News & Stories
Madrid. Reaching the last days of the summer season, which in southern Europe usually extends to the end of October, Exceltur, the Spanish Tourism Association, is now able to confirm that if hotels in the country have increased their sales and revenues during peak season, they unfortunately lost in margins. Limited in their actions to increase prices, they fell short as they also assumed the increase in costs of living.
Rimini. Despite any crisis: In Italy, the first three quarters of 2022 show a substantial recovery not only of holiday destinations, but even of urban locations and corporate hotels. There are new sources of capital for new hotel projects. Investors now tend more to involve local operators with international experience. What is missing is the support of Italian banks. 2022 could still be a record year for transactions.
Vienna. While Austria's tourism industry fears the approaching winter despite late-summer temperatures, the guests are acting quite the opposite. Especially Germans are excited about the approaching white winter. For the industry, this optimistic forecast comes at the best time. However, skiing is developing even more into a sport for high-income people.
Berlin. Many major destinations are returning to Berlin for ITB 2023. More than 70% of the exhibition space has been booked, according to the trade fair company. Apart from that, details are changing. Among other things, networking for all is being pushed, e.g. through spontaneously bookable business lounges.
Merano. 70 percent of guests in South Tyrol book online today, 20 percent directly via the hotel website. It is also noteworthy that guests' preferred travel time is shifting from summer to spring or autumn. "The season" is expanding. And guests are among those with spending power.
Tel Aviv. Israel's Ministry of Tourism has announced the ambitious goal of attracting 10 million incoming tourists to the country in five years' time, which would be more than twice the record high figure of 4.5 million registered in 2019. Israel is now luring international hotel operators and investors with high multi-million sums and incentives. A mega-pipeline is building up that, if fully realised, would increase the country's room capacity by a quarter.
Amsterdam. The Dutch hotel market is recovering pretty well, with Amsterdam taking the lead. But with 18 million visitors expected this year, the mayor's office is working on new regulations to stop over-tourism, including a tourist tax increase of 30%. Hoteliers are pushing for a tax on day trippers instead and worry business travellers and conventions will be deterred. Both taxes could bite back the destination.
Munich. Munich’s Oktoberfest is enormously important economically for the Bavarian capital in general, but for the hotel industry in particular. Will it be the same again this year? Or are fears of economic crisis and a new wave of corona keeping guests away? It doesn't look like it in the hotel industry.
Andermatt. Egyptian-born investor Samih Sawiris has succeeded in building a new year-round destination in Andermatt, Switzerland. In Dieni on the other side of the Oberalp Pass, his company Andermatt Swiss Alps AG is now tackling a new village section with 417 hotel rooms and a total of 1,800 beds. Massive investments are on the way.
Grünwald/Bielefeld. Almost two thirds of German motorists can now imagine spending their holidays in a motorhome, camper van or even a rooftop tent. Camping is particularly popular among the under-40s. In line with the trend, a young start-up offers booking of private pitches via an app and website.