A historic year for the Group with record openings and signings, and strong acceleration in the lifestyle sector, mainly due to the acquisition of 14 new brands that greatly strengthened the Group's portfolio in this segment.
The announcement coincides with the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, Europe's most important hotel investment conference. The upgrade of the 558 luxurious guest rooms and the beautifully designed public areas of the hotel will cost around EUR 60 million. The hotel will remain open during the works, which will be managed to ensure a continued high level of hospitality and uninterrupted guest services.
ITB CSR Day features climate change as its key topic - Focus on human rights, fighting poverty, wildlife conservation and environmental protection at the 14th Pow-Wow for Tourism Professionals - Women's Day Special event on International Women's Day on 8 MarchBerlin, 4 March 2019 - Tourism with a vision of the future: socially responsible tourism has been on the agenda of the World's Leading Travel Trade Show for many years. This year, with its wide range of workshops, seminars and lectures on social responsibility, ITB Berlin (6 - 10 March) will help to raise awareness for many issues, to which the ITB CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention and the 14th Pow-Wow for Tourism Professionals in Hall 4.1b will make an important contribution. At events taking place on two stages experts and exhibitors will examine topics concerning socially responsible tourism, sustainability and human rights.
Shiji Group announces its first official ITB 2019 presence to announce its global technology strategy, products, and services to the hospitality industry.
Brian Kaufman, Founder and Managing Partner at The Kaufman Companies has been announced the winner of The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) and The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) Young Leader Award 2019.
Berlin - The world of medical tourism has long become globalised: according to the latest report by VISA and Oxford Economics (www.bit.ly/2SVZd7O), the global medical tourism industry is currently worth around 100 billion dollars. Forecasts for 2025 see growth reaching up to 25 percent. This industry is a significant economic factor for many countries and regions. From 6 to 10 March the World's Leading Travel Trade Show will be giving this mega-market of the future its own platform for the third time at the Medical Tourism Pavilion in Hall 21b.
Big names and leading international companies focus on forward-looking transportation systems and the shift in customer demands in the luxury travel market - Presentation of the latest results of an exclusive international report by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin - For exhibitors, trade visitors and the media admission to the ITB Berlin Convention 2019 from 6 to 9 March is included in the price of a ticket
The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) is delighted to announce that Sol Kerzner (KCMG), will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award during IHIF 2019. The founder and former Chairman of Kerzner International Holdings Limited has carved a prestigious and pioneering career within the hospitality industry and is widely credited as a visionary who redefined the scope and scale of destination resorts. The youngest of four children, born in Johannesburg to Russian immigrants, Kerzner's early career began in accounting before taking the helm of the family owned and operated hotel chain. He bought his first hotel, the Astra Hotel in Durban, in 1962 and quickly went on to build South Africa's first 5-star hotel, the Beverly Hills hotel. Several more hotel development projects followed, expanding beyond South Africa, until 1979 which saw Kerzner's development of Sun City, the most ambitious resort project in Africa. The ten-year project encompassed four hotels, a man-made lake, two golf courses and an entertainment centre with an indoor 6,000-seat arena in which hosted many stars including Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and Shirley Bassey. Many astute acquisitions, developments and expansions followed across the globe including the creation of the internationally recognised resort brand Atlantis, as well as the renowned luxury brand One&Only Resorts. Both brands continue to grow with new projects planned for One&Only Resorts in China, Montenegro and Saudi Arabia as well as significant extension plans for the Atlantis property in Dubai.On being announced as recipient of the IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award 2019, Kerzner said: "I have been very fortunate in my career to have received some awards that have generously recognised my achievements, but it is particularly special to be honoured by the IHIF with this lifetime achievement award from my peers at what is clearly the leading hotel investment conference in the world."Alexi Khajavi, Managing Director of EMEA Hospitality + Travel Group, Questex said: "This accolade represents so much more than just intelligent hotel development. The scale, complexity and exceptional standards of luxury involved in so many of the projects that Sir Sol has launched over his illustrious career are simply remarkable and groundbreaking within the industry. It is an honour to be able to present him with the award and we look forward to welcoming him to IHIF next month".The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented during IHIF which takes place 4-6 March 2019 at the InterContinental Berlin in a dedicated session and accompanying interview, conducted by Michael Hirst OBE, Consultant to CBRE Hotels, at 15.05 on Monday 4th March.Continue to follow IHIF on Twitter @IHIF_News and use #IHIF2019 to stay up to date with the latest news from the leading annual meeting place for the industry. Also find us on Facebook,Instagram and join our LinkedIn group for industry insight and discussion. Advance registration rate expires on Friday 15th February. Full details and link to registration: www.ihif.com.
Experts provide information on changing face of mobility - Focus on practical advantages for users - Networking lunch on the combined stand of the VDR and ITB BerlinBerlin, 28 January 2019 - Smart mobility concepts for the future: on 6 und 7 March 2019 the ITB Business Travel Forum will be providing information on innovative approaches such as mobility apps and ride sharing services, which will have a long-term impact on business travel in the future. The two-day event will also highlight how the business travel market can react to the challenges posed by the ever-quickening pace of new sharing concepts, digitalisation and globalisation. For exhibitors, trade visitors and the media, admission to the ITB Business Travel Forum in Hall 7.1a, Room New York 1, is included in the price of a ticket.
The latest trends and strategies for the future at the international meeting place of the industry's event managers at the World's Leading Travel Trade Show - Headline topic: what is the role of analogue touchpoints in the age of the digital revolution? - New: for the first time the MICE Forum will take place over two days and occupy its own hall along with Business Travel
The 118- room Hotel Indigo Berlin - East Side Gallery takes its design cues from the creative energy of the East Side neighbourhood, marrying raw industrial architecture with retro elements such as graffiti blocks and a bright colour scheme, inspired by the famous Trabi car. All guest rooms are fully equipped with USB outlets, a 43" inch Smart TV and complementary WiFi throughout.
Most of Berlin advertisements for Airbnb accommodation still lack the registration number. The hosts are threatened with severe penalties of up to 500,000 euros for not registering. But the business is worth it: in October 2018, the turnover in Berlin was 16 million euros.
Third member of the Executive Board is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sascha Wolff. Sascha joined the predecessor company of Design Hotels™, lebendsart global networks AG in February 2000 - right after the company's IPO in December 1999 - as Head of Accounting and later also took over Financial Controlling. With his profound knowledge and understanding of the company's finances and internal processes, Sascha was promoted to Director of Finance in 2004 and joined the Executive Board. In 2009, he was promoted to Vice President Finance and managed to lead the company through uncertain times after the 2008/2009 worldwide financial crisis. Since then, Design Hotels™ operates on a solid financial footing, which is manifested in its year-over-year growth. Consequently, he became Vice President & Chief Financial Officer in 2014. Over the years, Sascha made significant contributions to the evolution of the company and was ultimately given responsibility for the entire Finance & Administration unit in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer. He leads the company's administrative, financial and legal affairs and handles all Investor Relation matters.
As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Serdar Kutucu is now working closely with Peter to further drive innovation and building an engaged community of well-experienced travelers. Over the past 10 years, Serdar has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's fine collection of more than 300 privately owned member hotels. In 2014, he took leadership of the distinctive Design Hotels™ Brand as Vice President Brand, Marketing & Communication, and in 2017, as Executive Vice President Brand & Strategy, aligning the company's brand ideation with its expanding vision to create original, meaningful hospitality experiences. Serdar, who holds a Master's Degree in International Business Administration from the University of Vienna, brings the fundamentals and the creativity to further drive innovation and consolidate internal processes while conveying the company culture and positioning Design Hotels™ as one of the most sophisticated brands in the industry.
Berlin has officially welcomed its third Hampton by Hilton property, the global value hotel brand by Hilton (NYSE:HLT). Hampton by Hilton Berlin East Side Gallery opens as the bustling metropolis continues to expand its hospitality offering to accommodate the city's rising number of visitors. The property joins Hampton by Hilton Berlin City West and Hampton by Hilton Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz within the capital, whilst also becoming the brand's ninth Hampton by Hilton hotel in Germany.
At the eTravel World 2019, ITB Berlin will again be hosting a three-day seminar programme on the topic of digital trends in the travel industry. As in previous years, a certain number of sessions is open to candidates who can apply for them via the call for papers. Speakers have until 31 October 2018 to submit their ideas for fascinating topics. In the course of eTravel World, ITB Berlin is looking for case studies and examples of best practices relevant to digital marketing/eCommerce, sales, social media content, as well as innovative developments ranging from the digital transformation within SMEs to artificial intelligence and robotisation. Topicality and relevance will be among the main selection criteria.
Technology, Tours & Activities (TTA) is one of the tourism industry's fastest-growing segments. According to Phocuswright, the international travel research institute, tours and activities make up around ten per cent of the global travel market - more than rail travel, car hire and cruises combined.
For the eighth time in a row, Germany achieved a new record in terms of overnight stays. In 2017, about 459.5 million overnight stays were counted of which 288.8 million were recorded in the lodging segments hotel, hotel garni and guesthouses. The hotel industry's response is a full pipeline and an increasing presence of professional hotel groups. This puts pressure on non-branded hotel businesses and the market is increasingly rearranging itself.
STR's preliminary May 2018 data for Berlin, Germany, indicates mostly negative performance. Based on daily data from May, Berlin reported the following in year-over-year comparisons:
SnapShot GmbH announces Mr. S. Carson Booth has joined as CEO to lead the company into its next stage of growth. Booth brings over 25 years of hospitality technology experience and is the former global vice president of property technology at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide where he led a diverse global team managing the strategy, innovation and operations of associate- and guest-technology. He also concurrently served as general manager of Starwood's international licensing company, and previously as vice president IT EMEA.