News & Stories
Frankfurt. There are new professional training programmes in the field of business travel. As of the winter semester 2008, it will be possible to study for an MBA in business travel management. In addition, there will be a professional training programme for state-certified Fachwirt fuer Mobilitätsmanagement in two years at the latest. Both developments were initiated by the Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement. The association itself is currently in the process of exchanging staff and expanding its certifications.
Bad Driburg/Nieheim. The all-round offer made by the Graefliches Park-Hotel & Spa Bad Driburg opened just a year ago is beginning to take on a more concrete form: The "Bilster Berg", just a few kilometres away from the hotel - a relic from the English occupation - has now received the go ahead for redevelopment as a modern car testing and presentation carriageway. With that, the recently excellently renovated country hotel in the aging spa town of Bad Driburg is certain to receive a boast in guest numbers; the hotel's pull not only bringing wellness and health guests and golfers, but now also friends of the automobile industry and research.
Frankfurt/M. Today's business travellers are on the road more often than in previous years. But saying this, they keep a tighter hold on their wallets. The good news for the hotel industry is that the number of trips without overnight stay decreased last year. Hotels profit from increased mobility. Four sectors of industry were surveyed on the behaviour of their business travellers: construction, service, trade and the public sector. All important for the choice of hotel is and remains price. The hotel brand plays almost no part in the decision. The current "Business Travel Report" 2008 published by the German Association of Travel Management in collaboration with the consultancy company BearingPoint placed greater emphasis on the hotel industry this year. They also asked which hotel categories and which groups were preferred when booking.
Hanover. As of yesterday, bookings are now possible via the new TUI event manager Reiseleicht. Under the motto "Book cheap and find quickly," holidays will first be sold only through travel agents. Internet will be possible as of the end of the year. The hotel portfolio begins with 130 properties.
Frankfurt/M. The indirect travel costs for travel planning, booking and invoicing remain a problem for Europe's companies. In 1997, indirect costs made up 8 percent of direct travel costs for flights, accommodation and food/drink; in 2003 this figures was 5.6 percent. Today, the figure stands at 4.6 percent.
Hanover. TUI, the travel giant, expands its portfolio with "Reiseleicht", a new brand for module travels. The brand is to start as early as next week, said TUI's press department confirming initial reports of the "Travel One" tourism magazine.
Zurich. Sleeping in the middle of a cornfield, on hay or in the tree tops? "Wasser und Brot", a specialist for "nature-near" overnight stays in the Swiss Albula valley, has collected over 200 Swiss farmsteads and other unusual rustic retreats including tree hotels and "openair cornfield hotels" for the more adventurous holidaymaker.
Zurich. Kuoni, the tour operator from Switzerland, has completely renewed its brand over the past few months. As in the old days, Kuoni now puts more emphasis on luxury travels. And it will introduce a "concierge".
Hamburg. KAI 10 "The Floating Experience", Germany's first swimming event and conference centre, is now anchored in front of the Mercure Hamburg, just a bridge away from the harbour city and the Deichtor Halls. Conference and social events are now possible both above and below the water surface on 450 sq m of Hamburg's most unique event centre.