Europe Opinion Articles - Hospitality Net

March 3, 2017

Meeting Guest Experience Standards - An Interview with Manos Borboudakis of Santo Maris Oia

Besides obvious industry standards, guest experience can never be standardized. It's always a matter of one-on-one interaction, people greeting people, or else, we'd need to redefine "hospitality" as a whole. In 2017, more than ever so, the guest experience is about standing out through particularities rather than standards. This is why Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa on Santorini is redefining its own norms, pushing boundaries in an attempt to remain relevant while different on an island where expectations fall under the "posh and demanding" umbrella.

By Mihaela Lica Butler, Reporter, Hospitality Net

Santorini, Greece

Opinion Article Food & Beverage

March 1, 2017

The power of food diplomacy and hospitality, in the service of a nation

U.S. President Trump's forthcoming state visit to the U.K. may only be in the planning stages as yet but it has already proved to be controversial. A state visit is largely ceremonial but the pomp and pageantry can help to cement relations between two countries – and with Brexit on the horizon, Britain will need all the friends it can muster, especially when it comes to negotiating trade deals.

By Stuart Pallister, Head of Academic Editorial Content, EHL

Lausanne, Switzerland

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

January 31, 2017

Brexit’s Repercussions on the Hospitality Sector

The referendum result in the U.K. this past summer has plunged the U.K. into a period of uncertainty as the country waits to find out what the decision to leave the European Union will mean exactly. A plummeting in the value of the pound was the most apparent immediate impact of the vote in June, along with a whirlwind of successive resignations among the country's political leadership. As the U.K. waits for Article 50 to be triggered and for the terms of exit from the EU to become apparent, we take a look at what immediate impact there has been on the U.K. hospitality sector and what the future may look like.

By Chris Mumford, Managing Director, AETHOS Consulting Group

United Kingdom

Opinion Article Development

January 25, 2017

Tourist-Real Estate in Italy

Recently Italian financial markets have had a negative influence from the result of Brexit and the lately bank crisis. Therefore, the pursuit of protected goods like properties increased. Italian houses prices have been declining since 2008, especially in some metropolitan cities and tourist resorts. According to the ISTAT (the Italian National Institute of Statistics), the prices have fallen by 13.7% from Q1 2010 to Q1 2015. While in the first 3 quarters of 2016, the prices fell by 0.9% over the same period of the last year.

By Laura Rossi, PR & Marketing Consultant, MM ONE Group S.R.L.

Italy

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

January 23, 2017

Tourism in France: Spot the error!

Despite the accumulation of natural catastrophes, social movements, terrorist attacks and economic depression, tourists are still present in France. And we might almost admire them for all the challenges they must get through to reach the destination. While their numbers may be smaller, there are still plenty left to welcome under excellent conditions.

By Georges Panayotis, President & Founder of MKG Group & Hospitality ON, Hospitality ON

France

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

January 20, 2017

Red-Hot Growth in an Ice-Cold Land: An Overview of Iceland's Hotel Market

IntroductionSince the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, Iceland has seen an incredible boom in tourism with growth rates unmatched anywhere else in Europe. Media coverage of the eruption brought increased awareness of the natural beauty of the remote nation which, when coupled with the severe decline in the Icelandic krona compared to other major currencies after the financial crisis, led to an unforeseen explosion in tourism of volcanic proportions. With the growth in hotels unable to keep pace with the record number of tourists visiting the country, Airbnb and similar companies have flourished. This article provides an overview of Iceland's hotel market followed by a brief look at its sharing economy.

By Stephen Collins, Associate Director with HVS’s London office, HVS

Iceland

Opinion Article Human Resources

December 21, 2016

Hospitality innovation: an oxymoron?

Innovation. It's the lifeblood of many industries. But in our industry, hospitality, innovation tends to be incremental rather than radical. That's not to say there have not been new and innovative practices, but by and large it's a conservative and traditional industry, which focuses on best practices and processes. In an ever-changing corporate landscape, the need for continuous innovation has become a prerequisite to stay competitive and conduct business in a new way.

By Carlos Martin-Rios and Christine Demen Meier

Lausanne, Switzerland

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Opinion Article Human Resources

December 14, 2016

13 Messages on the Experiential Tourism Management from BCA College students, Greece.

Lewis once called stories love gifts and indeed they are as when we narrate a story we devote time of our lives to a person whom we find important to spend time with. Story is what we do everyday on Facebook and on Instagram and story is also what we do in the business of dating.

By Alexia Charoupa, Creator, The Storytelling Hotel

Greece

HN Original

Opinion Article Technology

December 12, 2016

HITEC Amsterdam Perspectives - A Talk with Stephen Minall

A while back we spoke with Stephen Minall, member of the HITEC Amsterdam Advisory Council and owner of Moving Food Ltd., to address the issue of whether the industry needs to elevate the role of IT Managers. Minall is a man of few words and a brilliant strategist. His answer back then was simple: "it should be a challenge to all hotels."

By Mihaela Lica Butler, Reporter, Hospitality Net

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

December 9, 2016

Cutting a Bald Man's Hair

Franchise contracts are based on a reciprocal commitment between the investor-operator and the brand. Since investment funds set their sights on the hotel industry, such contracts have run into serious pitfalls. More concerned about seeing share prices climb on the stock exchange, financial shareholders have driven corporate communication to the detriment of brand marketing, thereby weakening awareness, the image and the attributes that make up the essential capital of any consumer brand.

By Georges Panayotis, President & Founder of MKG Group & Hospitality ON, Hospitality ON

France

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

December 6, 2016

Happy Guest, Happy Hotel

You have a beautiful hotel, filled with luxury touches to make your guests’ stay as comfortable and memorable as possible. But are you truly ‘owning’ the guest experience from the moment of booking and beyond? Communication is the key to the new wave of brand loyalty. If you make communication easy, personal and accessible, you open an opportunity to a new level of guest loyalty… And following loyalty, of course, follows revenue. It’s time to own the guest experience through mobile, personalised, digital technology.

By Ilona dr. Váradi, Co-founder of App4Guests, DIGITISME

Zürich, Switzerland

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HN Original

Opinion Article

December 2, 2016

A Talk with Kira Zakharova of Villa Elena in Yalta

Search online for the term "iconic hotels" and you will find scores of fabulous properties like Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino in Italy, to Laucala Island in Fiji. Through some quirk of fate or careless oversight all the luxury hotel experts somehow missed the gem of Yalta, Villa Elena. What follows is a very abbreviated history of the hotel, followed by an exclusive interview with the hotel's Director, Kira Zakharova.

By Phil Butler, Analyst and Editor in Chief, Pamil Visions PR

Yalta, Russian Federation

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

November 29, 2016

Putting Politics Aside: Hospitality Industry Remains Positive And Says “Let’s Start Implementing Plans for Dealing with Brexit”

This week's briefing jointly organised by Dentons, Horizons and the Global Restaurant Investment Forum/Bench Events proved to be as insightful as expected. It was a mix of market updates and intelligence, news on up-and- coming restaurant concepts as well as a talk on the do's and dont's when expanding internationally and an earnest discourse on Brexit.

By Thomas Mielke, Managing Director, AETHOS Consulting Group

United Kingdom

Opinion Article Technology

November 29, 2016

The Digital Future of the Hotel Industry, Starts at Home

During my many years of travel in the service industry and having stayed in hundreds of hotels worldwide, it's clear that the past five years have brought about enormous change in the hotel industry. Innovation with architecture, interior design and guest comfort is at an all-time high. Widespread revitalisation has been incredibly successful in meeting guest expectations. Yet, in an increasingly demanding world, there still also remains a huge opportunity to truly create a home from home for the traveler.

By Ilona dr. Váradi, Co-founder of App4Guests, DIGITISME

Switzerland

HN Original

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

November 28, 2016

Hotels Europe: Challenges and Potential 2017

Last week, in Athens, a cast of hospitality and travel tech experts gathered at the Digi.travel EMEA Conference & Expo. The conference was dedicated to online travel trends and developments, and to solutions for the most pressing challenges facing the industry. Here is a synopsis of the meet-up, and the high points from some of the world's most knowledgeable hospitality-tech experts.

By Mihaela Lica Butler, Reporter, Hospitality Net

Athens, Greece

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

November 28, 2016

In Focus: Alexandroupolis, Greece

Evros Prefecture is located in the north-eastern part of Greece in the natural boundary of the country with Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east. To the West it borders with the prefecture of Rodopi, access to which is possible via the Egnatia Odos Highway and to the south it lies on the coast of the Thracian Sea (part of the North Aegean Sea). Over the last decade, the tourism sector has recorded significant development while several investments related to the hotel industry have materialized in the area.

By Nana Boussia, Associate at HVS Athens, HVS

Alexandroupolis, Greece

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

November 21, 2016

Risk, Mobility And Consumerization Were The Hot Topics Of GBTA Conference 2016 Frankfurt In Partnership With Vdr

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) -- the voice of the global business travel industry – and German business travel buyer association VDR – wrapped up their third successful joint conference in Europe this week with record attendance. The event brought together over 950 attendees from 20+ countries for networking, education and top-notch speakers.

GBTA

Frankfurt, Germany

HN Original

Opinion Article Sustainability

November 18, 2016

100% Eco-friendly and Sustainable, Olive Green Hotel Is a Premiere in Greece

Olive Green Hotel had a silent opening at the beginning of the fall, but it's already a hit with its first guests. "We only stayed one night but had we discovered it sooner, we would have stayed longer and explored Heraklion. The rooms are absolutely lovely. Modern, efficient, well appointed," writes Lee T. from Sydney, Australia, in his TripAdvisor review.

By Mihaela Lica Butler, Reporter, Hospitality Net

Heraklion, Greece

HN Original

Opinion Article Technology

November 11, 2016

Shadow IT - An Interview with Timo E. Kettern

Timo E. Kettern is the IT Director at Lapithus Hotel Management and a respected professional in his field. In anticipation of HITEC Amsterdam which will take place next year in March in Amsterdam, we spoke with him about shadow IT activities, technology, and devices that fall outside the traditional IT funding.

By Mihaela Lica Butler, Reporter, Hospitality Net

Amsterdam, New Hampshire, The Netherlands

Opinion Article Operations & Strategy

November 2, 2016

Is hidden cash in hotel rooms a sign of changing payment demands from customers?

The way that British holidaymakers like to pay has been changing for many years, but it's become clear that Brits simply don't like having to bring large quantities of foreign currency on their travels. They worry about taking it out with them for fear of being a victim of a crime in a potentially unfamiliar city, but they also worry about leaving any in their hotel rooms. Research that we carried out in association with CensusWide this summer found that 1 in 8 Brits opted to keep all of their foreign currency with them at all times so that they didn't have to leave any in their room, while 1 in 3 said that they made a conscious effort to keep the amount of cash taken on holiday to an absolute minimum.

By Jennifer Conneely, Board Member of the DCC Forum, DCC Forum

United Kingdom

Technology Yesterday

Winnow Appoints Two Hospitality Industry Veterans to New Advisory Board

Winnow adds two hotel group CEOs to a new Advisory Board to guide global scaling of its AI food waste platform, targeting over $1 billion in prevented food waste across hotel and resort portfolios.

Winnow

Chicago, United States

Technology Yesterday

Mews powers Alexa MGMT's mission to put people back at the heart of Texas hospitality

Alexa MGMT adopts Mews PMS across six Texas boutique hotels to centralize operations, automate payments, and build a scalable tech foundation for portfolio growth.

Mews

United States

General Management Yesterday

An Interview with Expedia’s Lauren Cannon on How to Find Your Voice in Hospitality Distribution

Expedia's Lauren Cannon shares how hospitality professionals can build confidence and clarity in distribution roles by focusing on problems over solutions and engaging early rather than waiting for expertise.

Shiji

Technology Yesterday

Motel One and dailypoint™ expand strategic collaboration

Motel One expands its partnership with dailypoint to deploy CRM and CDP across 110 properties, following a technical migration to Oracle Opera Cloud via OHIP for real-time data integration.

dailypoint and Motel One Group

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