m.welsch - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 37

2 min

Vienna welcomes a second Radisson Blu hotel

🏡 Radisson Blu Das Triest Hotel in Vienna reopened after a comprehensive renovation, initially launched in 1995 as Vienna's first design hotel. The hotel retains its historic charm with modern amenities, including 120 rooms and suites, a fitness center, sauna, and a terrace. It houses Bistrot Bertarelli 1894 and the iconic Silver Bar. The hotel features five conference rooms for up to 284 guests, emphasizing its suitability for business events. Located in Vienna's 4th district, it offers easy access to landmarks like the Stephansdom.

2 min

Room Mate Hotels expands in Switzerland

🏨 Room Mate Hotels enters Switzerland with the first hotel in Geneva, purchasing the 104-room Hotel Marmont near Rue du Rhône, set to open in early 2026 after refurbishment. In 2024, Room Mate reported €128.5 million in revenue, a 23% increase from the previous year, with €150 million projected for 2025. Over 1.22 million guests were hosted, with an occupancy rate over 86%. The company expands in Europe with 33 hotels across 15 cities, planning further expansion in cities like Lisbon and Paris.

2 min

Mercure unveils a new hotel in Portugal

🏡 Accor opened the Mercure Ponta Delgada Azores in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, situated in the historic Pensão Central building. The hotel features 75 rooms, two outdoor pools, a spa, and meeting facilities for 60 guests. Aiming for an authentic Azorean experience, Accor’s property includes the Bruma Bar with local cuisine and curated insider recommendations like visiting the Porto Formoso Tea Factory. Celebrating Mercure’s 50th anniversary in 2023, Accor now has 38 properties in Portugal and plans to surpass 1,000 hotels globally by 2024.

2 min

Choice Hotels strengthens its digital strategy with Mews

🏨 Choice Hotels partners with Mews for a PMS to enhance its franchise network's operations and customer experiences. Mews Cloud integrates with Choice's choiceEDGE CRS for real-time pricing and availability updates. Benefits include data visibility, operational excellence through task automation, scalable infrastructure, and improved guest experiences. Key technological milestones for Choice Hotels: first hotel website (1995), cloud-based PMS (2003), iOS hotel app (2009), instant booking on TripAdvisor (2014), app-integrated gift cards (2016), cloud-based CRS (2018), AWS operations (2019), and AI-powered revenue management (2021). All infrastructure migrated to AWS by 2024.

6 min

The hotel industry accelerates its sustainable transition – Part 1

🌲 The hotel industry is under transformation due to CSR pressures. UMIH and ADEME support the transition with steps like reducing food waste, fluid consumption, energy performance, and bio-waste management. By 2025, all hotel industry players are expected to adopt a sustainable approach, aiming to reduce emissions by 66% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 in alignment with the Paris Agreement. 83% of travelers prefer sustainable accommodations; 40% of millennials consider employer sustainability for job choice, and 70% stay longer with companies that have strong environmental policies. Green certifications are critical; Green Key certifies over 6,700 sites globally, with 2,400 in France. Accor aims to certify all its hotels by 2026 and has partnered with Green Key and Green Globe. Leonardo Hotels’ European portfolio is in the certification process, and Meliá has 270 hotels with Ecostars certification. Edgar Suites received the B Corp label in 2023. Top 10 hotel groups target carbon neutrality by 2050, using carbon audits and CSR programs like Accor’s Planet 21 and Hilton’s Travel with Purpose. Some, like Accor, Hilton, and Meliá, include scope 3 emissions in their strategies, accounting for nearly 70% of the total carbon footprint.

2 min

Mohamed Elbanna joins Auberge Resorts Collection

🏨 Mohamed Elbanna appointed as Executive Vice President of Global Operations for Auberge Resorts Collection, bringing over 20 years of experience. His previous roles include COO at Fort Partners US and leadership positions at Citadel and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Auberge Resorts Collection opened Collegio alla Querce in Florence and The Woodward in Geneva in Q1 2025, with upcoming openings such as Cambridge House in Mayfair, London, and urban locations like The Shore Club in Miami Beach, The Knox in Dallas, and The Birdsall in Houston. Elbanna will lead operational strategies to ensure the brand's success in luxury hospitality.

2 min

Travelodge unveils a new property in Birmingham

🏨 Travelodge opens a new 111-room hotel in Aston, Birmingham, targeting both leisure and business travelers. Located near cultural sites, the hotel is 10 minutes from Birmingham Football Club and closer to Villa Park. Business travelers benefit from nearby M6 and M42 junctions, and Birmingham Airport, 20 minutes away by car. The brand's UK expansion includes 20 hotels in Birmingham, with recent openings in London Chiswick and nationwide acquisitions.

2 min

A new and more local approach for the Accor’s Take Off! Student Challenge

📍 Accor launched the 14th edition of the Take Off! Student Challenge, reimagined for 2025, to focus on local involvement and inclusivity, offering challenges in local languages across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Brazil, China, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Mexico, and more. The initiative seeks to improve accessibility and inclusion, with over 400 Accor hotels certified 'Tourisme & Handicap' for accessibility. The competition aligns with Accor's support for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and emphasizes talent development for an inclusive hospitality future.

2 min

Starhotels expands into the resort segment

🏖️ Starhotels acquires Hermitage Hotel & Resort in Forte dei Marmi, Italy, marking its first resort in the luxury Starhotels Collezione. Founded in the 1970s, renovation by architect Vittorio Maschietto, the resort will join the portfolio by summer 2025. It features 59 rooms, suites, a restaurant, a pool, and a dedicated vegetable garden. Upcoming enhancements include a new spa and extended seasonal openings. This strategic addition bolsters Starhotels' presence in Italy's high-end hospitality sector. Further expansion includes reopening Hotel d’Inghilterra in Rome and launching Hotel Gabrielli Venezia and Teatro Luxury Apartments in Florence by 2025.

Kerzner International joins the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

🌎 Kerzner International joined the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance on Earth Day to bolster sustainable hospitality efforts. Aligning with over 100 organizations, they now contribute to a network with 66,000 hotels and 8 million rooms aiming for Net Positive Hospitality, positively impacting the environment and society. The Alliance's CEO, Glenn Mandziuk, welcomed Kerzner's expertise to the community, while Kerzner's CEO, Philippe Zuber, reiterated their commitment to upholding natural treasures through their iconic brands. The partnership seeks to share best practices and promote sustainability across global and local levels.

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