1. PA N D O X
M A r K e t I n f OrM At I On f rOM PA ndOx – One Of eu r O Pe’S leAd In G H Otel PrO Perty COMPAn IeS n O . 2 • 200 9
Expect a slow
recovery!
What’s hot in F&B

2. Market information from Pandox
Hote
expect a slow recovery!
The world is starting to look like a slightly better place now for the hotel industry since the credit crunch first hit. The financial
market’s view of our business reflects this. In a report from Goldman Sachs – which downgraded the sector in 2006 and has
maintained a negative standpoint ever since – the target price for the hotel industry has been upgraded from Sell to Neutral.
Starwood has even been upgraded to Buy. This fundamental analysis is based on volumes stabilising first. Some of the
major markets in the USA have started to show a slowdown in the rate of decline and the chances of occupancy evening out
towards the end of the year have improved. Moreover, it’s assumed that the amount of new hotel capacity resulting from the
credit crunch will be reduced over the next few years. All in all, this means that we could be seeing growth in RevPAR for the
USA by the end of 2010.
Gradual development
The analysis is interesting and the argumentation stringent. It’s also supported by experiences from earlier recoveries.
Of course, this opinion is very pleasing; but for the people who believe that their profitability issues will soon be a thing May
of the past, there could be a trap awaiting.
A normal recovery takes place over a number of stages. Firstly, volumes even out while prices continue to fall. Once Just like living at the zoo?! Lindner
the increase in demand is stable, occupancy starts gradually to increase. From this development phase, it normally Park & Resort recently opened its new
takes a year before prices start to rise again and RevPAR really starts to pick up. Anyone hoping to see income levels zoo hotel in Hamburg. This is their
back at 2008 levels soon is going to be disappointed. My cautious guess is that this will take at least five years from the 32nd hotel and it has 158 rooms and
time volumes start to rise. The Goldman Sachs report contains nothing about this. Nor can I find anything about how suites. This hotel is fitted out accord-
much of the anticipated demand is to materialise into profitability and increase cash flows. Looking at the current trend, ing to a range of themes, all taken
the decline is still continuing. The only market showing a slowdown in the rate of decline is the high-price segment in from the animal kingdom. The scent
New York, which is normally early to react to changes in economic climate. of dried grass wafts over the Africa
floor. The floor inspired by Asia is
So who wins? humid and smells exotic. The spa
The first conclusion made by the report is that the world seems, once again, to be surviving. And once economic activity section is inspired by the Arctic.
is on the increase again, demand in the hotel industry will rise – as is normal. The other conclusion is that it’ll take a
long time for the hotel industry to return to acceptable profitability levels.
So where are the winners in this sector? Well, the companies which have mainly management and franchise agree- Rezidor is opening its Park Inn Don-
ments have low risk built into their models. They’ll see greater income via their fees when RevPAR rises. But at the caster in May. This hotel, with its 87
same time, the upside is limited. Hotel companies with rental agreements seem to have greater potential; that is, pro- rooms, is in the business district of
vided that they have efficient operating models. When the market turns, they’ll have good potential for improvement. the town; and it’s situated within walk-
Passive financial owners with no operating expertise of their own risk losing out. These are in the hands of major inter- ing distance of the Keepmoat football
national hotel companies which have little incentive to promote the interests of their owners in respect of improved cash stadium. This used to be a Purple
flows. This requires emphasis on day-to-day operation with high levels of cost control, handling of special interests such Hotel.
as trade unions, and active support being given to local management teams. Often these companies are lacking exper-
tise or resources in these fields. Nowadays they prefer to focus on brand care and what are known as brand standards.
So what options are available in order to buck the negative profitability trend and protect assets? One model is that CitizenM is opening its second hotel
the banks are becoming more active. Maybe we’ll see a new wave of distressed assets in early 2010? in Amsterdam. 215 rooms over a five-
storey property located in the Princess
Separate ways district between the World Trade
One of the companies that has attracted attention is the Four Seasons Hotel, which was recently sued by owners in the Center and the heart of the city.
USA. According to what we’ve been told, there have been constant refusals to adapt prices and outgoings to these hard CitizenM – short for “citizen mobile” –
times, and so profitability for the owners has been wiped out. According to Four Seasons, the motivation behind this is is aimed at modern individualists;
that their brand and standards must never be jeopardised. A spokesman for this luxury brand said in a report that “the anyone from people travelling on busi-
owner has to stop running amok, we have more important things to worry about then chasing costs”. This is an example ness to tourists fascinated by culture.
of what happens when brand integrity and the interests of the owners go their separate ways, and it shows what can
happen when there’s an imbalance between risk and return. It’s not entirely unexpected that companies operating in
the luxury segment are finding it hard to adapt and establish a flexible operating model - the people responsible for their Rezidor is establishing itself at the
investments are being hit hard! Gare du Midi railway station in
So it seems that Goldman Sachs are correct in upgrading the sector. At the same time, there’s a lot of cleaning work Brussels. This hotel will have more
to be done in the industry before the whole thing blows over. It may be worth reminding everyone that adjustments in than 140 rooms and aims to welcome
the financial markets focus on actual economic changes which will take place a number of years into the future. its first guests in early 2011.
this year’s Hotel Market day
I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome partners, clients, banks, advisors, formers of public opinion and media to June
our next Hotel Market Day. As defined by tradition, it’ll be taking place at the Hilton Stockholm Slussen, make sure you
mark 18 November in your diaries. This year’s main theme will be “Short market trends – what will 2010 be like?” Pandox is buying Vildmarkshotellet in
Kolmården from Parks & Resorts
All the best, Scandinavia AB. The hotel is situated
Anders Nissen outside Norrköping – some 150 km
south of Stockholm – at Kolmården,
PS. Stefan Lövgren, one of the biggest and best handball pros in the world, has come to the end of his active career. the largest zoo in Scandinavia. The
Stefan was thanked for his supreme efforts at a packed arena in Kiel, where he’s been playing for ten years; an out- hotel has 213 rooms, a large confer-
standing setting which few Swedes get to experience. As a huge fan of handball, I’d like to thank Stefan for all the top ence facility and a recently completed
quality entertainment he’s given us all for more than 15 years as a member of the Swedish team, with four golds at spa.
European level and one World Championship gold!
Courtyard by Marriott
is being launched in
Pandox Upgrade – market information from Pandox – published approximately three times a year. Turkey. The first
Courtyard, with 262
editorial: Anders Nissen, Annelie Sundström Aguilar, Michaela Borg, Anette Paulsson rooms, is opening at Istanbul’s inter-
Pandox AB • Box 5364 • 102 49 Stockholm • Tel.: +46 (0) 8 506 205 50 • Fax: +46 (0) 8 506 205 70 • E-mail: pandox@pandox.com national airport. The hotel is designed
Visiting address: Grev Turegatan 44 primarily for European business trav-
Graphic design and production: n3 Kommunikation ellers who are looking for all their
Photographs: Ulf Blomberg, Shutterstock and others. home comforts and who appreciate
Printing: JMS Mediasystem, September 2009. Reproduction only by permission from Pandox. modern design.
Cover photo: Shutterstock
Upgrade can be ordered from Pandox or read at www.pandox.com 2

3. Market information from Pandox
l NeWS
The market on the market
Low liquidity
in the market
July The global transaction market nosedived the first six
Marriott will be opening a Courtyard
months of 2009. This reduction was 78 % lower com-
hotel in Romania in 2011. The hotel pared to the first six months of 2008. So its development is
will be located in the heart of
Bucharest, within walking distance of
approaching the level seen in the first six months of 2002,
the JW Marriott Hotel Bucharest, and which to date was the lowest over the past decade. How-
have 187 rooms. ever, the trend seems to have been bucked slightly in the
Kosta Boda Art Hotel will be opening second quarter.
its doors for the first time in late June. Rezidor is opening its 50th hotel in
Glass artists at Kosta Boda have Germany in July: the Radisson Blu The global transaction volume over the second quarter increased by 3 % com-
designed various parts of the hotel. Hof Hotel in Baden Baden. This prop- pared with the first quarter of 2009. This may be an indicator of brighter times
The hotel has 104 rooms and suites, erty dates back to 1638 and was origi- ahead, although it’s too early to be too optimistic. The figures for the second
all differing in nature. In the centre of nally a Cappuccino order monastery, quarter are the first to have shown an increase since 2007.
the hotel is a spa designed by Kjell but it was converted into an hotel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa represent the biggest decline in transac-
Engman and Åsa Jungnelius. The the early 19th century. The hotel now tions in absolute figures over the first six months of the year. Sales closed at USD
entire hotel acts as an art gallery, and has 139 rooms and seven conference 1.9 billion. This was a decrease of 76 % compared with the first six months of
all the art is for sale. and banqueting rooms. 2008. In America, sales for the same period amounted to USD 1.0 billion, a
decrease of no less than 86 %. Asia represented the lowest transaction volume,
with USD 0.9 billion; equivalent to a decline of 55 % compared with the pre-
Rezidor is opening a new Radisson Blu Hilton is opening its second hotel in vious year.
in Bad Reichenhall in Germany in late Romania, this time in the town of Of the total number of transactions that took place, only 13 exceeded USD
June. This property, which is located in Sibiu. This former spa and resort has 100 million, compared with 34 over the first six months of 2008. This is due
a large, exotic park, is an old Grand been renovated and converted into a mainly to the fact that it’s still difficult to attract finance for major deals, particu-
Hotel building dating back to 1846. 115-room hotel. larly across national borders.
The hotel has 152 rooms and suites.
Still lots of pressure
Rezidor is opening its second Park However, people in the market believe that transaction volumes will increase
Marriott is opening its third Courtyard Inn in Wroclaw, Poland. The hotel will over the second half of 2009, primarily because distressed assets should
hotel in Russia. The plan is for the be opening early 2012, in good time appear on the market to a greater extent. At the same time, there are issues talk-
Courtyard by Marriott Paveletskaya, before the start of the UEFA Cup ing against this. The RevPAR development for the hotel industry will be under a
13 storeys high, to open in 2010 with tournament in Poland and Ukraine. lot of pressure this autumn, too. This means that potential investors will con-
around 170 rooms. The hotel is being The hotel will have 206 rooms. tinue to feel uncertain of the earning ability of the hotel object, and hence of the
built in south-east Moscow in one of value of the hotel property. In addition, getting finance will continue to be diffi-
the international business districts not cult because of the cutbacks on the capital market. If investors are able to get
far from Paveletskaya railway station. First Hotels and Thon Hotels finance at all, it’ll be expensive on account of the lack of access to capital, and
are starting a partnership in partly because the risk premium for lending for hotel investments is still high.
sales, distribution and mar-
Scandic is establishing a presence in keting. This partnership will new hotels in the pipeline
Karlskrona, south of Sweden. The get off the ground in January Despite the global downturn, hotels are being developed and built all over the
180-room hotel will be opening in the 2010 and include 46 First world to an extent never seen before. And this is because most investment deci-
spring of 2010 and have an architec- Hotels and 53 Thon Hotels. sions were made before the downturn actually hit. In Europe, key markets such
ture inspired by the sea. The fittings The partnership will not as Moscow, London and Berlin are reporting the biggest number of rooms under
are based on the colour blue, stone, affect ownership. construction. Of the total of 94 695 rooms being built in Europe, 5 127 are in
heather and a shape reminiscent of a Moscow, 4 968 are in London and 4 720 are in Berlin.
sail. There are currently 463 hotel projects in Africa and the Middle East which
Rezidor is opening its seventh Park will result in a total of 124 409 new rooms. There are a few countries dominating
Inn in Norway. Park Inn Steinkjer will the market in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates is responsible for the
Choice is buying Nordic Hotels in have 110 rooms and be opening in single biggest amount of new development, with 169 hotels and more than
Stockholm but retaining the brand. early 2011. With this, Rezidor will 58 000 rooms, followed by Saudi Arabia with 42 projects in the pipeline. The
This since the guests want different have some 6000 rooms in Norway. key markets of Dubai have 33 319 rooms being planned and constructed, Abu
products, not standardised hotels that Dhabi has 11 196 and Jeddah has 2 979; and for the most part, luxury hotels
all look the same. This purchase will are being built. Asia currently has 227 567 rooms under construction over 969
give Choice a further 542 rooms in
Stockholm, making it the biggest
August hotels. China and India represent the majority of projects; China with 108 346
rooms and India with 45 323 rooms. Of these, more than 60 % are in the luxury
chain in the city. Home Properties is buying the hotel category.
Copperhill Mountain Lodge luxury
hotel in Åre, ski resort in northern So what about business?
InterContinental Hotel Group is open- Sweden. A rental agreement has The US is continuing to dominate the construction market, and as things stand
ing its first Crowne Plaza in Portugal. already been signed with Choice at present it has more than 500 000 rooms in production despite the market
Hotel Crowne Plaza Vilamoura will be Hotels concerning the running of the plummeting by 24 % compared with June 2008. Budget hotels represent the
opening in January 2010. The hotel is hotel. This hotel is some 19 000 sq m greatest reduction, with more than 50 % since June 2008.
located right next to the beach and not in area, with over 112 suites with views But the really interesting question is: just how many projects have been
far from the famous Casino Vilamoura. over the mountains and Åresjön lake. launched in 2009, and on what business foundations?
3

4. Market information from Pandox
Focus on the industry
First six months of 2009:
Bleak
hotel market
It’s been a bleak first six months to 2009, with an extensive international downturn which also seems to
be protracted. The hotel market in the US had been in recession for 20 months up to last June. The longest
recession ever experienced before – in the early 1980s – lasted for 21 months. The question is whether the
tide will turn now, or whether we have to slop around on the bottom for a little while longer?
uS first in cycle fallen by 6 %, and stand at GBP 122 as at 30 June. Occupancy in London for
The American market – which is first in the hotel economic cycle – showed a the first six months of the year closed at 78 %. This is equivalent to a reduction
decline in occupancy of minus 11 % for the first six months compared with the of just under 1 % compared with the same period last year, which means that
same period for 2008. Occupancy remained at 55 %. The average price for the RevPAR closed at GBP 96. London demonstrated further decline over the sec-
same period fell to USD 99, which is equivalent to a reduction of 9 % compared ond quarter. RevPAR fell by 8 % compared with the same period in 2008, which
with last year. This means that RevPAR for the entire US fell by 19 % over the was due largely to lower prices. June alone demonstrated better figures as occu-
first six months. pancy actually increased by 2 % compared with June 2008. However, room
A more detailed analysis of the second quarter shows that RevPAR was down prices are still under pressure, so RevPAR for the month closed at minus 6 %.
by almost 20 % compared with the same quarter last year. Prices have fallen by Germany – which saw a high national demand for hotel rooms in the autumn
10 %, while occupancy for the quarter was down 11 %. of 2008 and so fared better – has now joined the general downturn. For the
The tendency in some of the major cities in the US is the same – RevPAR is period to 30 June, Berlin closed at 64 % occupancy, which is 4 % lower than for
continuing to worsen over the second quarter, but at a slower rate. the same period in 2008. The average price was EUR 82, which was 10 % lower
As far as the various segments are concerned, the luxury segment is seeing than in the first six months of 2008. RevPAR in Berlin closed at just under EUR
the worst effects, with a 28 % decline in RevPAR for the six-month period, fol- 53 for the six-month period. This is a reduction of 13 % compared with the
lowed by the resort segment, which has seen a decline of 22 %. Development is same period in 2008. Berlin’s second quarter in 2009 is continuing to show a
the same in all segments irrespective of region. decline. RevPAR has fallen by 21 %, largely due to lower prices. The decline in
New York has been affected the most during the downturn, albeit from high price for the quarter is minus 17 %. This pattern is also evident in other major
levels. Occupancy has fallen by 11 %, while at the same time prices fell by no cities in Germany, with two-figure reductions in RevPAR. Hamburg is one of few
less than 24 % over the first six months of the year. The change in RevPAR com- exceptions that’s fared better to date, with a RevPAR decline of minus 7 % up to
pared with the same period last year amounts to minus 32 %. Occupancy 30 June.
closed at 73 %, and the average price closed at USD 199. Paris was also trapped by the downward spiral in the spring. Occupancy for
Over the second quarter RevPAR fell by 33 % in New York, and this is due the first six months of the year fell by 9 % compared with the same period in
mainly to the enormous pressure on prices. In June, the decline worsened still 2008 and closed the six-month period at 72 %. Prices fell by 11 % and now
further with RevPAR for the month at minus 35 % compared with June 2008. stand at EUR 215 on average, compared with EUR 242 to 30 June last year.
Occupancy fell by 6 % and average prices by 30 %. Given this development, RevPAR for the first six months of the year now stands at EUR 155, representing
we maybe should be asking who’ll be wanting to pay to stay in all those new a decline of 19 %. The second quarter of 2009 is showing a continuation in this
hotel rooms being built in New York at the moment? It’s estimated that more downturn, and that room prices in particular are what are forcing down RevPAR.
than 10 000 new rooms will be opened in 2010. The first six months of the year in Brussels closed at a RevPAR of minus
17 %, due equally to falling occupancy and lower prices. This trend has been
europe following the trend underpinned during the second quarter, with RevPAR closing at minus 24 %.
Europe is following in the footsteps of the US, and the decline seen in the The major cities in Eastern Europe are reporting even gloomier figures. Riga
autumn has accelerated in the spring. Of Europe’s capital cities, London has is one of the cities that has faced the very toughest climate for hotels over the
fared best throughout the credit crunch to date. For the first six months of the first six months of 2009. RevPAR has fallen by 40 %, due to lower prices and
year, RevPAR has fallen by just under 7 %, and most of this decline is explained reduced occupancy in equal measure. Both Prague and Warsaw have had a
away by lower room prices. Averages prices have been under pressure and RevPAR of minus 30 % for the same period.
4

5. Market information from Pandox
Risk of further rain showers in the hotel market – make sure you’re kitted out to brave the elements.
Vienna has shown one of the more dramatic declines over the second quar- regional cities in Sweden also in decline
ter. Average prices are down 38 %, while at the same time occupancy is down The regional cities in Sweden are following the general trend – a decline right
11 %. This means that every hotel room is earning minus 45 % less. Where did the way along the line. Gothenburg’s occupancy for the first six months of 2008
all the cash-rich tourists go? stood at 65 %, which then fell to 58 % over the first six months of 2009. Average
prices have been maintained fairly well. This means that the entire RevPAR
Scandinavia also struggling decline of 9 % is explained by lower occupancy.
Even the Scandinavian countries are struggling in the global landslide. Worst Malmö is the regional city that’s come off best so far. Up to 30 June, RevPAR
affected is Copenhagen, which for the first six months of the year lost 12 % in here has fallen by just under 4 %. The entire decline in RevPAR is due to the
occupancy, with an average of 57 % for the period. The price has fallen by 8 % fact that occupancy fell from 64 % for the first six months of 2008 to 61 % to
to DKK 854, giving a RevPAR for the period of DKK 485. This is a reduction of 30 June 2009.
almost 20 % compared with the first six months of 2008. Over the second quar-
ter, the rate of decline increased and RevPAR for the quarter stood at minus
23 %.
Other Scandinavian capitals are demonstrating similar patterns, i.e. an
increase in the rate of decline. Up to 30 June, Helsinki closed with a reduction Explanation:
in RevPAR of minus 13 %. Stockholm and Oslo closed at a decline of minus RevPAR: Revenue per available room. YTD: Year to date
12 %.
revPAr CHAnGeS In lOCAl CurrenCy
World 6 months, % 2nd quarter 2009, % Scandinavia 6 months, % 2nd quarter 2009, %
New York –32 –33 Copenhagen –20 –23
London –7 –8 Malmö –4 –6
Dubai –36 –34 Gothenburg –9 –11
New Delhi –42 –38 Oslo –12 –15
Sydney –13 –14 Stockholm –12 –20
Beijing –46 –45 Helsinki –13 –17
Tokyo –10 –11
São Paulo –5 –6
Buenos Aires –19 –25 (Sources: STR Global, SCB, Statistics Norway and Statistics Finland)
5

6. Market information from Pandox
Pandox market barometer
June 2009
The market barometer indicates the selected cities’ position in the business cycle. The assessment is based on an analysis of each city. Consideration is given to
macro-developments, the trends of the hotel industry and business conditions, how the hotel market is evolving, and the extent to which the hotel property market is
developing and has liquidity. It is important to note that the hotel business cycle is the same in its pattern but different in time.
BrIef deSCrIPtIOn Of tHe VArIOuS PHASeS Of tHe HOtel BuSIneSS CyCle:
GrOWtH b Occupancy is rising relatively rapidly and rates have begun to increase. WeAKenInG deClIne c The decline tapers off and RevPAR gradually levels out.
High potential and low risk. This phase is characterised by some potential and high risk.
PeAK h Occupancy continues to rise and rates increase above inflation. Strong potential leVel Out v Occupancy rises and rates remain unchanged. High potential with a
and low risk that gradually increases to high risk. diminishing risk.
deClIne x Occupancy and rates decline due to lower demand or excess capacity.
This phase is characterised by low potential and high risk.
SWedeN
PeAK h x deClINe
Malmö, Jönköping, Umeå Lund, Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Stockholm 5*,
Karlstad, Uppsala, Sundsvall, Luleå
GRoWtH b c deCReASING deClINe
v leVellING oUt
Comments: Sweden
Most of the major Swedish towns are in the decline phase of the economic cycle. coverage is more or less in line with the corresponding period last year, which
Stockholm 5* is seeing the steepest downward trend. RevPAR development over means that RevPAR is still continuing to increase slightly.
a rolling 12-month period to 30 June 2009 stands at minus 12 %, and the entire If we look at a shorter trend – over a rolling 3-month period between April and
decline is explained by prices that have been forced down. The major city munic- June – the rate of decline in most towns and cities is increasing. The decline is
ipalities of Stockholm and Gothenburg come next, with a RevPAR reduction of greatest in the municipality of Stockholm, with a reduction in RevPAR of 19 %
minus 8 % and minus 9 % respectively. Other cities have also passed the peak, for the period compared with the same period in 2008. This is followed by
and in most cases both coverage and prices are on the decline. Stockholm 5* on –18 %. Jönköping and Umeå are balancing out, while Luleå is
There are, however, some shining examples. Malmö, Jönköping and Umeå demonstrating a RevPAR of plus 5 % for the period, due entirely to rising aver-
are three cities that are still peaking over the rolling 12-month period. The age prices.
reason for this is that average prices are still rising slightly. At the same time, (Sources: SCB)
INteRNAtIoNAl
PeAK h x deClINe
Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels,
London, Paris, Vienna, Prague
GRoWtH b c deCReASING deClINe
v leVellING oUt
Comments: international
All the major cities in Europe are in decline. Looking at developments over a roll- If we look at a shorter trend, over three months – between April and June – the
ing 12-month period – on average up to 30 June 2009 – Vienna and Prague are rate of decline is increasing across the board. Vienna and Prague are subject to
showing the greatest RevPAR decline of minus 23 % and minus 25 % respec- the most powerful declines here, too, with negative RevPAR for the period of
tively. In Vienna, this is due mainly to falling prices. In Prague, on the other –45 % and –34 % respectively compared with the same period in 2008.
hand, it’s due to both falling prices and falling coverage in almost equal mea-
sure. Paris and Amsterdam aren’t far behind, both showing a decline of 19 %
for the period. London has come off best to date, with a decline of 4 % for the (Sources: STR Global, SCB, Statistics Norway and Statistics Finland)
12-month period.
* Five star hotel
6

7. Market information from Pandox
Trends of our time
Not on the menu
F&B trends don’t follow the economic cycle. In times
when we need to economise, we face some extremely
tough demands. It’s not enough for everything to be
green and organic; we also have to be able to offer
things that don’t actually exist.
Every day we hear conversations of whether or not the credit crunch has bot-
tomed out. But even if it has, there’s no economic boom just around the cor-
ner. The road back to where we used to be will be a tough one, and in the
hotel industry prices are key. Even if demand starts to stabilise, people will
still be keeping a firm hold on those purse strings.
So people are becoming more aware of the economy. At the same time,
surveys show that people spend less money on alcohol in a recession. Drink-
ing overall might not be reduced, but sales of alcohol in restaurants and bars
fall while drinking at home increases. This really doesn’t match up with one
of the biggest trends in the restaurant industry for 2009. Alcohol came very
high up in the annual survey “What’s hot? Chef’s Survey”, run by the Ameri-
can National Restaurant Association. Well – not alcohol per se, but alcohol Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
as an ingredient in cooking, and also in the form of specially composed
drinks and also organic wines.
Secrets on the menu
A drink all of your own Other trends that seem familiar are the multifunctional lobby containing
The so called signature drinks are really hot in this category. The most everything from a bar and restaurant to somewhere for business travellers to
famous is James Bond’s Martini, which has to be served shaken, not stirred. meet. There’s also the more relaxed restaurant environment, with staff who
The drink should demonstrate who you are; the description of a Martini as a dress down, rather than up. Interesting and fun news are secrets on the
sophisticated, elegant drink suits our action hero. Nowadays, every self- menu and less is more. Secret dishes which you won’t find on the menu and
respecting restaurant and hotel – and even bartender – has to have one or signature drinks made to unknown recipes are sneaking into the industry.
more signature drinks. 33 % of chefs that where asked, ranked signature “Less is more” is really nothing new, but making something of it is. A small
cocktails as the hottest drinks trend for 2009. In second place came what area and a short menu are hot property right now, and big despite their
are known as functional cocktails – put together from a health perspective diminutive size.
– and third came the matching of food with alcohol.
As far as food is concerned, the green, environmentally friendly alterna- Choose wisely
tives are no longer a trend – they’re a must! Locally produced, organic, eco- It remains to be seen which of these trends will match our economic down-
friendly food is manufactured in ways which economise on energy and never turn, or our economic recovery. One thing that’s clear, however, is that res-
lose sight of recycling. Even though it’s considered something of a must, taurateurs are tying themselves in knots just to entice you and your wallet to
locally grown food comes high up on the list of trends for 2009. Second visit if you happen to go out for the evening once in a blue moon. The risk is
comes finger food, a trend which is now rather tired. Bite-sized portions of that in their enthusiasm, hotels and restaurants will forget who they’re aim-
everything from fillet of beef and truffle risotto to gazpacho are served in ing at; or, as Kurt Bjorkman puts it in his blog on the Hotel F&B Magazine
creative ways in shot glasses or on small mirrors. Third and fourth places are website: We all need to get real about… who our customers are (not who we
taken by organically produced food and children’s food produced by a WANT them to be…). We need to check out egos and make it happen for
nutrition. our owners and investors and GUESTS.
dId YoU KNoW…
… you can now stay at ecolabelled hotels? Apollo, which is starting to offer
travel to Thailand and Egypt, is the first Swedish travel organiser to ecolabel its
Sundry facts from
various corners of
the hotel world
… everything is allowed when it comes to bringing occupancy to your hotel?
A hotel in California, the high-class Rancho Inn in San Diego, is offering its
hotels. This ecoclassification is tak- rooms for USD 19 a night, as opposed to the previous USD 219, under the
ing place via Travelife, a European name “Survival Package”. As you can probably tell from the name, this package
consortium of travel agencies work- is somewhat basic; no lights, no toilet paper, no towels – and not even a bed.
ing to promote more sustainable That said, though, you can upgrade if you like!
development of tourism.
… liberated tourists can now head for a new nudist hotel in Germany? Hotel … you now have the chance to experience a very dif-
Rosengarten is the first hotel of its kind in Germany. When checking in, guests ferent taxi ride in Helsinki? With just a single phone call
have to leave all their clothes behind and are then encouraged to go around to Karaoketaxi, you and your mates will be picked up by
naked for their whole stay. Practical, hey? No laundry when you get home! a luxury car and your party can get off to a flying start
with a good old sing. The car can accommodate up to
12 people. How about that as an idea for your next staff
get-together?
7

8. Market information from Pandox
News from the Pandox sphere
Quality Hotel Park in Södertälje tops Mystery Guest programme High pressure on InterContinental Montreal
Some hotels are swimming against the tide. We’d like to congratulate The InterContinental in Montreal showed enormous consideration for
Quality Hotel Park in Södertälje City, which is showing positive results its guests during this summer’s heatwave. On 18 August, the hotel
in a number of respects. Eskil Eilertsen, Head of Sales and Marketing, offered its guests a single room price which was the same as the tem-
says proudly that Quality Hotels are showing the greatest upsurge in perature in Fahrenheit (°F) at 4 pm that day. To the great pleasure of
respect of their market. This hotel has now attained a top ranking in the many guests, the thermometer showed a temperature of 84.2 Fahren-
Choice Hotels Mystery Guest programme. heit and so CAD 84.20 was all they had to pay for a room for the night!
Official athletics at Hotel Berlin, Berlin This contract was the first to be signed after
August saw the transformation of Hotel Berlin, Pandox bought the hotel in 2006. Hotel Direc-
Berlin into an all-inclusive hotel during the tor Cornelia Kausch and her team provided a
World Championships in Athletics. 1 200 com- fantastic service for the athletes – 24 hours a
petitors from 80 nations stayed at the newly day. Well done Hotel Berlin, Berlin!
renovated hotel – including the team represent-
ing Germany and double world record holder
Usain Bolt, who took the gold for both the
100 m (9.58) and the 200 m (19.19)! 4 200
meals a day were served, including 600 kg of
fruit. In addition, guests drank several thousand
litres of water; and they also used more than
50 000 towels and over 5 000 toilet rolls.
Usain Bolt, double world record holder (sprint),
celebrated his birthday at Hotel Berlin in Berlin.
Children dominated Clarion Hotel
Grand in Östersund this summer
The Kul och Bus Circus Academy
have been working with Clarion Hotel
Grand in Östersund this summer.
Children had their own check-in desk,
lucky bags, children’s menu, play-
room, TV games and face painting.
Some 1500 children and their parents
all helped the hotel to break a record
in July, when coverage stood at an
impressive 93.6% – congratulations!
Face painting was one of the many
activities for children on offer at Clarion
Hotel Grand in Östersund this summer.
S K O J at Holiday Inn Brussels Airport Jazz at Crowne Plaza Antwerp
This hotel is the forerunner in a new era of business meetings, offering Jazz musician Toots Thielemans is
a very original meeting concept. This is known as S K O J, the Swedish a regular at the Crowne Plaza in
word for FUN, which stands for Surprising, K(C)reative, Original and Antwerp. In August, he won the
Joy. The S K O J concept can be seen in the design of the meeting prestigious Concertgebouw Jazz
rooms, and it’s quite noticeable during lunchbreaks and coffee breaks Award for 2009, which is a Lifetime
– and also among the enthusiastic staff at the new Holiday Inn Brussels Achievement Award for jazz musi-
Airport . cians famous in the international
arena. Earlier winners of this award
include George Coleman, Elvin
“Meet Happy” at Pelican Bay in the Bahamas Jones, Benny Golson, Chick Corea
Pelican Bay has got itself a new logo to go with and Herbie Hancock.
its repositioning initiative. The new logo pro-
claims “Meet Happy”, and ties in with the
hotel’s brand promise to create positive experi-
ences for meeting delegates, wedding guests
and all other guests staying at the resort.
“Our new logo, a Happy Pelican donning Hans Wils, Hotel Director of the Crowne
sunglasses, injects a breath of fresh air, Plaza in Antwerp, congratulates jazz
colour and vibrancy into the property” says Magnus musician Toots Thielemans, winner of the
Alnebeck, Hotel Director at Pelican Bay, Lucaya. Concertgebouw Jazz Award for 2009.
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