News & Stories
Frankfurt/M. Business travellers really don't have an easy life. In particular the Germans see business travel as an irritating separation from family and friends. 70 percent indicate this to be the biggest disadvantage to the business trip. Others, on the other hand, welcome the trip as an opportunity to get to know foreign cultures. At the same time, environmental concerns are gaining in significance. The expectations of a hotel stay are high.
Berlin The mood at the ITB 2007 was more positive than it had been for a long time. Almost 11,000 companies from 184 countries exhibited their products, and for the first time the fair counted more than 100,000 visitors. Over 9,000 of those attended presentations at one or more of the 20 conferences of the "ITB Congress Market Trends & Innovations". It was as part of this that the "ITB Hospitality Day" took place: With 1,017 participants, it was one of the top three conferences held at the ITB. From the wealth of ITB information surrounding the congress activities, here a selection of some of the news from the hotel industry.
Berlin. Every year, the world's largest tourism fair produces out a huge amount of destination news. hospitalityInside.com summarizes news from countries which are of influence in the European market.
Mumbai. The Indian hotel group Leela Palaces & Resorts is expanding its present hotel volume of four to nine hotels in India by 2009. It also plans to expand outside of India. However, management agreements have priority. Peter Leitgeb is very optimistic concerning the future. "In Chennai, we will tread all over them," says the German president of the Indian hotel group convincingly. Nevertheless, internal problems such as high fluctuation and slightly decreasing occupancy rates are a worry to him.
Frankfurt/M. For the first time American Express has entered into a consortium agreement with another business travel company in an important market. In Germany, TUI business travel subsidiary First Business Travel, newly set up just a few months ago, is to become franchise partners with Amex and will primarily serve small and medium sized businesses.
Paris/Unterschleissheim. The conference specialist, Dolce International, sold its hotel in Chantilly near Paris. In March, a new 200-room hotel will be built in Unterschleissheim near Munich.