The Minotel group was established in 1983 as a voluntary collaboration with the philosophy of bringing together independent establishments to become «the chain of all chains». Since that time, Minotel has worked with 25 hotel groups in around 30 countries in Europe with a maximum of 700 member hotels. For various reasons depending on their location, certain hotel groups had only a short lifespan while others remained dependent on internal preferential systems which could not be influenced from outside. This prompted headquarters in Lausanne with its founder Pierre Goy to concentrate exclusively on the single «Minotel» trademark. Since 2004, the Swiss office has handled the promotion of establishments which now number around 500 in Europe, of which about 100 are in Switzerland where the chain has overcome the effects of an economic and tourist downturn.

2,500 hotels around the World with a Swiss Label ?

Now, Minotel plans to develop its network outside Europe, where, despite a good customer base in the United States and Asia in particular, its presence has been more symbolic. Its expansion plans are based on franchising. The chain sees a potential sale of between 15 and 20 national licences in North, Central and South America, Russia, the Middle East, North Africa, India, China, Japan and Australia. The licences would be sold to hotel groups integrated into the chain, but completely autonomous on the national level.

«The desired development would have a Swiss label and in the next 10 years Minotel is counting on around 2,500 hotels around the world, 500 of them in Europe and 100 in Switzerland,» says Mr. Goy. Among the advantages of the franchise system, Mr. Goy cites a common web site offering first-class leasing conditions and high efficiency, a proven and well-known international brand name, an undeniably good reputation as a chain «which is working well» and whose economic heart is the Purchasing Office in Switzerland with more than 300 members. The Minotel licence will enable future partners to participate in the continuing growth of the chain and to increase their exposure on several Internet search engines.

A new Development Director
To direct this expansion project, the General Management of Minotel, headed by Marielle Goy in Lausanne has named Issam Kabbani as Business Development Director. His first task will be the sale of franchise contracts on the basis of quality certification. Mr. Kabbani was born in 1958 and is a Swiss national. A graduate of the International Institute for Management Development, Mr. Kabbani has broad experience in hotel, commercial and residential real estate both at the Swiss and international levels.