News & Stories
Frankfurt. The event industry is on the rise. The results of the "Meeting & Event Barometer" 2011, the annual survey of the events market in Germany, show: The optimism of the industry has returned. More events, more participants and larger budgets underline the fact that the worst of the economic crisis has long passed. Also in Europe, Germany is the favorite meeting destination. Most popular among German destinations are Bavaria and Berlin.
Dubai. Dubai is "out", Abu Dhabi "in" and Doha is "cool": The series of talks at the "Arabian Travel Market" in Dubai three weeks ago revealed the current trend. All partners discussed the market in Dubai very quickly but rather spoke of Abu Dhabi, the new economic and financial centre in the Emirates, and about Doha in the neighbouring country of Qatar, the city with tremendous plans - and of course, about the World Cup in 2022 at 50 degrees of heat that one wants to orchestrate as quite "cool" … Impressions of a new development that sees the three cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha as an engine of the future. The hotel industry is an indicator of the shift in the focus.
Zurich. In financial year 2010, Zurich's hoteliers generated five million overnight stays - an increase of 8.2% on the previous year. These figures are in line with results from the record year 2007. Nevertheless, the region is still not satisfied: By 2030, it is to be among the five best destinations in European city tourism. The demand for new hotels is on the up.
Palma/Shanghai. The Spanish hotel chain, Sol Meliá has concluded a cooperation with the Chinese hotel and travel group, Jin Jiang. The first twelve hotels with new Chinese-European concepts should start in May. Behind it, there stands the hope to also profit from the tourism boom in the gigantic empire of China. While the World Tourism Organization counts about 100 million Chinese foreign travellers by 2020, in the meantime, the Chinese government counts higher figures. This also has effects on the hotel market in Europe. How can this increasingly greater target group be satisfied? How will they want to live while travelling? Whoever wants a piece of the growth market in the Chinese European traveller must, in all instances, consider the cultural differences. A look at the joint venture.
Dubai. The buzz has returned to the trade fair: The 18th Arabian Travel Market, the leading tourism fair for the Middle East, gave the impression - on the second of the four day event at least - that the region was again on the way up. Conversations at the stands, however, revealed concern about the political and economic developments in Arab countries - as was seen at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference recently. The "Arabian Spring" has resulted in a massive slump for the hotel and tourism industry in many Arab countries. Few new hotels have opened recently in Dubai, and even the announcements of new openings are thin on the ground. Some plans have even been stopped altogether. Nevertheless, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and also Qatar seem set to benefit from the current instability in the Arab world, with Abu Dhabi and Qatar taking on the role formerly held by Dubai as the driver of growth. With 2,200 exhibitors from 69 countries, the ATM seemed busy as the previous year; at the close of editing the total number of visitors was not yet available - last year it was 22,000. The mood in 2011.
Dubai. It is difficult to convince tourists to come to the Middle East and North Africa region right now, when daily protests and clashes in various cities are leaving a heavy death toll and events are set to change the political landscape of the region for good. An equally challenging task is talking about hotel development in the region in a conference and not surprisingly, organizers, as well as speakers at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai held April 30-May 2, tried to put as much of a positive spin on the topic.
Frankfurt. The "Chinese tourist" type has directly undergone a massive change. The number of the sophisticated, well-to-do and English-speaking Chinese in Europe has increased. However, they happily maintain their Chinese habits and also expect that hotels give deference to them and their culture through many gestures and offers. Professor Wolfgang Georg Arlt explains exactly what this means. Simone Spohr interviewed the Director of China Outbound Tourism Research Institute about the "new Chinese tourist".
Tokyo. The three disasters of Japan - earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident - influence the hotel demand patterns differently. Operators reacted to the event in different ways. A first analysis.
Frankfurt. The “Business Travel % Meetings Show”, which took place in Duesseldorf on April 13/14 and was expanded by a meeting element, presented its final report.
Sarajevo. Bosnia-Herzegovina? Images of war, destruction and refugees go through one´s mind, a national mixture of people, weak economy, high unemployment and corruption. Nevertheless, there is potential for hotel projects. At the beginning of April, the once legendary Hotel Bristol Sarajevo has opened once again. Arabian money and Arabian-European operators have taken a place. Also and in the meantime, other famous chains have signed declarations of intent for projects in the capital. However, hotel development in the 300,000 inhabitant city will remain limited for the time being.