News & Stories

Bern. On March 11, 2012, Swiss voters will decide on the proposed constitutional restriction on the share of second homes. This "second homes initiative" does not go down well with the real estate and hotel sector. Mixed-use projects such as the combination of hotel and apartments have met with increasing demand from investors and project developers of late. In particular, hotel projects have often secured finance by prior sale of apartments. A "yes" to this initiative would be hugely damaging to the hotel industry and would mean a loss of jobs. The Economic Forum of Grisons paints a dark picture. Meanwhile, tourist numbers in Switzerland continue to fall.

Mauritius. Lux Island Resorts is the new name for Naiade Resorts Ltd.. The change is intended to reflect the complete transformation of the Mauritius-based hotel group with hotels on Mauritius, La Réunion and the Maldives. Behind the company are former One & Only managers.

Frankfurt Star Alliance has become the first global airline alliance to offer online booking and ticketing to convention delegates. The new booking tool allows the convention organisers to direct their participants to a dedicated online booking and ticketing site for all air travel contracted under Star Alliance Conventions Plus.

Vienna. The life of the Austrian and Central European Travel Business came to an end on January 24. Yet the death of the tourism platform, which Austria intended to market together with its eastern neighbours, now serves as a starting shot for versions of the event, also outside Vienna. Nevertheless, "theAlps" sales platform is also now at risk. Whether Austria manages to show its strengths with these new events, remains to be seen.

Madrid. International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012, at a somewhat slower rate, international tourist arrivals are on track to reach the milestone one billion mark later this year.

Dubai/Abu Dhabi. UAE's tourism sector in 2011 would have looked much different hadn't a frustrated Tunisian, Muhammad Bouazizi, set himself on fire on December 17 last year. His self-immolation sparked what has now been dubbed the "Arab Spring", a wave of protests that has unseated leaders in several countries. The Arab awakening has also unleashed tourists into the safety of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Staff relocations from neighboring Bahrain, which had its share of demonstrations, helped Dubai, which has been competing with Bahrain and Doha to maintain its title as a financial, trade and tourism hub for the Gulf region. An update about the hotel industry in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Zurich. A new study indicates: The Swiss winter sports locations have Zermatt and St. Moritz ahead of the pack. A remarkable statement: The strong Swiss Franconia plays a far less important role than was supposed up to now.

Munich. Rezidor has discovered resorts. Yesterday, Joerg Schiffmann, Area Vice President of the hotel group, headquartered in Brussels, presented a new expansion approach to the press in Munich. In doing so, the hotel group will move closer to Carlson.

Vienna. Austria might be one of few tourism countries that has a knack for repeatedly questioning themselves self-critically. Such an opportunity arose once again with the traditional "Summit Talks at the Winter Prelude" in Obergurgl two weeks ago at which the Austrian Hotelier Consortium also introduced the results of the still unpublished "Destination Study 2010". This documents the continued low nationality mix in the resort regions of Austria. Experts doubt whether only higher advertising budgets can change the situation. Here, the opinions of Austrians and non-Austrians clashed against each other. In any event, the portion of foreign holiday makers in Austria is growing more slowly.

Vienna. Better dominant in Vienna than ambitious in CEE: The Austrian Verkehrsbüro Group optimistically places its hotel business in its hometown and less on Central and Eastern Europe. Finally and in these days, the group is raising their Viennese bed statistics: In the west of Vienna, it has contributed 1,000 new rooms to its brand, Austria Trend Hotels and through its joint-venture with the German low budget design chain, Motel One. The concentration of the hotel activities on a city by the Austrian Verkehrsbüro Group is unique in Europe. Of the 25,000 rooms within the 3 to 5 Star categories in Vienna, including the Event Pyramid in Vösendorf directly on the city border and Motel One, 4,100 rooms now belong to the largest tourism group in Austria. An update.