Cast off for 3rd HITT Think Tank!

Augsburg/Berlin (February 21, 2020). The HospitalityInside Think Tank (HITT) 2020 can be booked starting today! For the third time, this creative platform for hospitality executives will kick off again on June 22/23 – this time in Potsdam, south of Berlin with the "SPOTLIGHT" premiere on day 1. Accompany young software companies and agile market leaders on new digital ways towards the customer experience. This can also be booked separately! However, the number of participants for day 2 on the seminar ship remains limited. On both days, it is all about the one big goal: "Boost your Service Delivery. Bring your Hotels to Life in a Digital World". Today, we are presenting the programme to you.

Editorial: Sick industry, healthy industry

Dear Insiders,

Coronavirus shows how volatile our globalised coexistence is today. How are hotel groups in China coping with this, how have they secured their cash flow? The occupancy rate has collapsed and stands at close to 1%, employees are in quarantine. Kempinski Hotels has closed just five hotels, Hilton 150, IHG 160, Wyndham 1,000. Fees are lost, management fees have been waived and suppliers are asked for understanding. Sylvie Konzack and I checked some chains and asked people who live in China about their experience. Today, we provide a snapshot of current events, with the end to this drama still not in sight; Covid-19 infects the hotel industry, tourism and the entire economy.

The global chains are currently presenting their financial statements for the 2019 year (today we present those of Accor, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Scandic and Wyndham) and in this context, the CEOs also reported on their concerns and measures in China.

One of the silent but very successful owner-operators in the industry is the Swedish Pandox Group. Its share price is currently on a tremendous rally. Even the daring Jury Inn deal in the UK in the opaque fight before the final Brexit decision has turned out to be perfect timing. A portfolio analysis by Macy Marvel.

After we analysed the state of the German wellness landscape last week, it's the Austrians' turn today. Michaela Thaler, the Managing Director of Best Alpine Wellness, the consortium with the best wellness hotels in the country, puts comparative figures on the table. The well-being pioneers did such a good job over the years that their concepts were broadly copied across the sector. Now, everyone is plagued by the mass commodity wellness – and could kick themselves.

In 2019, the German hotel and restaurant industry recorded an increase in revenue in all segments for the 10th time in a row. As a single destination, Munich can also once again boast strong increases in tourist numbers and turnover. Yet such records are confront the industry with the question of sustainability both on a large and small scale: How long such volumes be tolerated?
In this context, we will also briefly look again at the EU's "Green Deal".

And as far as our own activities are concerned, we can announce today to the HITT Think Tank in Potsdam on 22/23 June: Two more innovative software companies will venture into the "spotlight" of the first day of events. After Mews, Ireckonu and Sabre Hospitality, hotelkit and Robotise (including a mobile service robot) are now also addressing the questions of the industry. By the way, you can book the Spotlight Day independently! Get on board, and please tell your colleagues as well. Our article on page 1 has also been updated as well as the PDF of the programme of events. More news and names will follow.

Yours, Maria Pütz-Willems, Editor-in-chief

Your opinion? maria[at]hospitalityInside.com