News & Stories

Paris. "Hollande is the new president amidst the 20th anniversary of Disneyland. Micky Mouse policies are sure to follow", twittered BBC journalist, David Vance, on the election results in France. Whoever sits in the Elysée Palace, one thing is clear: Micky holds the rod on France's policies. In time for the anniversary, a study published by order the Sarkozy government praises the positive balance sheet of the Disney park. According to the study, Disneyland Paris is by far the most popular tourist attraction in Europe.

Baku. Der Countdown läuft: Am 26. Mai findet das Finale des "European Song Contest" in Baku, Aserbaidschan, statt, ab 22. Mai starten die Halbfinale. Die Hotellerie vor Ort hofft auf nachhaltig positive Auswirkungen auf den Tourismus, die westliche Presse prangert unterdessen Menschenrechts-Verletzungen im Land an. Die Preis-Steigerungen zum bevorstehenden Massen-Event kann ein Hotelier allerdings nicht bestätigen.

Frankfurt/M. In the European hotel industry, the handling of MICE enquiries is still a weak point. However, the customer contact has improved recently, as a recent survey reveals.

Vienna. A real estate convention about the development in Central, East and South East Europe will be taking place in Vienna in June. One of the three key subjects is hotels. The convention is the "substitute" for the cancelled trade show Real Vienna.

Abu Dhabi. The new Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Abu Dhabi is a new symbol for the self-confident Abu Dhabi that, with this world-class hotel, can hold a candle to any of the luxury hotels in Dubai - but also for the large gap in the ranks of 5 Star hotels within Abu Dhabi. The latter impels the worry lines on the forehead of the entire industry within the location. A journey through four of the six hotels newly opened within the last six months demonstrates the tremendous arc of tension in the 5 Star category. Now, a new classification still threatens to intensify the problem. At the same time, the demand is lacking in Abu Dhabi: There are not enough tourists, business travellers and events. Tourist projects are being delayed. Sarcasm is skirting around the hoteliers while the next big wave of Five Star hotels is impending. A visit to the new St. Regis and Park Hyatt hotels on Saadiyat Island, to the immense Jumeirah at Etihad Towers on the Corniche and to the slightly more remote Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi.

Dubai. The Arabian world has become a shade more sober since the last year but, indeed, remains optimistic. This week, tourism professionals from all over the world once again flowed into the "Arabian Travel Market" in Dubai; the trade show halls hummed from the first hour. Dubai is still the shining star of the United Arab Emirates, but the region is in motion. Qatar displayed a massive presence everywhere – from the large-scale advertising in and beyond the trade show up to the sponsorship of the new multimedia information centre. The hottest trade show news also came from Qatar. The small emirate clearly signalled: Now it is involved in the determining regions and business segments – and as the richest country in the world, is also establishing still new accents in the international expansion in parallel while others are struggling with their debt. And likewise, the remaining emirates and countries of the Middle East are vigorously polishing their tourist profiles with new hotel facilities or ecological projects.

Dubai. Nearly a year and a half since the revolution wave in the Arab world began in December 2010, the hospitality sector in the region is still teetering as countries that have toppled regimes such as Egypt and Tunisia grapple with the path to democracy and economic recovery. The struggle to return to pre-Arab revolution tourism figures was evident this year in the "Arabian Hotel Investment Conference" taking place in Dubai last weekend, with the absence of big names from international hotel groups and a smaller crowd than last year.

Zagreb. The number of private room providers is rapidly growing in Croatia. Already in 2011, more than one third of the tourists spent the night in private lodgings. The gap between private lodgings and hotels is currently becoming even larger. Even excursions are already being offered by the private. Must the hoteliers fear the private competition? The professional hosts embody only the smallest segment within the accommodation market, after the private and after the camping sites.

New York. With an average occupancy rate of 85.3% across 2011, year-end figures, New York City is doing well, despite the economic turnmoil.

Frankfurt/Main. In actual fact, Abu Dhabi is to be the cultural centre of the United Arab Emirates, but now Dubai has built an opera house. Two "Art Hotels" are part of the project.