News & Stories
Vienna/Berlin. The EU Travel Directive has given rise to similar discussions in both Germany and Austria as regards protection from insolvency. The directive enters into force on 1 July 2018 in the EU, though Austria has not yet managed to implement the directive. Tourism companies there are annoyed.
Frankfurt/M. In 2017, German companies spent more money than ever before for their business trips. Expenditure increased by 1.7% compared to the previous year, reaching a new record value of 52.5 billion euros. Overall, there were more business trips last year, but fewer travellers.
Porto Cervo. Taxes, infrastructures and sharing economy, but also with an eye cast on overtourism and emerging outbound markets. Exactly one year after Rapallo, Italian hoteliers gathered in Porto Cervo for the 2018 Federalberghi general assembly and partly struggled with the same matters, such as the reluctance of short-term rental platforms to cooperate with national institutions. Pressure on hoteliers increases as taxes imposed upon them now add up to almost 70% of their taxable income. Regulating overtourism in Venice saw first negative reactions of guests seeking luxury. Nevertheless, the industry mood is very positive: In terms of performance, the hoteliers would be simply happy to repeat the results of 2017.
Palma de Mallorca. Overtourism is driving the popular Mediterranean island of Mallorca in a new direction: the efforts towards more luxury and quality tourism are bearing initial fruits. Fine, high-quality and individual hotel concepts are attracting a clientele to the island that is not looking for golden taps, but a very special lifestyle. That is why more and more old-town villas are turning into charming hotel gems, as well as finca hotels luring with a special experience. At the same time the island is managing to entice more and more business travellers and congress participants to stay longer.
Berlin/Moscow. Hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg have increased their turnover for the third consecutive year according to Colliers International. Meanwhile, STR in London compared its data with those of former World Cup host destinations.
Seefeld. Countries of the Global South experienced an increase in German tourists in 2017. More than one in five outbound holidaymakers travelled to a developing or emerging country. North Africa experienced a particularly strong upswing, and the decline in trips to Turkey led to changes in the visitor structure.
Dubai. As reported, Dubai is meanwhile struggling against massive overcapacity in the hotel market and is now threatening to drown in its own flood of brands. More and more hotel groups are now beginning to react, giving new brands and new hotels a much sharper profile. Two weeks ago, top dog Jumeirah Hotel presented its new brand Zabeel House and the even snappier Zabeel MINI House in Dubai – products for affordable lifestyle. With the new Emerald Palace on Palm Jumeirah, Kempinski Hotels sits at the absolute high-end. Its owner has created a copy of the Palace of Versailles: a palace of gold, marble and star-crowned F&B dreams. Both groups aim to set themselves apart from Dubai's veritable flood of brands and to escape Dubai's downturn, expected from all sides following the Expo 2020.
Minneapolis/Frankfurt. For almost a third of all business travellers worldwide, hotel loyalty rewards are among the most important selection criteria for accommodation. However, security aspects remain important, whereby the fear of intruders into the room is great.
Montaione/Hanover. It's no secret that Castelfalfi was by no means an automatic success. Now the recent article of a German magazine casts further shadows on the entire project and reports about complaints from angry investors and unfulfillable obligations.
Berlin. The holiday home providers are satisfied with the 2017 financial year, with average sales growth of 13 percent and bookings up ten percent. The fact that the quality of the holiday houses and apartments rises continuously, is positive.