News & Stories

Salzburg. On an international level, tour operators score with massive bonuses for early bookers. Apart from that, providers try to attract customers with last-minute offers. There is almost nothing in between: medium-term business was plummeting say Austrian tour operators. However, it seems that Austrian hotels have not realised their chance: there are only very few early booking offers. The situation before this year’s summer season.

Hamburg. Today, travel directives are the norm in most large companies' travel departments. Generally, they serve as a means of cost control, determining not only the number of business trips made but also their type, the form of travel and the selection of travel or accommodation provider. All this plays its part in reducing travel expenses. Similar to travel directives, Gerhard Bleile, President of the Federation of German Event Organisers, has put together event directives in order to simplify the reservation process by companies and to bring more transparency into the event business. This is all welcomed by the hotel industry.

Wolfurt. In Austria's tourism industry, cables cars, as well as hotels, give a good indication of the buoyancy of the tourist economy. The world's biggest cable car builder is an Austrian company and it must now shed jobs.

Berlin. The mood was great. More positive than last year. Full stop. This is the brief conclusion of this year's ITB as there was no revolutionary news. Everybody was glad to have survived a difficult year, and the rising figures in January and February 2010 have been considered indicators for the emerging upswing for the entire year. However, the industry, keen to celebrate, surpassed itself with parties and events mainly on Wednesday evening. The 44th ITB Berlin counted a total of 180,000 visitors – with a slight increase in the number of exhibitors and a constantly high number of experts. A top performance in difficult times. The ITB Berlin Convention is attracting a growing number of people: with 12,500 participants, the number increased once again. 1,400 of them participated in the "ITB Hospitality Day", which were 200 more than last year. hospitalityInside was media partner and responsible for the content of the forum. The hotel convention thus had the most visitors of all conventions - together with the CSR Day.

Frankfurt. Three cities may call themselves "European Cultural Capital" simultaneously in 2010: Istanbul in Turkey, Pécs in Hungary and the Ruhr district in Germany. However, the latter sticks out, as the German "Cultural Capital" is not a single city, but a region consisting of 53 cities. A very unique situation. The region's image so far means a lot of work for external marketing. In addition, Duesseldorf, a fierce competitor in the hotel sector, is only a few kilometres away. A look at the Cultural Capital from a hotelier's perspective.

Bern. In the crisis year 2009, the para-hotel industry in Switzerland has grown in significance. Camp sites and holiday homes are recording considerably more bookings than in the previous year. Youth hostels too are recording growth.

Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi aims at positioning itself as destination for exclusive luxury trips and as cultural capital of the Middle East. By 2012, the number of hotel rooms is planned to rise from 17,500 to 25,000. The list of hotel projects in planning is long, and almost every renowned hotel brand will be present in the sheikhdom. The crisis in neighbouring Dubai is no reason for the richest and largest emirate to adjust its gigantic construction projects. With unbridled self-confidence, Abu Dubai continues to indulge in the craze for the huge and spectacular.

Berlin. The "green spa", the "healthy" spa, the "spiritual" spa - what is behind these key words? The ITB Wellness expert forum on Thursday, March 11, 2010 will examine these issues and take a close look at them based on actual case studies.

Berlin. A recently issued brochure lists certified exhibitors, areas and numbers of visitors for 2,195 trade fairs in Europe in 2008. The brochure includes data of eleven organisations in 20 countries dealing with the certification of trade fair figures.

Istanbul. The Turkish city has repeatedly been listed as a top destination and the development impressively emphasises this evaluation. Over the last five years, an international hotel scene has established itself; however, there is still room for more hotels, "especially in the 4-star sector", says Gerhard Struger. He is General Manager of Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul and has become the "second oldest" GM of the city with his eight years of market experience. Furthermore, he works as Regional Vice President Turkey & Eastern Europe for Swissôtel. The hotel manager talks about the current situation, rates and investors.