News & Stories

Rust/Freiburg. Amusement parks are currently experiencing a huge boom worldwide. Europa-Park in Rust, 30 km to the north of Freiburg is doing particularly well: Currently with four million visitors per year, it is the largest seasonal amusement park in the world. And there, the now fifth hotel in the amusement park, Bell Rock, will open on the 12th of July. The first four hotels register continual occupancies of more than 90 percent. Enterpriser, Roland Mack, is also the President of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, IAAPA, this year. "We are experiencing an unbelievable growth", says Mack on the booming industry - particularly in Asia and Central Europe and East Europe.

Hanover. In the winter season 2012/13, tour operator TUI will be launching a new premium experience brand called "Michael Poliza Experiences" and thus enlarging its operator brands.

Cairo/Munich. More than two thirds of foreign tourists regard their own presence in the country as a little annoying for the local population. In comparison, the perception by the locals indicates a completely different picture: More than every second person feels disturbed by the presence of tourists. 63 percent say that the Europeans themselves do not adapt to the culture of the country. This is the stupefying result of a study by the Jade College in Wilhelmshaven. For Professor Torsten Kirstges, a danger lies within it for tourism development in the Arabian country. Along with this, the expert also sees the hotels as responsible.

Frankfurt/M. The cost-reduction potential for business travels has been exhausted in German businesses. Especially low-cost airlines have become obsolete as a cost-cutting measure. This was revealed in the tenth VDR business travel analysis, which was published by Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. in Berlin this week.

Zurich. Investing in the Swiss hotel market is currently in great demand – although the industry is not in good shape at the moment. However, investors are striving for "secure" locations, which is why hotels seem to be particularly popular among international investors. Zurich acts like a magnet and will experience a massive boost in bed numbers over the next few years. At present, many investors from Asia and Eastern Europe are on the lookout for major projects. "We are arousing interest for the wrong reasons," says Juerg Schmid, Director of Schweiz Tourismus. "Undead" midcaps are piling up in the meantime.

Berlin. As the Convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin 2013, Azerbaijan will be providing a link between Asia and Europe with a varied programme. The contract was signed this week.

Kiew/Warschau. Polen und die Ukraine werden die Fussball-Europa-Meisterschaft 2012 austragen, die nächsten Freitag, 8. Juni, beginnt und bis 1. Juli die Sportwelt in Atem halten wird. Wie aber stehen die Gastgeber touristisch und wirtschaftlich dar? In diesem Gastbeitrag wirft Martin Schaffer, Geschäftsführer im Wiener Büro der führenden österreichischen Hotel- und Tourismusberatung Kohl & Partner, einen Blick auf die Hintergründe der beiden Länder, in denen die Berater auch seit vielen Jahren unterwegs sind. Schaffers Resümée: "Die Situationen in beiden Ländern sind so unterschiedlich wie ihr Fortschritt im Transformationsprozess." Polens Hotellerie gibt sich weitaus strukturierter und zielgruppen-orientierter, die Hotel-Entwicklung in der Ukraine steckt quasi noch in den Kinderschuhen.

Warsaw/Kiev. The industry is awaiting the European Football Championship UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine with mixed feelings. A few days before the starting whistle, it is said that there are still rooms available. While the last beds in Poland have just been sacrificed, those in the Ukraine largely remain unperturbed and hope for a lasting effect. Both have invested much: According to media reports, the investments in the Polish infrastructure in the approach of the UEFA Euro amounted to about 20 million Euro, the Ukraine forked out ten million Euro. There have also been numerous private investments. One week before the starting whistle to UEFA Euro 2012 – insiders report.

Vienna. Thanks to cable cars, the hotels in Austria's ski centres are open in summer more often now. Within one decade, the number of cable car users has doubled in summer. Besides new attractions, regional all-inclusive tickets are the incentive.

Innsbruck. Declared as the "best", Innsbruck's hotel and catering trade show, "Fafga", wants to provoke the undisputed industry leader in Salzburg, "Everything for the Guest".