News & Stories
Frankfurt/M. The German Centre for Tourism is looking confidently into 2007. According to their predictions, the number of overnight stays made in 2007 will remain at the levels seen in 2006 even without the Football World Cup. Activities surrounding the arts and culture together with Germany's top hotels are the reason.
Vienna. Only a handful of completely new hotels is about to open in Austria at the start of the winter season compared to 1,400 new beds in alpine hut villages located off the beaten track away from the big tourist centres. The investment climate has changed in the alpine hotel industry.
New York. US-based travel agencies are no longer satisfied with constantly declining commissions and the "lowest price guarantee" of the big chains. They are compensating their loosing revenue by charging a service fee for booking the right hotel and making additional reservations for dinner or buying theater tickets.
Hamburg. Invoices for a flight, a rental car or a hotel room come with many surprises in Germany. Numerous fees like airport tax or service fees, taxes, kerosene charge or insurances are added to the normal rate. Apart from this, numerous kinds of fees are not even mentioned. They are secretly included by the hoteliers, car-rental services or airlines in the basic fee. Are travelling hoteliers also aware of this?
Funchal. Madeira`s Bay Hotels & Resorts copy Pestana Hotels and other Spanish chains: They too are looking to push forward expansion plans outside the island and into South America. With 16,000 beds in the 4 to 5 star sector, the group is currently the second largest on the island after Pestana. Thomas Cook remains investment partner in Porto Bay. Susanne Stauss talks with Dr. António Trindade, Chairman and CEO of Porto Bay Hotels in Funchal.
Funchal. Thanks to its mild and welcoming climate, Madeira`s older guests still consider the island a secret destination tip. It`s these that hoteliers have to thank for their present wealth. Yet many and now growing number of new hotels on the island are now beginning to reach out to new target groups. Madeira is on the move.
Arosa. The Swiss winter sport destination Arosa has given itself a significant marketing advantage for the winter season 2006/2007. Guests interested in one of the five climate neutral winter package offers made by Arosa can now spend their holiday in the sound knowledge that their winter break won't be a burden to the environment.
Oberursel. Thomas Cook AG, Europe's second largest tourism group, has sold its 40-percent share in Creativ Hotel Buenaventura, S.A. By taking this step, the tour operator is continuing its de-investment programme.
Munich. In the German-speaking countries, the trend towards hybrid agreements is growing, and with the capital glut on the market, the same goes for Anglo-Saxon financing models. Notes on the hotel highlights of Expo Real which was staged for the ninth time in Munich this week.