How Marriott and IHG will grow in Europe

Good morning from Skift. Today is Tuesday, April 16th. Here’s what you need to know about the travel industry today.

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episode notes

Marriott and IHG each announced plans to add 100 hotels to their portfolios in Europe, reports senior hospitality editor Sean O’Neill.

Marriott said it will add about 100 of these properties by the end of 2026 through hotel conversions, deals in which owners of existing hotels take on new brand affiliations, or by converting existing buildings into hotels. Marriott already has more than 800 properties in Europe.

As for IHG, the company plans to partner with Novum Hospitality, one of Germany’s largest family-owned hotel groups, to add just over 100 hotels to its German footprint.

Second, following this weekend’s Iranian attack on Israel, some major airlines remain cautious about operating flights in the Middle East, writes airline editor Gordon Smith. ing.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said there is currently no risk to civil aviation for overflights, but some airlines are extending route cancellations and diversions. Virgin Atlantic Airways announced on Monday that it was temporarily avoiding the airspace of Iraq, Iran and Israel, with some flights from the UK to India being adjusted as a result.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa Group announced that flights to Lebanon and Iran will remain suspended until at least Thursday.

Finally, Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin sees huge scope for growth in India. Indian reporter Bulbul Dhawan delves into the reasons for Bazin’s optimism.

Bazin described India, where the company operates 62 hotels, as an untapped market. He pointed out that India’s top five hotel operators have a combined total of less than 1,000 hotels, compared to less than 25,000 in China. Additionally, Dhawan cited India’s rapidly growing middle class (Skift Megatrend 2024) as another reason why Bazin believes business in India will boom. .

Bazin also said that he sees a lot of potential in India’s second and third largest cities, which are home to about 1 billion people.

Presenter/Producer: Jose Marmolejos

Photo courtesy of Moxy Tromsø public spaces.