News & Stories

Dusseldorf. This year's "Business Travel Show" taking place on the September 24-25, 2008 for the fifth time in Dusseldorf next week will see approx. 140 exhibitors present their newest products and services for business travellers. In focus will be environmental protection, sustainability and social responsibility. Notable at the event will be how individuality and flexibility have been placed at the core of new services.

Hanover/Oberursel. The tour operators TUI and Thomas Cook have founded new hotel brands under the names of "Sensimar" and "Sentido" to be introduced in time for summer season 2009. Franchise models have been developed in respect of both models. Investments in further assets for the brand are not planned.

Frankfurt. The Spanish hotel chain Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is positioning its brand anew: with "Iberostar Grand Collection", the group wants to establish itself as a high-quality hotel chain. Moreover, the chain plans 100 new hotels - and is considering building up its own City Hotel line.

Dallas/Olpenitz. Prime Income Asset Management, a Dallas-based advisory and management company to real estate and energy sector companies, announced last week that work will begin this fall on Port Olpenitz, a 425-acre holiday resort located in the northeastern section of Schleswig- Holstein, Germany.

Munich. The planned MBA studies in business travel management which the Business Travel Organisation of Germany, Frankfurt wants to offer in conjunction with the Worms University of Applied Sciences, have just been delayed, as there are problems with the admittance criteria. However, the parties involved obviously do not seem to know themselves what is going on and are getting caught up in absurd contradictions. The "first academic course in the field of business travel" in Germany is turning into a farce.

Bonn. The Germans care for their love of travelling between the North Sea and the Alps - this is the result of a snap poll carried out by the German Tourism Association on the 2008 summer holiday season. The classical summer months of July and August are well frequented at the German tourism destinations. "For the fiscal 2008, DTV expects an increase of two or three percent in room nights," says Claudia Gilles, Managing Director of DTV.

Bern. The hoteliers did not really benefit from Switzerland hosting the Euro 2008. Although football supporters were attracted, those who are not football fans were scared off. In June, room nights dropped by 2.6 percent compared to the previous year. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the hotel industry recorded 3.2 million room nights - 2.6 percent less than the year before.

Munich.The "Hotel Property of the Year" is sought once again. 16 candidates compete for the award which "hotelforum" will present for the sixth time and which will form the high point of the gala evening at the hotel real estate conference on 9th October in Munich.

Munich. There is still a lot of activity in the European hotel investment market. Where all this is leading will be highlighted by the experts at the 7th "Hospitality Industry Dialogue" at Expo Real 2008. This International Commercial Property Exposition takes place from 6 to 8 October 2008 in Munich. For the first time, hospitalityInside.com is responsible for the content of the hotel conference.

Beijing. Since the Tibetan revolt in Lhasa in March, the western media has hardly been sparing in its criticisms of the Chinese. The reports have spanned a wide spectrum, from air pollution to secret service espionage in hotels and contempt for fundamental human rights. The latest bad news from China hits the hotel industry: Hotel beds will remain empty during the Olympics in Beijing. Although there is some demand, so much is already clear from the Western perspective: Euphoric expectations won`t be met. The Olympics will be a highlight, though after this, the hotel industry will quickly return to normal. The photo shows the Bejing National Stadium for the Olympic Games, also called "bird`s nest".