As Germany prepares to host some of Europe’s biggest events, hotels should be adjusting their strategies to take full advantage of these major revenue opportunities. For small and mid-sized independent hoteliers, staying ahead of these shifts is key to their success.
The sample of branded full-service hotels in London recorded a healthy increase in profit during the 12-month period ending in May 2025, relative to the same time last year. GOP per available room (GOP PAR) rose by 4.7%, driven by a 2.4% decrease in expenses and a 0.8% revenue increase.
As the longtime General Manager of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris Resort in Crete and the recently appointed General Manager of Santo Collection on Santorini – both under Metaxa Hospitality Group, I’ve seen firsthand that no matter a hotelier’s reason for embracing sustainability, the rewards – for the property, our guests, and the broader community and culture – are well worth the effort.
In a hospitality industry where boutique often means niche and scale often means compromise, GINTO Hotels is quietly proving that the two can coexist. On a recent trip to Paris, I had the opportunity to meet with Brice de Puymorin, Julien Kiefer, and Emmanuelle Pochat, the visionary trio behind GINTO, and to experience their philosophy firsthand during a stay at PILGRIM, their bold Left Bank property. What emerged from our conversation was more than a brand story—it was a blueprint for a new kind of urban hospitality: one that preserves the charm and substance of a neighbourhood hotel while delivering a business model designed for growth across Europe.
The UK government’s April 2025 increase in the National Living Wage—from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour—isn’t just a regulatory update. It’s a fundamental shift in the economics of hospitality. Labour costs are rising sharply, and profitability is under pressure. But the impact isn’t uniform. Some cities are struggling. Others are adapting. A few are even thriving.
Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is famed for its distinctive architecture, rich cultural heritage and vibrant atmosphere. In 2024, Catalonia outpaced the national economy with a 3.6% growth in GDP (compared to Spain’s 3.2%) with tourism remaining a key driver, contributing around 14.0% of Barcelona’s GDP.
The Algarve is one of Portugal’s most popular tourist regions, accounting for approximately 30% of overnight stays in the country. Known for its mild climate and 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, it first rose to prominence in the 1960s as an upscale alternative to the Mediterranean. Today, it remains a favourite for retirees and second-home buyers from Northern Europe. The region is also considered one of the world’s leading golf destinations, hosting 31 of Portugal’s 75 golf courses. Strict development controls have preserved much of the coastline, distinguishing it from other overdeveloped European resorts.
It’s been a buoyant cycle for hotels in Ireland: long, sustained periods of rising demand, and either constrained supply, or new supply that has been easily absorbed. Transactions have also been strong on the back of these favorable dynamics.
Compared to other countries, Switzerland has steadily become less and less popular as a vacation destination, which raises important questions about the factors shaping international tourism flows. This article examines the role of demographic change, particularly ageing populations, in influencing destination rankings and looks at what these trends may imply for the future of Swiss tourism.
The UK hotel investment market saw record-high transaction volumes in 2024 primarily driven by major portfolio deals such as Edwardian & Village. While Q1 2025 showed a 72% reduction in volume, a higher number of deals were recorded, totaling 28 individual transactions. Institutional buyers drove transaction activity in Q1 2025, accounting for 40% of total volumes. This reflects a shift from Q1 2024, when the market was primarily dominated by private buyers. The Upscale & Luxury segments led marginally in terms of market share (25% & 23%, respectively), though total volumes were down. Looking forward, single asset transactions are expected to dominate, supported by increased price alignment between buyers and sellers and fewer anticipated portfolio deals by year-end.
For some, the Eurovision Song Contest is just another TV show on a Saturday night, but for many, it is THE event of the year! To countless viewers, it’s the Olympics of music - a moment to share with friends and family, and to root for your favorite entry. For some lucky die-hard fans, it’s even time to travel to Basel, as the live broadcast is staged in front of a large, enthusiastic audience. As such, the Eurovision Song Contest represents a unique opportunity for the city's hospitality sector to showcase its offerings on a global stage. Beyond the spectacle, Eurovision is a prime example of – a growing travel trend where fans journey to experience live music events. Let’s review how such a cultural event can drive “event tourism” to Basel and impact the city's international attractiveness.
The French hospitality industry is at a crossroads. Between stricter regulations, rising operational costs, and increasing guest demands, hotels across France are under pressure to evolve. At FHT Paris 2025, industry leaders gathered to explore how Digital Transformation is transforming hospitality operations, moving beyond buzzwords and into real-world impact.
Tracy Wilkins, operations director at BWH Hotels, Great Britain’s largest group of independent hotels, on how UK Sustainability Reporting Standards will impact hoteliers
When a commercial lease comes up for renewal, the new rent amount is usually determined through indexing. However, there are exceptions to this rule. In particular, this does not apply when renewing leases for “monovalent” or “single-use” premises. Understanding and applying this principle can help secure more favourable rent conditions. Below, we discuss how to navigate this tricky issue.
The bedrock of any hotel transaction, representations and warranties (“reps and warranties”)1 offer protection to the buyer by guaranteeing that a business’s assets and liabilities conform to the statements of fact made by the seller. Here, we outline the key points and strategies for successfully negotiating reps and warranties when selling a hotel.
Truly, there’s no place like Rome. The Eternal City is forever a delight to visit for work or for pleasure. Over the past five years, the Italian capital has gone through a hospitality renaissance, with incredible hotels opening (or reopening) throughout its ancient center. This has forced every market participant to step up their game.
With the rise of “reverse” hotel management agreements (HMA), efficiently negotiating with international hotel operators makes it possible for owners to reconcile investment profitability with operational and financial risk control.
The International Tourism in Switzerland Conference, hosted by EHL Hospitality Business School on November 22, 2024, addressed the significant decline in Switzerland's ranking as a tourist destination—from 5th in 1950 to 28th in 2022. The conference aimed to understand the reasons behind this change, explore future evolutions and develop strategies to influence this trend. Various tourism stakeholders, including policymakers, industry experts and academics, gathered to discuss the current state of international tourism in Switzerland. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, from tourism policies and digital transformation to the impact of COVID-19 on cities and sustainability initiatives.
What could be safer than a Swiss bank? This article takes a deep dive into what Swiss authorities are doing to restore confidence in the country’s banking system. As discussed in a previous article, the Public Liquidity Backstop (PLB) is a measure implemented by the Swiss government to insulate the country’s banking system from a run on its systemically-important banks. Designed prior to the involuntary merger between Credit Suisse and UBS, the PLB will, at long last, go into effect in 2025. Yet, the measure could have unintended consequences that need to be fully considered. So how did Credit Suisse (CS) collapse in the first place?
Dispute resolution is a key discussion point, all too often overlooked in complex, long-term hotel management agreements (HMAs). The same applies to the prevailing language clause, and French investors should pay particular attention to such issues when negotiating with international hotel operators[i].