News & Stories

Delhi/Geneva. Of all major emerging economies, India currently has the best growth prospects, as the other BRICS, including Brazil, Russia and China, as well as South Africa, are all facing major economic problems or slowing growth. India's GDP growth rate is exceeding China's which stimulates the general sentiment also in the hotel sector. The Indian hotel market is clearly not over-supplied. Nevertheless, there are a lot of properties under stress followed by a renewed interest in acquiring hotel assets. The hotel sector remains highly fragmented despite international hotel chain activity is picking up.

Augsburg. The lust for leisure is rising everywhere: More leisure time, greater willingness to spend and consume - the well-off among the younger generation are triggering a boom in holidays, entertainment and leisure. In the holiday industry, a "bottleneck" is currently accelerating the run on resorts: Many holidaymakers are choosing to holiday in their home country or in safe neighbouring countries on account of current geopolitical turbulence. This has given rise to an unprecedented balancing act, in particular in Germany. After all, not only does changeable weather stand in the way of this trend - but even worse - the unwillingness of banks and investors to invest in resorts. This was the line until today at least. Now though, the aversion to investment in resorts is beginning to crumble, thanks to successful existing concepts, new trendy ideas, a sober use of floor space and banks with confidence.

Madrid. More than half the growth in Spanish tourism is demand "borrowed" from the Mediterranean. The Spanish Confederation of Hotels, Cehat and Exceltur, a group of 23 leading tourism companies are optimistic about the results of the summer 2016, though the tourism lobby is worried. Average daily spending is declining.

Oberursel. Specialised in guests from the German-speaking countries, the Aldiana holiday club operator is facing difficult tasks. Three of its ten clubs are located in the weak markets of Tunisia and Turkey. In addition, a fire broke out at the highly successful Club Alcaidesa in Spain a few weeks ago resulting in the guests having to be preemptively evacuated. Thanks to a new investor, the two Managing Directors, Max-Peter Droll and Philipp Schmidt, share an optimistic view on the future. But they lack a concrete strategy they can unfold to the public.

Munich. Exactly a week ago, Munich experienced its first state of emergency as a gunman rampaged through the Olympia Shopping Mall. For 8.5 hours, the situation remained unclear. Police used Twitter to give warnings and instructions and both Twitter and Facebook lit up with calls to Open Doors... hoteliers and private individuals offered passers-by and tourists a place to rest in safety until they were able to continue on their way. How did people react in this chaotic situation? Reporting are: Axel Ludwig, Managing Director of Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten at the centre of the shopping district on Maximilianstrasse; Johannes Eckelmann, CEO of Cocoon and Buddy Hotels, located in the immediate vicinity of Munich Central Station; Frank Heller, General Manager of Rocco Forte The Charles close to Munich Central Station, Eike Kraft, Communications expert at AccorHotels and Alexander Bieber, Area Manager of Starwood Hotels.

Ras Al Khaimah. The target is: 1 million visitors by the end of 2018. In 2015, 740,383 guests travelled to Ras Al Khaimah. The fourth largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates is now touring its source markets to implement its new tourism strategy. And that is: We are not Dubai.

Nice. After the terrorist attack on the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice, hoteliers are now facing a wave of cancellations. Foreign visitors are obviously concerned about their safety. Experts believe many tourists will start thinking of France as a risky destination.

Tehran. Will lifted sanctions concerning Iran's nuclear transparency set off a "tourism gold rush"? The industry's isolation from the global hospitality and tourism market over the past 30 years has left most of Tehran's hotels old, outdated and in desperate need of improvement says a report from TRI Consulting, not only in terms of refurbishments and renovation, but also from the perspective of knowledge and expertise of international hotel developers and operators. This presents an immediate opportunity for international hotel operators through the rebranding of existing properties, which presents a number of advantages including immediate penetration, market leader positioning and direct cash flows from an existing hotel asset. French AccorHotels, Spanish Meliá and Arabian Rotana Hotels talk about Iran as a new strategic market.

Paris. Carlson Wagonlit Travel warns business travel managers: The merger between Marriott and Starwood will change travel buying forever. Get prepared for tough negotiations said Scott Brennan, CWT EVP and Head of Global Supplier Management. The new hotel giant will have nearly a third of the corporate travel hotel spend, and even more than half in some places.

Frankfurt/San Francisco. American Express Global Business Travel announced a commercial agreement with Airbnb for Business. The partnership will allow GBT clients to book accommodation on Airbnb for their business travelers.