BUSINESS NEWS
Euro hotel operator Revo Hospitality in ‘self-administration’
Major European hotel operator Revo Hospitality, based in Germany, has gone into administration. The Berlin-based group filed
for a “self-administration” under German insolvency law last week, allowing it to restructure its debts, blaming the country’s economic crisis and increased wage, food and energy costs. The German economy has been
in recession for two years but is forecast to grow at the fastest rate among major European economies this year owing to a surge in defence spending by the government. German travel trade publication
FVW reported the insolvency “shocked” the country’s hotel sector,
with the company “considered a symbol of modern hotel design”. Revo launched in April 2025
under the umbrella of multi-brand hotel operator HR Group. It managed about 260 hotels, mostly city-centre properties, in 12 countries, acting as a ‘white label’ operator for multinational chains including Accor, Wyndham and IHG as well as operating its own brands. The group’s 125 hotels in
Germany and Austria continue to operate, but 140 are subject to the insolvency. Revo said it would honour bookings for stays completed by the end of March. The owner of Ireland-based
operator Dalata Hotel Group, Pandox, issued a statement describing its exposure – consisting of nine properties in Germany operated under the Dorint and Mercure brands – as “limited”. It noted: “We are exploring several options for the hotel properties.”
WTTC confirms relocation of head office from London to Madrid
The World Travel & Tourism Council confirmed the move of its head office from London to Madrid and return of Gloria Guevara as president and chief executive this month, as Travel Weekly reported it would in October. The WTTC confirmed
WTTC chair Manfredi
Gloria Guevera
Guevara’s reappointment last week after announcing the move to Madrid earlier this month. It suggested Madrid was selected
from among five destinations – Dubai, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland – which “expressed interest” in hosting the WTTC head office, with the decision based on factors including costs, “fast-track visas” and “government incentives”.
Lefebvre also highlighted “strong international connectivity via Madrid-Barajas Airport” and “synergies with international organisations such as UN Tourism”
which is based in Madrid. However, sources within
the WTTC suggest the decision to move to Madrid was taken in advance of the WTTC Global Summit last October, with the organisation’s 39 London staff, including then chief executive Julia Simpson, notified of a redundancy consultation within an hour of the summit ending. Guevera ran the WTTC in 2017-21 and returned as interim chief in October.
Spanish OTA Destinia enters UK Ian Taylor
Spanish online travel agency (OTA) Destinia is poised to enter the UK market after acquiring Travel Republic and Netflights from Emirates-owned dnata Travel Group last week. Dnata announced Travel Republic
and Netflights would close in November following a two-month review of its “strategic options” and began a formal consultation with staff at the B2C businesses when it appeared there was no potential buyer (Travel Weekly, November 20). However, Madrid-based Destinia
stepped in to secure the businesses for an undisclosed sum, confirmed on January 20. In a statement, Destinia said it would “prioritise continuity” for
travelweekly.co.uk
customers and “continue operating the brands” while supporting them with its technology and operational platform. Destinia chief executive Ricardo
Fernández said: “Our focus is on keeping the service and booking experience, while supporting the brands with our systems and scale.” He described the acquisition as
in line with its plans for international expansion. The Spanish group, founded in 2001, is among the larger OTAs in Spain although little known in the UK until now. It described Travel Republic and
Netflights as “established UK brands with a strong customer base” and said it would expand the range of holidays and flights available, in particular to Mediterranean destinations Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey,
Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia – markets in which it claims “strong directly contracted partnerships”. A dnata Travel Group
spokesperson said the Emirates- owned business “reached an agreement with Destinia for the asset sale [following] our decision to wind down our involvement in these brands as part of a broader strategic review of our UK portfolio. “All confirmed Travel Republic
and Netflights bookings will be honoured. Travellers can continue with their plans with confidence, and dnata Travel Group’s customer services teams will remain available to support them throughout the transition.” Dnata acquired Travel Republic,
the better known of the two brands, in 2011 when the OTA recorded
Travel Republic’s new owner has a Mediterranean focus
more than two million customers a year. Travel Republic holds an Atol for
just over 46,000 package customers. The Atol regulator, the CAA, will need to approve the new owner and its financial protection arrangements if the OTA is to retain its Atol. Dnata Travel Group confirmed in
November that it would retain B2B operator Gold Medal and retailer Travelbag.
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