News & Stories

Hanover. To become quicker and more efficient, TUI Deutschland boss Christian Clemens plans to simplify the complicated organisational structure of the industry leader in German tourism. The number of the companies within the "German mainstream organisation" must be reduced, says Clemens.

Brussels. Economically speaking, tourism plays an important role all over the world; guests from the touristic future markets like Asia or South America are much sought after. To enable Europe to stand up against this competition as a destination, the European Travel Commission has initiated an action programme. The programme analyses new target groups and develops targeted activities on that basis. Next week, this programme will be presented at the International Tourism Trade Show ITB in Berlin under the name of "Destination Europe 2020".

Frankfurt. "Those who stagnate in the middle are already lost!" With this philosophy in mind, Henri Giscard d'Estaing, CEO Club Méditerranée, had no other choice but to re-position the pioneer of club holidays – as premium all-inclusive brand.

Wiesbaden. Although they are primarily in the minority, resort hotels still play an important role in the international hotel chains. They serve to attach habitués to the brand and vice versa, help to draw the attention of leisure guests and holiday-makers to the city hotels. Thus, it is all the more important to also be successful in this area. A cross-section of the current strategies. In the today's first part, Susanne Stauss presents what value resorts take in the portfolios of Accor, Hilton, Jumeirah, Kempinski, Marriott, Meliá and Starwood Hotels, how much they contribute to the commercial result, to which brands they are assigned and in which destinations the chains would still like to expand with their resorts in the future. In the second part next week, the chains speak of the effects of crises on their resorts and of the trends that they define for their guests.

Hannover. The new, designated Chief Executive for TUI AG, Friedrich Joussen, had already provided for headlines before the Annual General Meeting of the travel group this week after his first statements became known by the hotels division and travel agencies.

Paris. Good or bad news? Parisian hotels did extremely well in 2012 but high occupancy made guests turn away to other destinations. A tourism manager demands to add more than 1,000 rooms every year.

Berlin. The wellness boom in the last 20 years does not allow for a break. The guests have become experts now; therefore the professionals have to be all the more sensitised for new trends, concepts and developments in the market. Renowned spa experts will characterise the "Experts Forum Wellness" at the ITB 2013. GfK presents the current figures once again.

Berlin. Young travellers, employees and CEOs, new hotel concepts and sales channels – on Thursday, 7 March 2013, at this year’s ITB Hospitality Day in Hall 7.1b/ the London Room, the focus is on new, dynamic and unconventional developments. In his keynote, Claus Sendlinger, CEO, Design Hotels will talk about the hotels of tomorrow and the principle of "being neighbourly." Afterwards, experts will engage in a discussion with young people about their demands on travel and hotels. Two students will be interviewing employers to find some concrete answers to Generation Y’s concerns. At the CEO Panel the founders of 25hours Hotels in Hamburg and Unlisted Collection in Singapore will span a bridge between boutique hotels in Europe and Asia. What is more, the Hospitality Day will present four exceptional hotel concepts from Germany, Spain, Italy, and Shanghai. The last hour will be devoted to mobile technology and the question of ”What power does the mobile world have?".

Belek. In Belek, near Antalya, the Gloria Olympic Arena will be constructed within the next two years; it will be the largest Olympics sports complex in Turkey including a boutique hotel and a health centre. Backer of the project is the construction company Oezaltin from Ankara to which the Turkish Gloria Hotels & Resorts belong.

Berlin. The joint hospitality stand was launched at ITB 2012 as "hospitality X-PERTS Lounge". In 2013, its name will change to ITB "World of Hospitality". Its location in the hotel hall 9 will remain unchanged. Seven co-exhibitors already confirmed their participation, a few more are welcome! Preparations for hospitalityInside SPECIAL ITB 2013 are also underway. The magazine, both in print and online, promotes the hotel industry. Details, prices and conditions.