News & Stories

Berlin. At the end of the show most faces were beaming. But the future of ITB Berlin after three years of suspension due to the pandemic will be decided by the exhibitors' business figures. Those who were not satisfied and spent a lot of money in Berlin this year will not come back. Long-distance destinations were the big magnet. But the hotel industry as another tourism barometer at ITB is apparently dissolving: Hall 9 is no longer the "hotel hall".

Dubai. Just a few weeks ago, the world's top socialites, models, influencers and celebrities were in Dubai for the launch of the new but already iconic Hotel Atlantis The Royal. After 14 years of waiting, the ultra-luxury property was celebrated in a three-day multi-million-dollar party with glitz, glam, and fireworks. A staggering 1.4 billion dollars was invested in the "bumpy" development of this hotel/residence which is setting the bar high for luxury as Dubai is getting ready to respond to Saudi Arabia's new ambitions in tourism.

Amsterdam. Slow Travel is gaining momentum, yet experts insist, it's more than just a trend, it is a state of mind. Slow travellers nurture new priorities: low-impact tourism, engaging with people and communities, and being aware of their carbon footprint. Brands like Six Senses or Eco-Lodges have been betting on Slow Travel for years. Now Boerenbed, a Dutch concept of lodges on farms has captured the interest of a fund – aside from a handful of other hospitality brands and platforms we introduce here.

Berlin. In March the ITB tourism trade show will be relaunching as a pure trade show with a new format. The congress programme is shrinking to so-called "tracks". Hospitality topics include the development of lifestyle brands and digital transformation.

Frankfurt. Last year, around 91,000 recreational vehicles were newly registered in Germany. This is the third-best result ever. The main reason for the lower new registration figures are supply bottlenecks. As in previous years, demand for recreational vehicles will remain high in 2023.

Valencia. The end of China's zero-Covid policy has triggered a surge in flight bookings within a week. China's aviation regulator plans to restore flight capacity to 88% by 31 January. But international travel rebound will take time.

Beijing. The Chinese are coming back: for three years the Chinese government had covered up Covid-19, condemned millions of citizens to domestic isolation, demonized the Western world. And now, exactly in this week, China has been opening doors and borders. The first wave is expected for Easter. But travellers have changed. A wrap-up by our China expert Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, COTRI, and a conversation with Michael Henssler about his perception of the turnaround in China. He has lived in China for 13 years and is the COO Asia and Member of the Board of Kempinski Hotels.

Faenza. There is no peace for the Italian winter mountain destinations. After the null 2020/2021 season, due to the Covid breakout, the last winter 2021/2022 didn’t let operators recover. Now, lift operators and hotels are planning to open only at peak times under certain circumstances. In addition, the slopes are becoming greener and greener. And the costs eat up any rate growth.

Berlin. After a three-year break from Corona, ITB will take place as a pure trade show from 7-9 March 2023. Messe Berlin has now announced first topics of the ITB Berlin Convention.

Emden. The Upstalsboom Group, which specialises in holiday hotels and apartments on the German coasts, has founded its own tour operator. With this, it wants to market not only its own rooms and apartments but also external units to travel agencies from next year.