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Hilton gibt die Vereinbarung mit Morgan Stanley Real Estate bekannt, bis zu 10 Hotels in Europa für 566 Millionen Euro zu verkaufen

Pressemitteilung vom 26. April 2007

Hilton Hotels Corporation teilte mit, dass sie bis zu zehn Hotels (ca. 3.300 Zimmer) für ca. € 566 Millionen an einen Fond, verwaltet von Morgan Stanley Real Estate, verkaufen wird. In der Annahme, dass alle zehn Hotels verkauft werden, wird nach Abzug aller Schulden (ca. € 41 Millionen), Steuern und Transaktionskosten, ein Reingewinn von ca. € 450 Millionen erwartet. Die Einnahmen aus dem Verkauf wird Hilton Hotels Corporation für Schuldenrückzahlungen verwenden.

Basierend auf den Einkünften der zehn Hotels der vergangenen zwölf Monate – Ertrag vor Zinsen, Steuern, Abschreibungen auf Sachanlagen und materielle Vermögensgegenstände (EBITDA) - repräsentiert der Verkaufspreis ein ca. 15,2faches des EBITDA.

Hilton und Morgan Stanley Real Estate haben sich auf fünf Langzeit-Managementverträge für die Hilton Hotels in Düsseldorf, Dresden, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Straßburg und Zürich geeinigt. Morgan Stanley Real Estate hat umfangreichen und unmittelbaren Investitionen in Höhe von ca.
€ 18 Millionen für diese fünf Hotels zugestimmt. Bei den Hilton Hotels in Brüssel, Barcelona und Luxemburg wird ebenfalls davon ausgegangen, dass Langzeit-Managementverträge abgeschlossen werden – abhängig davon, wie sich Hilton und Morgan Stanley Real Estate über die Investitionspläne einigen. Das Los Zocos Club Resort (ein All-Inclusive Resort auf Gran Canaria) wird ohne weiteren Vertrag mit Hilton an Morgan Stanley Real Estate verkauft. Für das Hilton Weimar werden die zukünftigen Pläne zur Zeit evaluiert. Das Hotel wird unter der Marke Hilton für kurze Zeit weiter geführt, abhängig wie die Bewertung zwischen Morgan Stanley Real Estate und Hilton ausfallen.

Der Verkauf von sieben dieser Hotels ist abhängig von einigen Begebenheiten, wie zum Beispiel die Freigabe von der EU-Regulierungsbehörde, die jedoch bis Ende Juni 2007 erfolgen sollte. Der Verkauf der übrigen drei Hotels (Paris Charles De Gaulle, Barcelona und Zürich) unterliegen ebenfalls einigen gesetzlichen Richtlinien. Der voraussichtliche Verkauf dieser drei Hotels soll im Herbst 2007 erfolgen.

Nach Abschluss dieser Transaktion wird Hilton Kapitalanlagen im Wert von über drei Milliarden US Dollar (ca. € 2,2 Milliarden) verkauft haben, die sie durch die Akquisition von Hilton International Ende Februar 2006 erhalten hat. Seit Beginn des Veräußerungsprogrammes im Jahre 2005 werden damit insgesamt Kapitalanlagen im Wert von 4,5 Milliarden US Dollar (ca. € 3,3 Milliarden) veräußert sein.

Robert M. La Forgia, Executive Vice President und Chief Financial Officer Hilton Hotels Corporation, kommentiert den geplanten Verkauf wie folgt: "Diese Transaktion ist ein signifikanter Schritt für Hilton, der signalisiert, dass wir uns weiterhin auf unsere Strategie fokussieren, durch Management- und Franchisegeschäft zu wachsen. Immobilieneigentum wird reduziert, um so unsere Jahresbilanz zu festigen.

Morgan Stanley Real Estate ist ein hoch respektierter Immobilieninvestor und ein wichtiger Geschäftspartner, der zur Zeit 13 Hilton Hotels besitzt bzw. Interesse an Hotels der Hilton Family zeigt. Diese Transkation baut unsere Geschäftsbeziehung signifikant aus und bietet eine Platform für weiteres weltweites Wachstum der Hilton Marken."

Hilton wurde durch die Banc of America Securities Limited und Morgan Stanley Real Estate durch Morgan Stanley beraten.

Über die Hotels

Hilton Dresden
Standort: An der Frauenkirche 5 (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 333

Hilton Dusseldorf
Standort: Georg-Glock Strasse 20 (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 375

Hilton Weimar
Standort: Belvederer Allee 25 (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 294

Hilton Zurich Airport
Standort: Hohenbuehlstrasse 10 (Flughafenhotel)
Zimmer: 323

Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle
Standort: Roissypôle, Rue de Rome (Flughafenhotel)
Zimmer: 385

Hilton Strasbourg
Standort: Avenue Herrenschmidt (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 243

Hilton Luxembourg
Standort: 12 Rue Jean Engling (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 337

Hilton Brussels
Standort: 38 Boulevard de Waterloo (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 431

Hilton Barcelona
Standort: Avenida Diagonal 589-591 (Stadthotel)
Zimmer: 286

Los Zocos
Standort: Avda Islas Canarias 5 (Resorthotel)
Zimmer: 324

Hotelkonzerne beenden mehrjährige Durststrecke

Gelesen in "Wirtschaftswoche", 20. April 2007

Deutschlands Hoteliers können wieder lachen: Die Fußball-WM und die anziehende Konjunktur haben der Hotelbranche mehr Kunden und bessere Preise beschert. Von den europäischen Top-Performern sind sie jedoch weiterhin "Lichtjahre entfernt".

Das vergangene Jahr bescherte zumindest den großen Marken Umsatzsteigerungen um zehn Prozent bei gleichzeitig steigenden Zimmererlösen. "Nach vier mageren Jahren haben sich Lage und Stimmung der deutschen Hotellerie deutlich verbessert", fasste Karl A. Schattmaier, Vorstandschef der Steigenberger Hotel Group, zusammen.

Der Konzern bilanzierte jetzt "eines der erfolgreichsten Geschäftsjahre der Unternehmensgeschichte". Der Umsatz stieg um gut zehn Prozent auf 475 Mill. Euro. Dabei erreichte das Kerngeschäft der 82 Hotels ein Umsatzplus von 6,5 Prozent auf 356 Mill. Euro. Die steigende Auslastung und der spürbare Anstieg der durchschnittlich erzielten Zimmerpreise um acht Prozent führten allerdings in der Konzernbilanz nicht zu Ergebnissprüngen.

Das habe unter anderem daran gelegen, dass Steigenberger hohe Kosten aus der Bereinigung des Hotelportfolios zu verkraften hatte, sagte Schattmaier. Die Gruppe hatte sich in den letzten Jahren einen neuen, schlanken Zuschnitt verordnet und fährt nur noch zweigleisig mit der Marke Steigenberger, die für Stadthotels und Ferienresorts steht, sowie den Intercity-Hotels.

Damit habe man die Weichen für ein langfristiges und profitables Wachstum gestellt, sagte der Vorstandschef. Die Gruppe möbelt zurzeit ältere Häuser auf; das Investitionsvolumen liege von 2005 bis 2008 bei mindestens 150 Mill. Euro.

Nach sechs Hotel-Neueröffnungen im vergangenen Jahr plant Steigenberger eine weitere Expansion. So sollen Intercity-Hotels verstärkt im Ausland entstehen, zum Beispiel in den vom ICE angefahrenen Städten Brüssel und Paris. Mit der Absicht, auch an deutschen Flughäfen Intercity-Hotels zu bauen, ist der Konzern noch nicht viel weiter, gab Schattmaier zu. Dem Trend der Branche folgend zieht sich Steigenberger auf die Rolle des Hotelbetreibers zurück. Als letzte wurde die Immobilie des Steigenberger-Hotels in Berlin 2006 an einen spanischen Investor verkauft; ein Managementvertrag sichert dem Konzern die Präsenz in der Hauptstadt.

Auch die großen Wettbewerber legten 2006 zu. Maritim erhöhte mit 47 Hotels den Gesamtumsatz um über zehn Prozent auf 378 Mill. Euro. Die 158 individuell geführten Hotels der Marke Best Western Deutschland erhöhten ihren Umsatz um knapp zehn Prozent auf rund 440 Mill. Euro. Beide Gruppen erzielten ebenfalls höhere Zimmerpreise und steigerten die Auslastung.

Marktführer Accor Hotellerie Deutschland, unter anderem mit den Marken Ibis, Novotel, Mercure und Sofitel über 300 Mal in Deutschland vertreten, nennt als Tochter des börsennotierten französischen Konzerns keine Zahlen, hat aber nach Einschätzung von Stephan Gerhard, Chef der Hotelberatungsfirma Treugast Solutions, das beste Jahr seiner Geschichte abgeschlossen.

Generell profitierte die Hotellerie nicht nur von der Fußballweltmeisterschaft, sondern auch von der anziehenden Konjunktur, berichtet der Hotelverband Deutschland. Doch mit einer durchschnittlichen Zimmerauslastung von knapp 63 Prozent lägen die Betriebe immer noch sechs Prozent unter dem europäischen Durchschnitt. Und trotz um knapp acht Prozent gestiegener Zimmerpreise auf durchschnittlich 87 Euro sind deutsche Häuser, so der Branchendienst "Hospitality Inside", weiterhin "Lichtjahre entfernt" von den europäischen Top-Performern.

US-Motelkette Red Roof Inn verkauft: Accor kassiert über eine Milliarde

Gelesen in "Handelsblatt", 23. April 2007

Für 1,32 Milliarden Dollar hat Europas führende Hotel-Gruppe Accor am Montag die US-Motelkette Red Roof Inn verkauft.

Neuer Eigentümer sei ein Konsortium aus der Citigroup-Tochter Global Special Solutions Group und dem Westbridge Hospitality Fund LP, teilte der französische Konzern am Montag mit. Westbridge ist ein Gemeinschaftsunternehmen des Hotelbetreibers Westmont und mehrerer kanadischer Pensionsfonds.

B&B eröffnet Hotel am Flughafen Hahn

Gelesen in "IZ Immobilien Zeitung", 17. April 2007

Die französische Hotelkette B&B hat heute am Flughafen Hahn im Hunsrück ein neues Hotel eröffnet. Es ist das 14. der Gruppe in Deutschland. Investor ist die Gesellschaft Berium Hahn, hinter der die Familie Talmor steht. Bauübernehmer war die Lang & cie. Real Estate AG. B&B hat einen langfrsitigen Pachtvertrag für das Haus mit 107 Zimmern abgeschlossen. Das Investitionsvolumen beträgt 4 Mio. Euro.

LB Immo Invest kauft NH-Hotel in Erlangen

Gelesen in "IZ Immobilien Zeitung", 17. April 2007

Die Immobilien-Kapitalanlagegesellschat LB Immo Invest, Hamburg, hat für ihr Immobilien-Sondervermögen das NH-Hotel in Erlangen erworben. Das Investitionsvolumen für das 4-Sterne-Hotel in der Beethovenstraße 3 beträgt ca. 11 Mio. Euro. Das Haus grenzt direkt an das 2005 eröffnete Handels- und Dienstleistungszentrum Carré am Rathausplatz an und befindet sich auf einem Erbpachtgrundstück. Es wurde Ende der 90er vollständig renoviert und verfügt über 138 Zimmer und Appartments sowie einen Fitnessbereich, ein Restaurant und zwei Bars. Das Hotel ist langfristig an die spanische Gruppe NH Hoteles verpachtet, die 52 Häuser mit mehr als 2.000 Betten in Deutschland betreibt.

Morgan Stanley to Buy 13 Japan Hotels From All Nippon

Seen on ehotelier.com, April 16, 2007

Morgan Stanley, the biggest property investor among Wall Street firms, agreed to buy 13 hotels in Japan from All Nippon Airways Co., said three people who were brfed on the transaction.  

ANA, Japan's largest domestic airline, will hold a board meeting in Tokyo today to discuss the hotel sale, said spokesman Yuichi Murakoshi, who declined to comment further. New York-based Morgan Stanley will pay 280 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in what is Japan's biggest real estate acquisition, Nikkei English News reported earlier, without citing anyone.

 

Japan offers investors the lowest borrowing costs among major economies and potential returns from the first gain in land prices in 16 years. All Nippon wants to focus on aviation and needs to raise funds to help pay for new planes.

 

"It's a good investment as property prices are rising,'' said Michio Kitamura, a senior consultant at Nomura Research Institute Ltd. "Japanese banks, which got burned in the bubble era, aren't aggressive and overseas investment banks are seizing the opportunities.''

 

Morgan Stanley's Tokyo-based spokesman Natsuo Nishio declined to comment. The people briefed on the transaction asked not to be identified before a public announcement.

 

Land Prices

 

The purchase would add to Morgan Stanley's more than 80 hotel properties worldwide, including the Westin in Tokyo's Ebisu district.

 

Land prices in Japan rose for the first time in 16 years in 2006 as international and domestic investors competed to acquire properties in the three biggest cities.

 

Gains in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya compensated for drops elsewhere in the country. Average commercial land prices in the three cities rose 8.9 percent in 2006 while residential land prices grew 2.8 percent, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a report released on March 22.

 

Japanese real estate investment trusts are reflecting the rise of land prices, with the Tokyo Stock Exchange REIT Index climbing 39 percent in the 12 months to April 13.

 

All Nippon ordered four planes worth as much as $1 billion from Boeing Co. last month. The company will buy four 777-300ERs to expend its international routes.

 

Management Focus

 

"The sale will help focus the management focus completely on the airline business,'' said Satoru Aoyama, an analyst at Fitch Ratings, who rates the company's debt BB+, one notch below investment grade. "They have significant capital expenditure plans and the money will help them.''

 

The 13 hotels had a combined book value of 110 billion yen as of March 31, based on a securities report that Tokyo-based ANA filed to Japan's Ministry of Finance on June 29.

 

All Nippon shares rose 1.3 percent to 477 yen as of 12:32 p.m. in Tokyo.

 

Morgan Stanley is raising $8 billion for its sixth high- return real estate fund, about 40 percent of which is earmarked for Japan, where commercial occupancy rates and rents are climbing.

 

Sonny Kalsi, Morgan Stanley's global co-head of real estate investing, told the Washington State Investment Board last November that Japan represented "the leading real estate opportunity in the world right now.''

 

The firm last year bought a collection of Intercontinental hotels in Europe and yesterday said it completed its acquisition of CNL Hotels & Resorts Inc. for $6.6 billion, gaining eight luxury resorts in Arizona, California, Florida and Hawaii.

 

Several international and Japanese investment banks and buyout firms were competing for the airline's hotels, which include ANA Hotel Tokyo in the city's Roppongi business and entertainment district. Other properties include a hotel close to Narita International Airport and ANA Hotel Hiroshima, a 15- minute walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome.

 

ANA was advised on the sale by Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. and Nomura Holdings Inc.

Global Hyatt Corporation Announces Andaz

Seen on ehotelier.com, April 16, 2007

Global Hyatt Corporation President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian today announced the launch of Andaz, the company's newest addition to its global brand portfolio. The Company plans to launch several hotels under the new brand this year, with properties already slated for New York and London, and others under discussion in other parts of the world including Beijing and Moscow.

The word Andaz means 'personal style'. In addition to a focus on personal style and independence, the new brand will offer a highly functional environment characterized by sophistication, innovative design, local identity, casual elegance and service that is attentive but not pretentious and without 'attitude'.

"Our launch of Andaz is based on demand expressed by both consumers and developers for a product and experience that they have not found within the industry," Hoplamazian said. "This worldwide customer base is looking for fresh, uncomplicated luxury that is timeless and 'gimmick' free."

Representing a part of the next phase of the company's accelerating worldwide growth, the first Andaz will be in the City of London, where the Great Eastern Hotel will be rebranded and repositioned following completion of a renovation in September. Plans are also well underway in New York for Andaz, beginning with Hyatt's recently purchased property on Fifth Avenue at 41st street, across from the New York Public Library. Announcements of other Andaz hotels in markets inside and outside of North America are expected in the coming weeks and months.

In developing the brand, Global Hyatt Corp. is working with top architects and interior designers around the world to create environments that express the personal style of the customer and the personality of the destination. Andaz hotels will be authentic and culturally correct in service and product delivery.

Hoplamazian indicated that the brand will also be as environmentally friendly as possible, through various features that would include serving organic food and beverage, using fully biodegradable products and focusing on energy efficiency. As the brand develops, new hotel structures will incorporate ecologically friendly building materials and building systems.

"I feel that Hyatt is uniquely well-suited to bring this new brand to life because 'style', 'authenticity' and 'great service without attitude' are attributes that are a part of Hyatt's culture and heritage." he said. "Andaz is a brand that exhibits great promise for Hyatt."

ABOUT GLOBAL HYATT CORPORATION

Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world's premier hotel companies, offers today's travelers over 735 hotels and resorts (over 136,000 rooms) in more than 44 countries. The company's affiliates own, operate, manage and franchise Hyatt branded hotels and resorts under the Park Hyatt(R), Grand Hyatt(R), Hyatt Regency(R), Hyatt Resorts(R), Hyatt(R), Hyatt Place(TM) and Hyatt Summerfield Suites(R) brands. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operator of the Hyatt Vacation Club and fractional residential properties and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc., which franchises Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inns and Suites.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts continues expansion momentum in India with landmark signing of 11 new contracts

Seen on ehotelier.com, April 16, 2007

Signing of 11 contracts signify the debut of the Luxury Collection brand and the expansion of the Sheraton brand in India

   

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces new franchise agreements with ITC Limited, including the debut of the Luxury Collection brand in India.  Following significant upgrading of 7 Sheraton hotels in India in recent months, these will be rebranded to Starwood's Luxury Collection brand; the franchise agreements for 3 Sheratons have been extended and an existing Welcomhotel in Delhi will be reflagged as a Sheraton.  The 7 Luxury Collection hotels are located in Bangalore, New Delhi, Agra, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata while the Sheratons are located in Chennai, Jaipur and New Delhi.

   

This is a major milestone in Starwood's quest to grow its footprint in India.  With these new signings, travelers to India now have a choice of 23 hotels in India, under the Sheraton, Westin, Luxury Collection and Le Meridien brands, with 19 in operation 4 under construction.   Starwood is currently developing 3 new Westins in Gurgaon, Sohna and Bangalore, and a Sheraton in Bangalore.

   

"We are thrilled to introduce the Luxury Collection brand to India and to expand the footprint of the Sheraton brand in India.  We are equally excited to continue and expand our relationship with ITC Limited.  ITC and Starwood/Sheraton have had a strong and successful 30 year relationship. During that time period, the India market itself has changed and grown significantly. The introduction of the Luxury Collection will offer savvy travelers unique experiences that reflect the true essence of the destinations.   The 7 new Luxury Collection hotels will be a great complement to our impressive portfolio of properties globally," commented Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific.

   

"India is the fastest-growing Asia Pacific market for international visitor spending.  Visitor spending in India has grown at a phenomenal rate in the last few years, and this growth is expected to accelerate significantly over the next few years.  There are definitely tremendous growth opportunities for us to continue to grow all our brands in the gateway and secondary cities of India,"added Ko.

   

S.S.H. Rehman, Executive Director ITC Limited, in charge of Hotels, Tourism & Foods, expressed his satisfaction by saying, "We are delighted to announce that 7* of our luxury ITC hotels, will now be associated with Starwood's Luxury Collection. In addition 4 ITC Welcomgroup hotels will continue their association with the Sheraton brand. We are confident that with this association our luxury hotels will be acclaimed amongst Starwood's signature Luxury Collection hotels across the world."

   

ITC's foothold tie-up with Sheraton Hotels came into being at a time when India was just stepping into the sophisticated business of hospitality. Lasting over 30 memorable and extremely significant years, the partnership helped in ushering in a new professional style of functioning, into the country. Over these 30 years, ITC-Welcomgroup has grown both in numbers and experience and the Sheraton partnership with its globally recognized brand name, has been an important link to international acceptance and global presence.

   

The 7 new Luxury Collection hotels include :

The Luxury Collection ITC Mughal - Agra
The Luxury Collection ITC Windsor Manor - Bangalore
The Luxury Collection ITC Kakatiya - Hyderabad
The Luxury Collection ITC Sonar Bangla - Kolkata   
The Luxury Collection ITC Grand Central-Mumbai
The Luxury Collection ITC Grand Maratha-Mumbai
The Luxury Collection ITC Maurya - New   Delhi

 

The 4 Sheratons are :

   

Sheraton Chola Hotel, Chennai
Sheraton Park Hotel & Towers, Chennai
Sheraton Rajputana Palace Hotel, Jaipur
Sheraton New Delhi Hotel, New Delhi

   

The Luxury Collection is famed for its collection of over fifty-five magical hotels, including the Hotel Danieli in Venice, the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, the Hotel Imperial in Vienna and The Phoenician in Scottsdale, USA. As the third largest luxury hotel chain in the world, The Luxury Collection (www.luxurycollection.com) is dedicated to providing its global guest with an exceptional level of service that is crafted to meet their personal needs and expectations. Its local ambassadors will ensure that each stay is an enriching experience of the senses, with a flair for exploration and adventure.

   

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced ALOFT^SM and ELEMENT^SM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

ITB Berlin Expands to Asia

Seen on ehotelier.com, April 16, 2007

ITB Asia will have its first run at Suntec Singapore from the 22nd till the 24th of October 2008 as was announced by Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, the show organizer of ITB Berlin. The B2B trade show and convention will be designed to become the primary event for the Asia Pacific travel industry, much like its parent event, the ITB Berlin itself.

It will be targetted at creating new and cost-effective networking and business opportunities for the outbound buyers from the Asia - Pacific, the small & medium enterprises as well as the vast numbers of suppliers of products and services to the industry at large.

"The show is intended to ride the wave of the generational transition taking place across the Asia - Pacific, clearly the most important travel market of this century," said Mr Hosch. Many of the doing-business structures upon which the industry was founded in the 1960s and 1970s are giving way to new ways.

 

Harald Wolf, Berlin's Senator for Economics, Technology and Women's Issues, said: "Thus people all over the world will get to know the brand which the ITB Berlin represents, and this will increase the opportunities for Messe Berlin's customers who operate on the international stage, an aspect which not least will benefit Berlin as a business venue. Even large-scale trade shows such as the ITB Berlin cannot cater for the entire world market. By committing itself in this way Berlin is responding to increasing economic globalisation."

Meeting the needs of the buyers and sellers will remain the primary focus of attention, especially buyers from the Asian travel source markets looking for new products to sell across Asia and also worldwide. This includes not just buyers of leisure products but also meetings, business travel and conventions.

At the same time, ITB Asia will reach out to the small and medium size enterprises from the Asian travel industry who could not afford to participate in global shows and did not find the regional shows useful to make the right contacts.

"This is of utmost importance for emerging market players - e.g. small hotels, online travel agents, incoming agencies -- that very often have the most attractive and innovative products but so far lacked the opportunity to present themselves to the right buyers for their products," said Mr Hosch.

Another feature that will differentiate ITB Asia will be the convention to be organised alongside.

Patterned along the lines of the highly successful event that is organised alongside the ITB Berlin, the Asian event will be designed to provide a high level of intellectual value for the new generation of young Asian travel entrepreneurs. The needs and concerns of this new generation will be targeted - particularly those from the incoming, online travel, hospitality and aviation sectors.

Besides ITB Asia will not only act as a "horizontal" market place for travel products but also as a "vertical" one for suppliers of the travel industry. Hence, it will feature the full range of travel products, services and goods from the supply side of the industry especially in the hospitality and technology sectors.

Said Mr Hosch, "Naturally, we will use the full power of our global databases to market this show and help participants find useful contacts. The fact that there will no fixed appointments will leave all participants free to find their own opportunities, of which there will be plenty."

The show is being organised upon the initiative of the Singapore government which approached Messe Berlin, organisers of the ITB Berlin, as part of a package deal to organise Asian versions of the entire suite of trade events held at the Messe Berlin.

Mr Hosch said Messe Berlin was happy to accept the initiative but has made clear that it would like to position it as an "Asian" show and work with all sectors of the industry region-wide, including national tourism organisations, associations, airlines, hotel groups, tour operators, to ensure maximum attendance and the best possible exposure.

"We will do everything possible to ensure that the costs are kept to a basic minimum. When the industry finds the show useful, both will grow together," said Hosch.

Golf-Investoren werden mutiger und geben international mehr Geld aus

Gelesen in "IZ Immobilien Zeitung", 16. April 2007

Investoren aus der Golfregion haben im vergangenen Jahr 1 Mrd. USD in deutsche Immobilien investiert. Insgesamt gaben die Anleger aus dem Orient 13 Mrd. USD für Investments außerhalb ihrer Heimatregion aus, 14% mehr als im Vorjahr. Der größte Teil der Gelder floss in die USA (7 Mrd. USD), gefolgt von Großbritannien (4 Mrd. USD). Das geht aus einer Analyse von Jones Lang LaSalle hervor. Zunehmend seien die Käufer aus den Golfstaaten auch bereit, sich in Wachstumsmärkten wie z.B. Shoppingcentern in Istanbul zu engagieren, berichtet Tony Horrell, Chef der International Capital Group bei JLL. Es werde nicht mehr nur nach so genannten Trophy-Immobilien gesucht, sondern auch nach Engagements mit Wertzuwachspotenzial.