k.fytaki1 - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 26

2 min

Madrid: A key destination for business and leisure travel – Part 2

🏖️ In February 2025, Madrid welcomed 739,938 visitors, a 7.8% year-on-year increase, with 379,430 international guests representing 51.3% of the total. Despite a 4.5% surge in overall tourism, domestic visitors grew by just 0.7%. Madrid's population was 7,001,715 in 2024, based on INE data. A tourist tax, similar to that in Barcelona and Balearic Islands, was proposed in 2023 by ex-Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto to manage overtourism and faced resistance from the Madrid Hotel Business Association.

2 min

Michael Rohr appointed Area General Manager at Dorint Hotel Group

🏨 Michael Rohr appointed as Dorint Hotel Group's Area General Manager, starting April 1, 2025, overseeing seven resort hotels and managing the under-construction Dorint Seehotel & Resort Klink/Müritz. With 25+ years in hospitality, Rohr's resume includes Aldiana and AIDA Cruises, with a focus on strategic development in the DACH region. Dorint CEO Jörg T. Böckeler cites growth in leisure travel as a reason for expanding the management team.

2 min

Miiro debuts in the UK with the opening of Templeton Garden in London

🏡 Miiro opens Templeton Garden in London's Earl’s Court, expanding its European presence after Paris, Barcelona, and Gstaad. Templeton Garden boasts 156 rooms and suites, a restaurant called Pippin’s with British cuisine, a bar named Sprout, a café-deli named Pip’s, and features like a gym, the Miiro signature Refresh Room, and The Library. Neena Gupta, CEO of Miiro, emphasizes the brand's commitment to 'Brilliantly Considered Stays'. Future openings are planned for Vienna and other European cities.

3 min

Fairmont Golden Prague: A landmark transformed into luxury hotel

🏠 Fairmont Golden Prague, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, opens after a renovation led by chief architect Marek Tichý, preserving the 1974 brutalist design by Czech Karel Filsak. The hotel features 320 rooms, suites, and residences, six dining venues including the rooftop Zlata Praha and modern Asian Golden Eye. It houses an extensive art collection, a 1,400 m² spa and wellness center, and offers a 600 m² ballroom and three rooftop boardrooms for events. The Fairmont Gold experience provides a premium "hotel within a hotel" option.

3 min

Mews: Part 2 – How far can we go with AI to personalize the customer experience?

🏨 Mak Abdelkafi, Senior Sales Director at Mews, emphasizes the practical integration of AI into hotel operations, which has been in progress for three years. Key AI applications include technical support via chatbots, room assignment optimization (referred to as "tetris"), guest experience enhancement across hotel groups, and human capital management. These innovations aim to improve operational processes, guest satisfaction, and revenue optimization, while balancing cost. Abdelkafi advocates for AI's support role rather than replacing human interaction, upholding the importance of the personal touch in hospitality. Attendees can explore more insights at the Hospitality Operator Forum on June 12.

2 min

Travelodge expands with new UK acquisitions and rebrands

🏨 Travelodge acquires 11 UK hotels including 9 former Hotel Campanile properties totaling 951 rooms in Birmingham, Bradford, Dartford, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Swindon. Five are freehold, four long-leasehold, plus contracts for Bromsgrove (former Ibis) and Wakefield (CitiLodge) under 25-year leases. Bromsgrove reopens in May post-refurbishment; Wakefield scheduled for August. This expansion is part of Travelodge's strategy to grow beyond its 600+ hotels in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, aiming for 300 more.

2 min

Hyatt Place Gothenburg Central opens in the heart of Sweden

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation opens Hyatt Place Gothenburg Central, a 300-room hotel located atop Gothenburg Central Station, Sweden. The hotel, designed with nature-inspired elements, offers guests proximity to Liseberg Amusement Park, Gothenburg Archipelago, and Ullevi Stadium. Features include 300 guestrooms, five suites, a fitness center, flexible meeting spaces, a 968-square-foot event room for up to 100 people, and Blanche Brasserie & Bar. The opening marks Hyatt's expansion in Scandinavia and is part of their global market growth strategy.

2 min

ITHQ Foundation announces leadership changes and new appointments

🏢 Nathalie Lemyre becomes Executive Director of ITHQ Foundation, with 26 years of experience in hospitality and aviation sectors. Josée-Christine Boilard joins the Board, adding 25+ years in human resources and strategic management. Josée Dufour, a board member since 2024, is promoted to Vice-Chair. The Board consists of leaders across education, business, law, and philanthropy. ITHQ Foundation, founded in 2003, has granted nearly $3 million in scholarships.

2 min

Isaac Mizrachi appointed Global Head of Loyalty at Leonardo Hotels

🏨 Isaac Mizrachi appointed as Global Head of Loyalty for Leonardo Hotels since March, based in Berlin. Former Country Manager at Booking.com and Senior Director of Marketing at Visit Canberra, Mizrachi brings a strong background in travel, marketing, and technology. He will enhance the AdvantageCLUB loyalty program as part of the hotel group's growth strategy in Europe and the UK. Enhancements will include hyper-personalization, gamification, and omnichannel experience, aiming to increase guest engagement and loyalty.

Meliá and Summum collaborate to launch premium destination in Costa Brava

🏨 Meliá Hotels International and Summum Hotel Group to transform Etuu Begur Hotel into Meliá Begur, joining the Affiliated by Meliá portfolio in 2026. Located in Begur's old town, Girona, the revamped hotel will increase from 42 to 65 rooms. It will offer amenities like a pool, spa, gym, and meeting rooms, catering to both leisure and business travelers. This marks the fifth collaboration between the two groups, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable luxury tourism in Spain.

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