The floating convention center at Mercure Hotel Hamburg City (www.mercure.com) placed second in the “event location” category of the Conga Awards, which are considered to be the most important awards for the meetings and conventions industry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Accor hotel chains Ibis (www.ibishotel.com), Etap Hotel (www.etaphotel.com), Hotel Formule1 (www.hotelformule1.com) and hotelF1 (www.hotelf1.com) have entered a partnership with ISIC Association, international distributor of ISIC (International Student Identity Cards). This strategic cooperation will allow the economy and budget brands of hotel chain Accor to strengthen their position in student circles. Holders of said cards will be entitled to breakfast for 1 euro, or a free breakfast, at 900 hotels in more than 30 countries.

From European black-leather wingback chairs (with their bold, silver upholstery tacks), to textured copper-colored wallpapers (featuring their subtle, miniature-bamboo motif), the suites at the new Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi give off that pleasing sense of departure. They are, the entire hotel is, more than a little bit different, which is just the way Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, the feted Swiss hotelier, wants it.

by editors’ office, vir

The Internet has enhanced transparency for the benefit of the customer – communities influence travel planning

Travel preparations via Internet are a matter of course for an increasing number of Germans: 30.8 million Germans have at one time done research on the Internet prior to vacations. This information was announced by hightech association BITKOM and “Verband Internet Reisevertrieb“ (VIR – Internet Travel Marketing Association) on the basis of “Reiseanalyse Online“ (Travel Analysis On-line), which was conducted by “Forschungsgemeinschaft Urlaub und Reisen“ (FUR – Vacation and Travel Research Community).

“VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE” and VIR provide information on travel insurances

Being the world travel champions, Germans spend approximately 60 billion euros on vacations each year. Numerous travel insurances are supposed to ensure that the “best weeks of the year” proceed smoothly. Many consumers, however, know too little about the background of individual offers and have no intention to ruin their pleasant anticipation by pondering over possible incidents that might occur at their holiday destination.

Thai luxury hotel chain Dusit International has announced further expansion of its regional portfolio of properties in Dubai. Boasting a total of six hotels and residences in the Middle East either fully operational or under construction, Dusit has unveiled two additional properties – Dusit Princess City Centre, Dubai and Dusit Dilmunia on Bahrain Health Island.