by editorial office, mas

The „Grand City“ hotel collection has doubled in as little as half a year after hotel management company Grand City Hotels & Resorts launched its signature brand by the same name. The group now presents ten hotels in three brand categories in Germany, with additional properties to follow.

The most recent addition is the Grand City Strandhotel Usedom, which will be operating as part of the first-class collection of the signature brand from the second quarter of 2009 on. The up-scale hotel villa is comprised exclusively of suites and located directly by the beach on the popular holiday island.

by editorial office, chd

Nearly half of three to five-star properties investing in guest rooms
Despite the crisis, large investments are taking place in the three, four and five-star hotel industry. 25 percent of German top properties intend to modernize at least part of their guest rooms. For comparison: In the previous year, one in five hoteliers (comfort/first-class/luxury) had planned renovations; three quarters of the planned investments were actually seen through in 2008. This is shown by the most recent edition of the hotel modernization survey „Hotel Upgrade 2009“ by international market research institute CHD Expert Germany.

In times of crisis more market players are making increasing use of the world’s leading platform for the industry. 110,000 trade visitors, 42 per cent from abroad – topical issues ensure record attendance (plus 10 per cent) at the ITB Berlin Convention – public interest remains high – successful premiere for the ITB partner region: RUHR.2010 now firmly established on the international stage – 180,000 visitors in the display halls

“More market players visited the leading platform of the international travel industry than ever before. In times of rapid structural changes and highly competitive markets they focused on gaining a comprehensive market overview and on new business approaches.

Breaking News: Ad-hoc Report according to § 15 WpHG

Berlin, March 17, 2009 – Air Berlin PLC is engaged in advanced negotiations with TUI Travel PLC and companies affiliated with it concerning a potential strategic cooperation in German air transportation. The final approval of the board of Air Berlin PLC and that of the board of TUI Travel PLC and the supervisory committees of the other involved companies is yet to be given. Nothing is certain yet as to the outcome of the negotiations.

Malaysia has had an exceptionally good tourism year 2008 and again presented itself with an especially colorful performance at this year’s travel trade fair ITB in Berlin from March 11 to 15. At stand 127 in Asia hall 26a, visitors could learn about the holiday country of Malaysia in front of an impressive replica of a long house of the Bornean Orang Ulu tribe. Tourism Malaysia and its 55 partners answered inquiries and handed out information material to interested travelers.

93 percent wish for individual services – 2008: revenues of nearly 64 billion euros in privately financed health market

According to a recent survey on the health market by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants (2008), 93 percent of 1,000 respondents wished for individual services. This is proven by the growth in the privately financed health market, which generated an estimated 64 billion euros of revenues in Germany in 2008. „Despite the financial crisis, health and well-being will continue to gain importance in people’s lives