News & Stories

Berlin/Augsburg. ITB Berlin is drawing near and perhaps a few companies are in search of one more approach point in Hotel Hall 9. Two co-exhibitor spaces are once again available within the "World of Hospitality" joint stand initiated by hospitalityInside.

Wels. When the Germans do better, Austria's tourism is worsened. With this bold theory and calculating that each additional million euros in public funds for the tourism effects 23,040 nights, the Director of the Vienna Institute for Advanced Studies astonished those at this year's OEHV Congress that was held from Monday to Wednesday in Wels near Linz in Upper Austria. The Austrian Tourism Office doubted such forecasts and the OEHV demanded an increased budget for the marketing organisation. Finally, the Austrian government has now accepted tourism as a future industry.

Frankfurt. It is also expected for 2014 that 72 percent of the travel budgets will solidly remain and that 18 percent of the companies will even raise budgets. These are the results of a study. This forecast is particularly supported by the increasing economic optimism in Europe.

Berlin. Next year, the ITB Berlin Convention will kick off with an event featuring high-ranking participants on the topical subject of omni-channel marketing .Among those taking part in the new "ITB Summit" will be Facebook’s Head of Travel Lee McCabe, who will talk about the prospects for social media securing new customers. Most topics of the other congress days are confirmed now, also for the 9th "ITB Hospitality Day".

Berlin. After unparalleled marathon negotiations and many disputes, the Bundesvereinigung der Musikveranstalter and GEMA agreed on a stipulation for the four controversial event fees. The new fees become effective on January 1, 2014.

Frankfurt am Main. 87% of the German tour operators and travel mediators have homosexual customers. Germany lies in first with this in comparison to Great Britain, Spain, Italy and France.

Klagenfurt. As Austria's "southern" lake district has been struggling with negative summer business, private hotel operators have invested in destinations located at higher elevations. Here, skiing ensures creation of value over the course of two seasons. In addition to the completely new Alpenhotel Pacheiner in the Gerlitzen ski resort, and the Hochschober flagship at Turracher Hoehe, Hotel Wulfenia is to start the next skyrocketing development at Nassfeld: Wulfenia is supported by Russian capital. The other family hotels score with creativity.

Zurich. The venues of action: The Swiss Alps. Andermatt, Davos and Verbier. A new, unusual hotel will open its gates in Wallis. The first W Hotel in Switzerland will be launched with the W Verbier and The Residences at W Verbier. More still: It is the first W Hotel worldwide that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open in the alpine realm. Up to now, the hotels have been considered a "Label for trend scouts and international jet setters," only at home in pulsating cosmopolitan cities and exotic holiday destinations. Moreover, The Chedi Andermatt will open with full sparkle on the 20th of December. With this, the legendary luxury hotels of the GHM Group will now also be represented in Europe. Then at the beginning of the year, in time for the next meeting of the World Economic Forum, the new InterContinental Hotel will follow in Davos.

Berlin. Shorter distances, a new structure and think tanks, treating burning topics within the tourism industry, arouse the interest for ITB 2014. Brand new is one more hall location for Europe with a focus on Central European countries, key topics of the ITB congress are new technologies and luxury travel. First topics for the 9th "ITB Hospitality Day" are also set.

Dubai. Dubai has been celebrating itself since Wednesday: The Arab Emirate will be the host of the "World EXPO 2020". It will be the first world exposition in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region and should draw more than 25 million visitors.