News & Stories

Nairobi/Paris. Africa's economic growth is whetting all global hospitality groups' appetite for the continent. The race has begun and it's fierce. Most hotel chains have been announcing roll-outs in double-digit numbers. One company should be watched carefully in its African growth: AccorHotels. It brings a wide range of its own and acquired brands to the table as well as a 1-billion-dollar investment fund in collaboration with Katara Hospitality. This gives flexibility for all facets of expansion; in addition, AccorHotels' lifestyle and digitalization approach is trying to identify Africa's young generation and address them accordingly. AccorHotels CEO Sébastien Bazin took the time to talk about this future market in detail.

Vienna. The 4 and 5-star hotels in the West Austrian holiday regions are looking back on a very successful summer 2018. Revenue per night per guest increased year-over-year in the period between May and August, up from EUR 81 to EUR 88. All the same, growth cost the top hotels dear. GOP is down.

Munich. The real estate sector’s high remains uninterrupted – it's as if there were no tomorrow and the Lehman crash, now ten years ago, had never happened. The Expo Real in Munich ended with record figures on Wednesday: with 44,536 participants, an increase of 6.6%, and 2,095 exhibitors. The floor was packed from the very first day and by the second day, it was difficult to push through the crowds. Everyone was on the look-out for "concrete gold", fired on by low interest rates and the lack of alternative investment opportunities. Europe's real estate markets are booming – especially in Germany. In 2018, investors are expected to invest similar amounts to in 2017. Beatrix Boutonnet summarises the sentiment and trends in asset classes other than hotels. Though some of these trends touch on the hotel industry as well.

Vienna. Speaking at the World Tourism Day, Austria’s Tourism Minister, Elisabeth Köstinger, gave the starting shot this week in Vienna for the compilation of a new Austrian tourism strategy. Future Workshops are now to work on the details for the “Plan T - Masterplan Tourism”.

Utrecht. Global hotel rates will increase around the world by 1-3% in 2019, air fares only by 1-2% in most markets, according to business travel management company BCD Travel’s newly released "2019 Industry Forecast".

London. A hot summer and the World Cup boosted the UK's hospitality industry spirit and revenue as more Britons decided to "staycation" this year. Experts expect the growth to continue amid Brexit uncertainties although a leaked document gave professionals some sort of relief: EU citizen residents might have the right to stay in an event of a no-Brexit deal.

Rome. A summer with neither acclaim nor infamy. From June to August, total overnight stays in Italy declined by 0.2% year-on-year, stopping at an overall number of 210.3 million stays. Considering only hotels, however, overnight stays rose slightly by 0.1%. Surprising: seaside destinations suffered.

Innsbruck. Following successful years with persistent growth in overnight stays, Innsbruck continues to work on its strategy. Guests are staying longer. Though in future, under a new agreement, they will only be able to book through Booking.com.

Madrid. According to the latest briefing published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, in July 2018, Spain welcomed 10.0 million international tourists, 4.9% less than in the same period in 2017. It is the largest year-on-year decline in July since 2010.

Innsbruck. They act like chains, though within a smaller radius: Individual Austrian hotelier families are increasing their local presence ever more frequently through the purchase or construction of additional hotels in the region. Have you heard of Hammerle Hotels? Or Huber Hotels? No? Then you're in good company. Even Austrian insiders have little awareness of these small groups in Tyrol. Yet Hammerle already owns eight hotels close to Innsbruck and the Huber family have just as many, primarily in Paznaun.