1. PA N D O X
NO. 1 • 2008
MARKE T I N F O R M AT I O N F R O M PA N D O X ONE OF THE LEADING HOTEL PROPERTY COMPANIES IN EUROPE
Attract the virtual guest
– a hotel blog is the trick
Strong market with
cautious forecasts

2. Market information from Pandox
News
Market forecast remains unchanged
Growth is slowing down in the major European markets. This could be seen in
Pandox’ forecast for 200 presented at the Hotel Market Day last November.
After presenting our analysis, several people contacted me expressing scepti-
cism and that market trends would be better than our forecast. If we had made
the same market analysis today, the forecast would have been distinctly more
prudent. Indeed, we should have emphasised more strongly that the risk on the
downside had further increased. There is therefore all reason to take seriously
the signals of a weaker market.
within the hotel world
Gloomy in the United States
The atmosphere within the US economy has become poorer in recent months.
In a current survey performed by the Wall Street Journal, 36 of 51 economists October Home Properties signs an agreement
with City Finansiering AS to purchase
believe that the United States has entered into a recession. The US central
bank, Federal Reserve, has acted powerfully and reduced their base rate by the Quality Hotel Mastemyr property.
Raffles Hotels
2 percentage points since the beginning of the year, as well as pumping in The hotel is located south of Oslo and
Resorts has entered
enormous amounts into the banking system so as to prevent an acute liquidity has 152 rooms.
into an agreement for
crisis. The question is whether this will be sufficient or whether insight regard- its first hotel in Paris.
ing the unbalanced economy was awoken too late. Le Royal Monceau
During my latest visit to the United States, before Easter, I met a few players is owned by the
from the capital market and discussed their view of the future of the US economy French entrepreneur
December
and the related spread effects in Europe. Their understanding was that the losses Alexandre Allard
connected to the so-called sub-prime market had started to level out, but that the A HNWI (High Net Worth Individual)
Qatari Development. The hotel will be
negative effects outside the banking sector had so far been marginal compared acquires The Waldorf Hilton in London.
refurbished and is estimated to open
with what could still come. The risk of a new setback for the housing market is to The vendor is the Bank of Scotland.
in 200. It contains 152 rooms and
be expected as a consequence of the massive dismissals on Wall Street. will have five different FB concepts.
Despite this situation, RevPAR continues to rise in New York, due almost
exclusively to rising average rates. Overall, revenue per available room is cur- Fattal Hotels acquires Le Meridien
rently about 30 percent higher than previous levels, and the first quarter Hamburg-Stillhorn. The vendor is
The Finnish hotel operator The S
appears to be at record strong levels. Starman UK Service Company, a joint
Group is to expand in Russia with the
I return to the Hotel Market Day and the program heading “Have we passed venture between Starwood Capital
Sokotel and Sokos brand names. The
the peak?” For the US market, the answer is unquestionably yes, which implies and Lehman Brothers Holdings. The
34-room Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden
that London will probably subside and that we will subsequently see poorer hotel has 150 rooms and will be called
in St Petersburg will open in December.
RevPAR trends in the whole of Europe. If we put Sweden into this perspective, it Leonardo Hotel Hamburg Stillhorn.
The company is planning five new
would seem that we will manage relatively well with regard to demand, but that hotels in St Petersburg over the next
Stockholm is exposed to price pressure when new capacity increases availability. six years.
Accor sells 57 hotels in Europe to the
Differences between continents property companies Axa Real Estate
The major difference between Europe and North America is that the latter con- Investment Managers and CDC (Caisse
Scandic signs an
sists of two gigantic markets – the United States and Canada, which to a certain des Dépôts et Consignations). The
agreement with
degree are closely related. On the other hand, Europe is primarily composed transaction amounts to EUR 51 mil-
the Norwegian
of a number of domestic markets. For example, 0 percent of hotel guests in lion. Accor will continue to operate the
property com-
Germany are of German nationality. This implies that the geographic sub-markets hotels under turnover-based leases.
pany Öyer Invest
in Europe are more dependent on their domestic economical activity than of A/S regarding a 400-room hotel in
the major metropolises such as New York and London. Kista outside Stockholm. The hotel is
The conclusion is that our hotel market forecast remains unchanged, plus expected to be ready in 2009.
that the downside risk has increased for 200. January
All the best Park Inn Voronezh opens in the
Anders Nissen November Russian city of Voronezh. The hotel
has 134 rooms and becomes the first
PS international hotel in the city.
Scandic opens at Norra Bantorget in
For those of us who love sport, this coming spring will be like one long Christ- Stockholm through the acquisition of
mas Eve – finals in handball, opening of the Swedish football season, and the operations of Best Western Wallin
Olympic qualifications for the national handball team. As a crescendo, there The private equity company JER Part-
Hotel. The hotel has 11 rooms and
will be the football European Cup finals, and I’ve already got some tickets. It will ners acquires the 34-room Münich
is now called the Scandic Norra Ban-
be a tough spring! Marriott Hotel. The management
torget.
agreement with Marriott will remain.
Pandox Upgrade – market infor- Visiting address: Grev Turegatan 44 Sol Meliá pays GBP 16.5 million for
The Spanish hotel company Barcelo
mation from Pandox – published the German hotel chain Innside.
Graphic design and production: Hotels Resorts opens its first hotel
approximately 3 times annually. Innside has eight hotels in Berlin,
n3prenör in Germany. The 301-room Barcelo
Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and
Editors: Anders Nissen, Cologne City Center Hotel is located in
Photo: Ulf Blomberg, Shutterstock and others. Bremen.
Anette Österberg, Jill Jansson Cologne. The hotel has two restau-
Pandox AB Printer: rants, a lobby bar, a fitness centre and
PO Box 5364 Jernström Offset, Stockholm, April 200. spa with pool, as well as conference
Park Inn Heppenheim opens in the
SE-102 49 Stockholm, Sweden Reproduction only by permission from facilities.
city with the same name. The hotel
Tel: +46(0)-506 205 50 Pandox. has 111 rooms.
Fax: +46(0)-506 205 70
E-mail: pandox@pandox.se Front cover: Opus Hotel, Vancouver, which The Royal Bank of Scotland sells two
has a blog at www.opushotel.com/blog hotels for approximately GBP 175
Upgrade can be ordered from Pandox or read online at www.pandox.se
2

3. Market information from Pandox
The market on the market
The market is giving ambiguous signs
million to the Yiannis Group, who Scandic signs a lease with Gardemoen
through the transaction acquire the Parkering and Eiendom AS for a new
Yiannis Park Inn at Heathrow and the hotel at Oslo Airport. The hotel will have
Victoria Albert Hotel in Manchester. 250 rooms, restaurant, bar, fitness cen-
tre and conference facilities. The hotel
is expected to open at the end of 2009.
Ramada Jarvis invests GPB 27 million
in a new hotel at Heathrow. The hotel
will have 215 rooms and is expected Clarion Hotel Sign opens at Norra Jonathan Worsley, one of the founders and organisers behind The Hotel Investment
to open in September. Bantorget in Stockholm. The hotel Forum in Berlin, holds an opening speech to welcome all participants.
has 55 rooms and is thereby Stock-
holm’s largest hotel. There was a proud gathering of Banks take no risks
Marriott International decides to people at this year’s hotel confer- Banks, consultants and even hotel
launch a new boutique hotel. The new ence in Berlin. The participants companies have witnessed the
chain will be called Edition and the could sit back and report with tougher climate for borrowing. Good
first hotel will be launched in Paris in pleasure the past year. But with acquisitions are still possible, but
2010. Marriott has created the new uncertainty around the corner and the difficulty lies in the financing.
concept together with the hotel entre- a financial crisis in the United Niel Thomas, Partner Corporate
preneur Ian Schrager. Ian Schrager States, discussions were centred Finance at KPMG, said that three
has been active in the hotel industry around how the hotel industry will major changes have taken place.
since 194, and his work includes the handle the surrounding world. Firstly, it now takes a longer period of
creation of the well-known Gramercy time to plan and administer a loan.
Park Hotel in New York. Promises about the future Secondly, established and good rela-
March The year’s largest hotel conference tions are required between borrow-
was held as usual at the InterConti- ers and lenders. And thirdly, he
CapMan acquires a hotel portfolio of nental Hotel in Berlin in the begin- emphasised that “it’s not done until
February 39 hotels for approximately EUR 00 ning of March. Jonathan Worsley is it’s done”, meaning that banks today
million. The vendor is Northern Euro- one of the founders and organisers take the liberty of calling off a finan-
Rezidor Hotel Group opens a Park Inn pean Properties Ltd. Three of the behind the conference, as well as cing at any stage in the process
in London. The 214-room Park Inn hotels are located in Finland and one being chairman of The Bench. He should even just a slight shadow
London is located at Russel Square in Sweden. The hotels are operated holds a welcome speech every year. appear in the sky.
and was previously called the Bon- under the Holiday Club, Crowne This year, he emphasised the word This was perhaps also what Sir
nington Hotel. Plaza, Holiday Inn, Radisson and “pipeline” as the buzzword of the James Devitt Bt, Senior Director
Ramada brands. year. It is not difficult to understand CBRE, referred to in his introduction
where he got it from. to a panel debate the day before. He
The Spanish com- Many press releases in the quoted Mark Twain and described a
pany Losan Hotels InterContinental Hotels Group signs an industry contain promises of more banker as ”a person who lends you
World, which invests agreement for a seventh hotel in Mos- hotels. Hotel company X promises an umbrella when the sun shines
in property, acquires cow. The hotel Holiday Inn Moscow 120 new hotels during the coming and wants it back the same second
its third hotel in London. The five-star Ryazanskiy will have 240 rooms and is year with the newly launched life- as it starts to rain”.
Hotel Silken has 137 rooms and will expected to be completed in 2010. style concept. Hotel company Y will
open on The Strand during the year. increase the number of rooms in Unsure market
the portfolio by 20,000 over the With several good years behind us,
Park Plaza Hotels enters into a joint next two years. And hotel company it can also be difficult to get pur-
Home Properties acquires land with venture with Aldersgate Investments. Z says that one of its brand names chasers and vendors to meet. Every-
related building permission of appro- Together they will open the first art’otel has more than 60 hotels under one wants to purchase – at the right
ximately 12,000 square metres on in London. The four-star hotel will have development. price. Everyone is willing to sell – at
Norra Älvstranden in Gothenburg. about 200 The future is hot. Particularly the right price. It is interesting how-
The purchase price amounts to about rooms, restau- future developments contained in ever that the right price is rarely the
SEK 1 million. Home Properties will rants and bars, our cash flow statements when we same for the purchaser and the ven-
build a hotel of about 250 rooms. a gallery and two value hotels. At least if we are to dor. One and the same company
auditoriums for showing films. sell. can currently value a hotel at a yield
It was probably here somewhere of 5.5 percent – if they are to sell – but
Golden Tulip signs an agreement that the orientation of the confer- 6.25 percent if they are to purchase.
with Arcadia Hotels for the opening Macdonald Hotels Resorts opens its ence changed course. The topic was Are we really in the historically
of 27 new hotels in Germany. The first hotel in central London through a no longer about the future and com- strong market, or is reality an
hotels will change brand from Mercure partnership with the five-star Royal panies’ pipelines. Instead the topic approaching downturn? Derek Gam-
to Golden Tulip and Tulip Inn. The Garden Hotel in Kensington. The hotel was the present and the potential mage of CBRE captured the feeling
hotels are located in Berlin, Hannover, is currently undergoing a large refur- risks within the financial markets of uncertainty in the words ”the mar-
Stuttgart and Düsseldorf. bishment program. and the hotel industry. ket is off but with no real evidence
that the market is off”.
3

4. Market information from Pandox
Focus on the sector
strong 2007 with good
growth in profits
Despite few events, the hotel industry Fewer American tourists Paris are close to 41 percent of total pancy increased by more than 5 per-
experienced a strong 2007. Average The macro-economic anxiety has led sales, while in London the ratio is cent. January and February accumu-
rates in most cities saw the strongest to fewer American travellers in Europe. about 2 percent. This obviously lated are so far nearly 12 percent over
trends, which led to good RevPAR. At In the UK, the number of visitors from affects to what extent revenue the RevPAR for 2007, including a
the same time, the macro-economic North America fell by 4 percent last increases show in profits. price increase of close to percent.
anxiety remains which in turn has led year. On the other hand, the number Brussels followed the trend and
to fewer American tourists in Europe. of European visitors increased by 3 Events gave Paris a lift showed an increase in prices of 9 per-
percent and the volume of travellers Paris was helped in 2007 by the cent in 2007. Occupancy rose by
The US market finished 2007 with from other countries by one percent. Rugby World Cup held in September almost 1 percent and closed for the
63 percent occupancy, representing The risks for 200 lie in reduced and October. There was also the Paris year at 71 percent. The year 200 has
a small decline compared with 2006. consumption that may have a negative Air Show, which is held every other also started well with price rises of 9
The number of sold rooms increased effect on leisure travel. The year has year. These events contributed to percent and occupancy increasing by
slightly, while capacity grew by about however started well with trends in line occupancy of 7 percent for the full- 6 percent.
one percent. Growth in sold rooms with the strong 2007. January and year 2007 and an average rate of EUR A relatively large rise in capacity is
depended principally on increased February accumulated rose by close 223, representing increases of 4 per- expected in Europe in 200. Accor-
business travel. At the same time, to 6 percent in London, despite Janu- cent and 6 percent respectively. ding to the March issue of The Hotel
average rates rose by close to 6 per- ary traditionally being a weak month In the year’s first two months, the city Times, capacity is estimated to increase
cent. All segments and regions show for the industry. Occupancy was in line has increased RevPAR by 19 percent. by 45,000 new rooms. The UK has the
similar trends. with 2007 while growth in prices was Europe as a whole had fewer sports most hotels coming in, and is naturally
In New York, occupancy closed at about 6 percent. For the full-year and cultural events in 2007 compared dominated by London. Other cities
4 percent for the full-year 2007, rep- 2007, London had occupancy of 3 with the previous year, but nonetheless waiting for additional capacity are
resenting an increase of 1.5 percent. percent, representing a rise of almost succeeded to increase RevPAR by Moscow and St Petersburg. Moscow
Here also, the underlying increase in 1 percent. Average rates increased by more than 6 percent. However, certain in particular has been affected by the
sold rooms was higher. Available rooms 10 percent and closed at GBP 130. cities managed less well. The poorest shortage of hotels, and average rates
increased by close to 3 percent during In general, 2007 was a year with trends were seen in Tallinn and Prague. have risen sharply in the tough com-
the period. Average rates rose by an strong growth in prices, which bene- Prague fell by almost 2 percent after a petition. A total of 45 new hotels will be
impressive 12 percent during the year fited growth in profits within the hotel decline in both prices and occupancy, opened in these two cities during the
to USD 270. industry. Profit growth is also affected and RevPAR in Tallinn closed percent year, primarily in the higher price seg-
The year 200 has continued in by cost structures. For the staff-inten- below the level for 2006. ment.
the same direction with rising prices sive hotel sector, the national payroll
and growth in sold rooms. For January costs are extremely significant – and Large supply expected in 2008 Strong January in Stockholm
and February accumulated, RevPAR there are differences between coun- Berlin was one of the few cities that In Sweden, RevPAR increased by 9
in New York is around 11 percent tries. According to TRI Hospitality declined in price in 2007. Average percent in 2007, due mainly to rising
higher than the level for 2007. Consulting, staff costs for hotels in rates fell by 2 percent while occu- average rates. Occupancy closed at
4

5. Market information from Pandox
Hotels in Paris and London have completely different staff costs. In Paris, personnel costs account for more than 40 percent of total sales while the figure for hotels in London are around 30 per-
cent. The prerequisites for the effect of revenue growth on profitability are therefore different.
51 percent and the average rate at thanks to the strong price growth. The same direction as other areas, and closed just over 2 percent more than
SEK 75. In the municipality of Stock- five-star segment also experienced a growth is declining. last year while average rates rose by
holm, occupancy rose by about one strong January with occupancy more than 7 percent. January was
percent to 71 percent for the full-year, increasing against last year. Growth in Declining rate of growth slightly weaker than the full-year
while average rates increased by 9 average rates was however slightly in Gothenburg 2007, and RevPAR increased by more
percent. 200 has started strongly lower than for the full-year 2007. In Gothenburg, the rate of growth is than 7 percent. Malmö’s high-price
with both occupancy and average Occupancy in the northern parts of declining for prices. In 2007, prices hotels show a similar pattern but had a
rates approximately 5 percent over the Stockholm region closed slightly rose by more than 4 percent while slightly poorer January, particularly
January 2007. under the levels seen in 2006. Ave- occupancy increased by almost one from an occupancy standpoint.
The sub-markets in Stockholm rage rates had good growth and percent. The four-star central hotels
show similar patterns, albeit with closed 2007 almost 9 percent over are also experiencing declining
different levels among the markets. 2006. January 200 was also a very increase in prices. RevPAR closed at
Stockholm’s five-star segment leads good month with RevPAR closing at 4 percent above last year, compared
the trends. Occupancy declined in an amazing 15 percent over January with 6 percent growth for the munici-
2007 by about 4 percent while average 2007. Stockholm’s southern suburbs pality as a whole.
rates increased by close to 17 percent. have always been behind in various Malmö has been a strong market
Prices showed rising growth through trends and where occupancy is still for a long time, although the rate of
the whole of 2007, simultaneously as rising, which for 2007 closed 3 per- growth is now declining for both aver-
the fall in occupancy increased. cent better than in 2006. On the other age rates and occupancy. In the Explanation:
RevPAR is nonetheless growing hand, developments are moving in the municipality of Malmö, occupancy RevPAR: Revenue per available room
DEVELOPMENT 2007, EUROPE DEVELOPMENT 2007, SCANDINAVIA
Occupancy, % Average rate, % RevPAR, % Occupancy, % Average rate, % RevPAR, %
Paris 4 6 11 Oslo 3 12 16
London 1 10 11 Malmö 2 11
Brussels 1 9 10 Stockholm 1 9 11
Berlin 5 –2 3 Gothenburg 1 5 6
Amsterdam –2 4 2 Helsinki 1 3 5
Frankfurt –1 –1 –2 Copenhagen –4 4
5

6. Market information from Pandox
Pandox market barometer
January 200
The market barometer indicates the selected cities’ position in the business conditions, how the hotel market is evolving, and the extent to which the hotel
cycle. The assessment is based on an analysis of each city. Consideration is property market is developing and has liquidity. It is important to note that the
given to macro-developments, the trends of the hotel industry and business 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. High WEAKENING DECLINE c The decline tapers off and RevPAR gradually levels out. This
potential and low risk. 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 wea-
and low risk that gradually increases to high risk. kening 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
Umeå, Stockholm 5*, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö,
Helsingborg, Jönköping
GROwTH b c weAKeNING DeCLINe
Luleå, Lund, Uppsala, Karlstad, Sundsvall
v LeVeL OUT
Comments – Sweden
In Umeå, growth in prices and occu- The rate of decline in occupancy is 3 rage rate is about 9 percent above the On a rolling twelve-month basis, occu-
pancy is still relatively stable. On a to 4 percent, but is balanced by a previous twelve-month period. The pancy is one percent below the pre-
rolling twelve-month basis for January continued rise in prices. On a rolling municipality of Gothenburg has weake- vious period. Growth in prices is still
200, average rates are more than 3 twelve-month basis, average rates are ning growth in occupancy and is close rising and is now up to 7 percent on a
percent above the previous twelve- more than 16 percent higher com- to 2 percent over the previous twelve- full-year basis. Prices are also rising in
month period, simultaneously as pared with the same period last year. month period. Prices have stabilised Luleå by about 7 percent although,
occupancy is close to 2 percent The municipality of Stockholm is at about 4 percent growth. contrary to Helsingborg, occupancy
above. The five-star group in Stock- stable with about one percent over last Helsingborg has shown signs in has grown by about 2 percent.
holm still has good growth in RevPAR. year’s occupancy levels and the ave- recent months of declining occupancy. (Sources: Nutek and SCB)
INTeRNATIONALLY
PeAK h x DeCLINe
Paris, Copenhagen, London, Amsterdam, Oslo, Brussels, Prague
Vienna, Berlin
GROwTH b c weAKeNING DeCLINe
Helsinki
v LeVeL OUT
Comments – Internationally
Paris still has strong growth. January 2007 with a fall in occupancy and an cent in January while prices increased pancy closed at the same as last year.
started well with roughly equal growth increase in prices. by 7 percent. RevPAR closed in Janu- Vienna still has strong trends and both
in occupancy and average rates. In London, occupancy stagnated ary at almost 4 percent over last year, average rates and occupancy are ris-
RevPAR for January 200 closed at and it is average rates that are behind while the full year 2007 closed at only ing. The full-year 2007 closed with an
more than 14 percent over January the development. Price growth is not 2 percent over 2006. increase in RevPAR of 10 percent.
2007. In Copenhagen, occupancy however as strong as previously, and Brussels had an excellent January
backed by about one percent in Janu- in January 200 average rates rose by and both average rates and occu-
ary, while price growth was still good. about 5 percent. In Amsterdam, pancy rose by about percent. Occu-
RevPAR was more than 3 percent RevPAR is still rising although occu- pancy growth has however been lower
higher than the same month last year. pancy has fallen over the last half- recently. For the full-year 2007, price (Sources: Deloitte, and central statistics
The trend was the same at the end of year. Occupancy fell by close to 4 per- growth was 9 percent while occu- agencies in Norway and Finland)
6

7. Market information from Pandox
Current trends
Value the virtual guest!
An interactive and engaging web- around knowledge of the Internet’s recounts guests’ stories,
site can give higher occupancy for significance. If one enters Hilton.com and reflects about society in
your hotel. The virtual guest should into the tool, one can see that the general. From another per-
therefore be valued just as highly website had three million unique spective, Brad Nelson, Vice
as the guest at the hotel. Despite visitors in February 200. With President Culinary and Cor-
this, there are few hotels that dare Hilton’s 176,257 hotel rooms and porate Chef, writes about
to be prominent. an assumption of an average occu- his experiences. He talks
pancy of 65 percent in February, we about meetings with food
Visitor statistics are maintained at arrive at approximately 3.2 million journalists and the hunt for
both the hotel and on the Internet as sold rooms – implying that the web- the perfect oyster. He also
to how successful one is at attracting site and the hotels had roughly the shares a delicious recipe for
clients. On the Internet, one talks same number of visitors. mussel soup, and closes
about unique visitors. The word Experienced Internet companies with the question ”What’s
’unique’ is somewhat loaded. It gives work to keep the visitor in the web- on your plate today?” Cre-
a promise that the client is significant, site. Partly because the value of ative, engaging and personal. tors to the website who then visit the
that the client is special. Even in the advertising space rises, but also in The New Yorker Hotel has also hotels? Probably not. Can you
world of statistics, the word is strong order to increase the chances of adopted the trend and started a blog through a more personal interactive
and promises a more correct picture additional sales. However, most called The New Yorker Scene. The and exciting website get some of the
of reality than just the word ’visitor’. hotel companies are so focused on company is currently undergoing a virtual guests to actually take a step
Hotel companies have however selling their physical product that large refurbishment program, and into the real world? Probably.
been bad at caring for their Internet they forget to work with the virtual the hotel manager Kevin Smith writes
visitors. They put a lot of work into product. on the blog so as to inform and cre-
physical visitors being satisfied and ate curiosity about what is to come.
Hotel blogs
wanting to return. But what do the The hotel blog gives life The hotel company Hyatt has
Crowne Plaza Brussels City
companies do for the unique – New blogs appear on the Internet also succeeded in doing something
Centre, Brussels
virtual – visitors? every day. It can be private individu- more with its website. At Hyatt.com
http://blog.crowneplazabrussels.be
als who write about their fashion there is an Internet store called Hyatt
Grand Hotel, Lund
Equally important as the hotel interest or pets, but they can also be Home where you can purchase
www.grandilund.se/index.php/
Websites should be easy to navigate, professionals of various kinds. News- everything from bed linen and towels
category/aktuellt
welcoming and filled with relevant paper editors, politicians, television to shower heads and furniture.
Marriott International
information. Preferably, a hotel room personalities and corporate execu-
www.blogs.marriott.com,
may also be booked via the site. But tives are just a few examples. And Gives new clients
www.chefblog.marriott.com
hotel companies’ efforts to capture now hotels and hotel companies Some hotel companies really do
Opus Hotel, Vancouver
and keep clients often stop here. have also joined the trend. make an effort for their virtual
www.opushotel.com/blog
The website Compete.com offers Marriott International has no less guests. And in view of the calcula-
The Angler’s Boutique Resort,
web-based analysis tools for web- than two blogs at its website. The tion example above, it should be
Miami Beach
sites. When you go into the site, you company’s chairman and CEO, Bill only natural to devote as much time
www.theanglersresort.com/blog
are met by the quotation ”Track your Marriott, has a blog called ”Marriott on the website’s formulation as on
The New Yorker Hotel, New York
rivals. Then eat their lunch.” They on the move”, where he talks about the hotel’s design and service. Is it
www.newyorkerhotel.com/blog
have created their business concept employees in the organisation, the same three million unique visi-
DID YOU KNOw...
… there exist high-tech pyjamas? Travelodge
has launched pyjamas that will enable you to
in London therefore recruited a ”proposal
butler” to assist women who had decided
Sundry facts from various
corners of the hotel world
… the most popular drink at the moment is Fish
Martini? The Fish Martini drink is served at the
sleep better, thanks to technical finesses. The to propose on Leap Day. deVigne bar at the Mandeville Hotel in London.
pyjamas is moisturising, regulate the body It contains sherry, vodka, lemon juice, thyme and
temperature and allow the skin to breath … everything can be made with choco- smoked salmon. The hotel claims that it is very
more easily. The pyjamas are free of late? The resort hotel The Belle Mare popular and that it even sells better than the
charge during a test period, but Trav- Plage in Mauritius held a chocolate week Chocolate Martini.
elodge then plans a price of around in the beginning of March. As guest, you
GBP 20. They will be available for sale at could for example take a cookery course led
all Travelodge hotels in the UK. by the chocolatier Philippe Bertrand. You
could then take a chocolate body wrap in
… you as a woman can obtain help with the hotel’s spa, and follow up with a
proposing for marriage? Custom says that chocolate cocktail in the bar. After
women are allowed to propose to men on which a four-course chocolate dinner
Leap Day – February 29. The Mayfair Hotel was served.
7

8. Market information from Pandox
News from the Pandox sphere
Standing ovation Ten become nine
A standing ovation and hearty congratulations to Eric van Dalsum and On 27 March, we
his staff at the Crowne Plaza Brussels City Centre. Once again, they have announced that Pandox will
received prestigious awards. This time: 2007 Torchbearer Award, 2007 lease the Hotell Skogshöjd in
Hotel Innovation Award and 2007 Hotel of the Year – Continental Europe Södertälje to Scandic on a
Division Award, for the hotel’s outstanding performance and results revenue-based lease agree-
within the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in 2007. ment. As of 1 May 200, the
We thank Eric and his team for their excellent work and wish them hotel will be operated under
good luck in the future! the Scandic brand. The
hotel was purchased in the
beginning of 2007, has 225 rooms and is located in central Södertälje.
Pandox will remain as active owner and will carry out an investment pro-
gram of about SEK 20 million. After this transaction, Pandox now has
nine own operations.
Toots at Crowne Plaza Antwerp
The Toots bar and restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Antwerp is named
after Toots Thielemans, the well-known Belgian jazz musician.
Old warehouse completed – Hilton London Docklands Toots and the Crowne Plaza have worked together for a long time with
The hotel has obtained 114 newly refurbished rooms that are now ready The Jazz Middelheim Festival. At the restaurant, one can even order
for London guests. The last Toots’ favourite dish of Belgian stew with dark beer.
stage of three, in the oldest You who are fans of Toots, and of jazz, are recommended to visit The
part of the ”The Wharf Build- Jazz Middelheim Festival 13–17 August this year where, of course, the
ing”, has now been com- 6 years old jazz legend, will perform.
pleted. The rooms have
retained their old character,
but have been given a mod-
ern, slightly Scandinavian
touch. The entire hotel is
now ready. The refurbish-
ment has been carried out in
cooperation with Hilton. The
hotel was purchased in 2000
and has 365 rooms. The hotel manager is Colin Wakefield.
New hotel managers
Scandic Upplands Väsby and Järva Krog have new hotel managers since
a short time back. Erik Sangevie is at the Upplands Väsby and Ginger Miss Belgium
Wibert can be found at the Järva Krog. In December last year, the Crowne Plaza Antwerp was host hotel for the
Christel Cabanier is hotel manager of the Hotel BLOOM! in Brussels finalists of the Miss Belgium competition. The singer Kelly Clarkson,
since March 1. Christel has special guest at the final in the Antwerp Sports Palace, also stayed at
very solid experience from the hotel.
the hotel industry and comes
07
PAN
most recently from the Park Topical and popular
Plaza Astrid Antwerp where In the middle of April, the Hotel BLOOM!
DOX
E S S
she worked as Operations will open a new restaurant/bar called
S I N
Manager for ten years. “SMOODS”, a new fitness centre and an
B U
P A
N D
O X’
R E
P O
Christel is quite well known airline lounge. The hotel is without
R T
I N G
O F
B U
S I N
E S S
O P
E R
A T I
in Belgium due to her being doubt Pandox’ most written about and
O N
S F O
R 2 0 0
7
one of the judges in a very topical hotel in the media, thanks to its
popular TV program about rooms uniquely decorated by art stu-
restaurants. As said, Christel dents under the theme of “flowers”.
has many irons in the fire, The hotel is also on the first page of
and has already contributed our annual report with a picture of
to the Hotel BLOOM! gaining the lobby.
further publicity.
We wish Erik, Ginger and Annual report
Christel good luck in their Pandox annual report is ready KNO
WLED
GE |
CREA
TIVIT
Y | S
PEE D | N
new challenges. and is available as usual at our
ETW ORK
website or may be ordered at
pandox@pandox.se.