Best Holiday Lettings

Category: News

  • IHIF: Ernst & Young: Capital remains a prime focus for hospitality

    Ernst & Young has released Global Hospitality Insights: Top thoughts for 2013, its annual outlook for the global hospitality industry.

    This year’s publication highlights several key trends prone to affect hotel development, financing and operations over the subsequent one year.

    Among the foremost crucial for the industry, in step with Ernst & Young:

    Finance: For the hospitality industry, 2013 shall be shaped by an emphasis on controlling costs in any respect levels of the business in addition to maximizing capital. This may mean continued deferral of overdue maintenance spending and the scaling back of capital improvement projects, as owners decide where best to take a position limited resources.

    Hotel companies also are watching the right way to restructure and reposition for tax purposes, with some again contemplating IPOs for REIT transformation so they can both reduce the general tax burden and in addition unlock value of their real estate. At the investment front, despite increased regulatory hurdles and constrained capital in certain markets, global private equity and sovereign wealth funds will find quite a few opportunities within the sector.

    Cities: Increased infrastructure spending by city governments, especially in rapid transit to facilitate the movement of travellers from airports to downtown locations, seems to be paying off, as a brand new class of stylish travellers flock to statement-making urban hotels, many offering luxury and upper tier amenities to guests.

    Development: While access to financing continues to be difficult in lots of markets all over the world, new project announcements have risen to the best level in 18 months, reflecting cautious but growing optimism among investors and hotel brands within the trajectory of the worldwide economy.

    Look for brand new hotels to rise in both emerging markets and prime downtown urban locations. New construction is additionally expected in all market segments, particularly within the upper end of the market and among select service brands appealing to the price conscious traveller.

    Markets: Africa may be the next major focus for global hotel brands, as more investors target sub-Saharan nations rich in natural resources comparable to Nigeria, Gabon and South Africa, for expansion. Globally, most markets experienced steady growth in 2012, with the notable exception of Europe, where economic challenges were, and stay, the best.

    Commenting at the report, global hospitality services leader Michael Fishbin, said:
    “Hospitality companies continue to guage the capital agendas and concentrate on the very basics in their businesses – maintaining stability and creating operational efficiencies.

    Owners, investors and executives of hospitality assets who sufficiently addressed their capital needs and the changing preferences of guests witnessed an improvement in operating fundamentals over the process the year; hence, those companies would be within the strongest position to further capitalize at the upturn available in the market.”

  • News: IHIF: Waldorf Astoria Berlin celebrates opening

    Some 800 high-profile guests from the realm of showbiz, society, business and media have attended the exclusive grand opening of Waldorf Astoria Berlin.

    Famous German performers including Elisa Schmidt, Claudia Lahmann & Orchestra, Malvin Louis & Band and DJ Chan entertained guests on the glamourous event which also featured breathtaking performances by aerial dancers who illuminated the brand new landmark hotel.

    Setting a brand new standard in luxury for Berlin and the broader German market, Waldorf Astoria Berlin marries the timeless elegance of the legendary flagship, Waldorf Astoria Ny, with a different design inspired by Berlin’s vibrant and contemporary personality.

    Featuring 232 luxury guestrooms and suites, the hotel sits inside the spectacular new Zoofenster skyscraper, designed by renowned German architect, Professor Christoph Mäckler.

    With a complete of 32 floors and a height of 118 meters all crafted with stone and glass and the city’s highest suite, the sumptuous presidential suite at the top floor, the Zoofenster and Waldorf Astoria Berlin are a really magnificent addition to the skyline of Berlin’s City West.

    The hotel’s interior design have been conceived by the renowned Parisian agency, Inter Art Etudes, in a timeless yet contemporary interpretation of art deco style.

    From the lobby to the guest rooms and suites, the hotel’s interior design, is worthy of the celebrated legacy of the famed Waldorf Astoria, which opened its doors in 1931 on New York’s Park Avenue.

    The hotel’s enviable location puts guests at the doorstep of a few of the city’s most famed tourist attractions.

    This includes the historic church, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, built as a memorial to Kaiser Wilhelm I, the 1st man to become emperor of a united Germany. The glamour of the premium shopping boulevard, Kurfürstendamm, known to locals as Germany’s Champs Elysées is simply minutes away and includes a plethora of designer fashion houses.

    Waldorf Astoria Berlin boasts an excellent range of dining and drinking experiences in a lot of settings and styles.

    The outstanding attraction is the restaurant run by world-renowned French chef, Pierre Gagnaire.

    Boasting 12 Michelin stars at restaurants around the globe, Gagnaire requires little introduction and tables on the opulent “Les Solistes by Pierre Gagnaire” are set to be amongst the main highly widespread of the Berlin restaurant scene.

  • IHIF: Meliá Hotels strengthens capital position

    Meliá Hotels International will continue to reinforce its international expansion and business model in 2013 and make progress in its adaptation to changing market conditions.

    “Thanks to a consistent international growth plan, supported by strong brands and a model according to management contracts and variable leases, we added a hotel every three weeks in 2012, with 80 per cent of the rooms outside Spain,” said Gabriel Escarrer, chief executive of MHI.

    “The company expects to maintain this rate of growth in 2013, and has managed to bolster its position in international markets which already produce greater than 80% of our operating profit.”

    The Asia-Pacific area is still one the main priorities.

    Meliá has intensified its growth inside the region, managing to double its portfolio in barely two years, due to new hotels in China, Indonesia and Vietnam scheduled to open within the near future.

    The recent agreement with Greenland, one in all China’s major real estate groups, help to leverage MHI’s growth in China, the biggest emerging market.

    The company also plans to consolidate its presence in South American capital cities, promote its Paradisus brand inside the English-speaking Caribbean, open in new cities within the USA, widen its network within the Middle East or even start operations in sub-Saharan Africa.

    In Europe, one of many company’s traditional markets, Meliá continues to reinforce its presence in Germany, UK, France and Italy; while expansion in Spain can be more selective, curious about innovative products in an effort to add greater value to the company’s hotel portfolio, along with the Calvià Beach Resort project in Mallorca or the 2 recently incorporated Innside by Meliá hotels in Madrid, among the many brands with the best growth potential for the corporate.

    The Innside by Meliá growth Meliá Hotels International currently manages 27 hotels in Germany, 11 under the Innside by Meliá brand, among the top rated hotel brands in Germany, that is portion of the corporate portfolio since 2007.

    Innside by Meliá has great potential for international growth, to be widely accepted around the world.

    Having already opened two new hotels in Spain (Madrid), the emblem is currently preparing openings in countries corresponding to Denmark (Innside Copenhagen) and the united kingdom (Innside Manchester).

    Innside by Meliá offers guests a way of life business experience, efficient and smart service, the newest technology and a different design, both in classical buildings – as within the case in Madrid, Berlin or Essen- and contemporary, resembling the hotels in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Munich.

    Innside by Meliá has become a great choice for both business and leisure travellers, which has already captivated customers all along Germany.

  • News: IHIF: International Hotel Investment Forum returns to Berlin

    Delegates have begun arriving on the International Hotel Investment Forum, this year hosted by the InterContinental Hotel Berlin.

    Returning for its 16th year, leading delegates from the hospitality sector were welcomed to the development by Kerry Gumas, chief executive, Questex Media Group, and Jonathan Worsley, chairman, Bench Events.

    The conference programme this year includes interviews with leading hoteliers, forecasts from top economists, and panel discussions at the latest developments, trends and best practice inside the hotel and investment industry.


    Kerry Gumas, chief executive, Questex Media Group, left, joins Bench chairman Worlsey on stage

    Also at the agenda are a number inspirational keynote speakers, with greater than 180 scheduled to seem over the 3-day event, all leaders of their field, making for a fascinating and numerous programme.

    They will address the 1,924 delegates expected to wait event, whom have travelled from 71 countries. 

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    Jumeirah chief executive Gerald Lawless, left, debates with Leading Hotels of the area president Ted Teng during IHIF 2013

    More details about the development at the official website.

  • News: IHIF: yoo Hotels launches design-led hotel brands

    yoo Hotels has unveiled two intricately crafted design-led hotel brands for travellers who seek handcrafted luxury: yoo 2 and yoo Collection. 

    yoo, the worldwide design company founded by international property entrepreneur John Hitchcox and renowned designer Philippe Starck, brings an entire hotel offering to the market.

    The brand was offering luxury hotels and high-end residences for over 14 years and has dropped at fruition the visions of creative directors Anouska Hempel, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger and Kelly Hoppen.

    Headed by industry expert Marco Nijhof, yoo Hotels will create an enhanced hotel experience through delivery of original design and primary rate hotel management services.

    Tapping into yoo’s unique talent bank of worldwide renowned designers in addition its own yoo Studio, yoo Hotels offers an unparalleled breadth of design talent and heritage.

    The culture of every location is crucial for both the yoo Collection and yoo 2 hotels, and that is interpreted throughout the world class designed interiors.

    Electric and luxurious dining and entertainment experiences are joined with flawless service, delivered by yoo Hotel Management, making a feeling of Human Luxury – the yoo Hotels philosophy of unfailingly satisfying every whim a guest could conceive at any moment.

    yoo Collection

    The yoo Collection offers guests a premium, five star luxury stay within truly inspirational spaces. 

    Each yoo Collection luxury hotel could have a different sense of place and personality, created by yoo’s renowned designer base, all of whom are skilled at creating instant destinations with an understanding of local cultures.

    The local soul of a yoo Collection hotel is combined with seamless service and refined luxury, so that it will satisfy the foremost sophisticated high net-worth business and leisure traveller, making each moment a party.

    yoo 2

    The yoo 2 brand is aimed toward the design and tech-savvy traveller who’s searching for a superb stay and a feeling of affordable luxury, whether travelling for business or leisure.

    yoo 2 hotels may have a buzzing social feel and a full of life atmosphere inside the public spaces, with warm and inviting service delivered by like-minded people.

    Restaurants and bars will attract the local crowds too, fusing fun with great hospitality and creating hot-spot destinations in each city.

    The yoo 2 brand will offer spaces that afford everyone the experience of dwelling in exceptional and mindful design, even just for the night.

    yoo Hotel Management

    The yoo Hotel Management team benefits from a combined 107 years of expertise in hotel management, leasing, franchising, and operations.

    Together, they’ve got transacted a combined £15 billion in single asset, portfolio and hotel opportunities.

    With design, branding, marketing and hotel management in one offering, it’s the synergy of the entire yoo Hotels offering which makes it truly unique.

    It suggests that resources are maximised and there are significant cost savings compared to standard segmented hotel teams.

    yoo Hotel Management acts as a guardian of luxury, ensuring the hotelier’s investment return is maximised while maintaining the unique DNA of the emblem vision and philosophy.

    The service delivered is unwavering, creating unforgettable experiences that keep guests smiling.

    yoo Hotel Management provides an uncompromising commitment to the posh and vision of the hotel ensuring repeat guest satisfaction. Any investment entrusted to yoo Hotel Management becomes a ‘trophy asset’. 

    Key metrics would be provided via performance reporting indicating penetration, rates, RevPar, shares and property valuation.

    While guest satisfaction will establish yoo Hotels because the leader amongst the competitive set, it’s the satisfaction of our hoteliers as a way to determine the fibre of the yoo Hotels fabric.