News & Stories
The last session weeks of the German parliament prior to the summer break are always full of appointments, which start with parliamentary breakfasts and end with summer parties. Denkfabrik Zukunft der Gastwelt (DZG; think tank future of the hospitality world), founded in Germany as the most recent group with lobbyist aspiration, put itself in the limelight in front of the parliament – including a star chef. This is a new approach for the industry.
Domestic tourism in Austria is getting back on track. The basic mood has brightened. The challenge remains: 9 out of 10 respondents in a survey feel the negative effects of price increases. The industry is coping with the ongoing labour shortage with simple, practical solutions. It must do more for the emerging sustainability criteria.
Vienna. She is not afraid of bears in the local forests and artificial intelligence in hotels. She always evaluates situations in a differentiated way, even concerning the top topic of employees. In a conversation with Fred Fettner, Austria's State Secretary for Tourism, Susanne Kraus-Winkler, analyses the waning enthusiasm of young people for local tourism. The reasons are often trivial, which does not help the fragmented and mid-sized hotel industry and gastronomy in the country at all. And regarding workforces with asylum status, it is just as complicated as well. She herself was born into the hospitality industry.
Tel Aviv. As Israel marks its 75th anniversary, the plan was to go full throttle after Covid to build on its pre-Covid successes. Yet today, the country faces deep divisions and is torn over the planned judicial reform. In the background, however, the tourism minister, the hotel association and the hotel operators are sticking closely together and believe in continued dreamlike tourist increases simply because of the flourishing, record-breaking domestic tourism. Incentives are still available for investors.
Kitzbühel. The return to "normal" after Covid-19 by no means happens as euphorically as might be assumed based on increased revenue. Businesses are holding back on investments and in the case of the small hotel units, an increasingly well-educated youth is more frequently refusing to take over the reins at the family business as their parents retire. On the other hand, newcomers from other sectors of the economy make for the most spectacular new hotels. And this is not only true for Austria. The "Prodinger Summit" in Kitzbühel made this development clear.
Berlin. The National Platform for the Future of Tourism was launched in Berlin at the beginning of the week. It is a tool to implement the National Tourism Strategy agreed upon in the coalition agreement. There was much praise for it in the industry, but some lacked the broader view.
Hamburg/Shanghai. After almost four years, our China expert Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Arlt travelled to China again for the first time. He discovers grave changes in the hospitality world: Among other things, there are too few but poor service staff, delivery services are the new room service, huge food courts move into empty shopping malls and future travellers heading west are longing for activities.
Milan. Bureaucratic hurdles and high taxes make it very hard for Italian hoteliers to solve their HR problems. Inflation and high energy costs have lost some of their scare. Now the next challenge is looming: the travel flow is picking up strongly, Italy is expecting over-tourism. The CEOs of Alpitour, the Lungarno Collection, Blu Hotels, Planetaria Hotels and Gruppo Uno discussed their daily issues in Milan. All of them have made big leaps in turnover and profit.
Vienna. The winter in the tourism land of Austria is coming to an end with record numbers of overnight stays and employees. Nonetheless, all businesses are complaining about staff shortages. Austria's associations always analyse their numbers exemplarily, and see the following: By providing better childcare, many mothers would return to their jobs – and the problem would be solved completely. Adult trainees bring relief.
Munich. The Easter season is coming up. And camping will remain an affordable form of holiday in 2023. Prices are "only" rising by an average of 7% across Europe. The Croatians have increased their prices the most, in Great Britain they are decreasing.