respect to the mood among the 2,500 mainly male participants. The hotel industry is allowed to breathe a sigh of relief once again: in the next ten years, WEF will hold its meeting in Davos, also because the congress centre is being enlarged. The hotel industry is investing again. WEF is a top source of income for everybody, even if more snacks were eaten this year.