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The Amalfi Coast has long been the place to see and be seen on Italy’s long Mediterranean coastline. While the picturesque towns of Amalfi and Positano are the obvious tourist hotspots, there are other lesser-known gems to be discovered. If secluded luxury, stunning views and immaculate service are required, then the boutique hotel Casa Angelina in Praiano deserves not to be missed. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the azure water, its pristine white walls contrast with the blue of sea and sky to create a perfect oasis of peace.

When traveling, a hotel is a home away from home. This is why it is important to choose a place that fits a visitor’s personality, needs or goals for the trip. Chain hotels offer an attractive price point, but many lack real character. Fleischer’s Hotel AS, headquartered in Voss, Norway, has remained an independent, family-owned location. This allows the owners and staff the opportunity to give guests a truly unique experience from the rooms, to the food, to the grounds and all the extra amenities.

Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast is a much-loved destination for tourists from around the world. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997, it attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. For those who want to enjoy the cultural, architectural and natural attractions of this unique area, Villa Cimbrone offers a perfectly secluded hideaway. Perched on a steep hill overlooking the clear waters of the Mediterranean, the 12th century residence has been restored to its former glory by the Vuilleumier family and is now an exclusive boutique hotel catering to an exclusive clientele.

Danske Hoteller A/S celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1990 by a group of entrepreneurs with the dream of starting a hotel chain in Denmark that would specialize in smaller countryside hotels where ambiance and service took priority. Today the chain numbers 23 hotels all over Denmark. Talking to European Business, Commercial Director Kenneth Hedegaard describes what motivated him to join the group and how it seeks to set itself apart in a crowded market.

Garden festivals are opportunities to regenerate rundown areas and breathe new life into neglected city districts. The 1997 national horticultural show held in Gelsenkirchen, Germany was the first in Germany to be staged on a former coal mining site. The advantage of these shows is that they leave a lasting legacy that improves quality of life in the host area long after the show has ended. A good example is Heiner’s Hotel and Gastronomie GmbH which originated in the bistro cafe that was created to serve visitors to the festival.

A positive company culture improves teamwork, raises morale, increases efficiency and reduces stress in employees: There are many reasons why an environment with clearly defined values is of the utmost importance to any business. Christopher Riemensperger, General Manager of Hotel Olymp GmbH & Co. KG in Eching near Munich, shares this theory. He runs the four-star hotel and knows that any hotel is only as good as its employees.

It is one of these dream locations that you encounter in films when people are holidaying in the Alps. Wonderful scenery, traditional Tyrolean charm and a huge range of indoor and outdoor activities – even equipped with a football pitch boasting FIFA dimensions, and, last but not least, modern facilities to host company meetings and large events: This is Hotel Seehof. It is a place that has something to offer for every guest and for every season.

True, most guests to the Fer à Cheval come for a skiing holiday, combined with a visit to the French luxury resort of Megève. Thanks to its special character, the five-star hotel offers all the amenities you could wish for and is attracting a growing number of people throughout the year. The Fer á Cheval unites the best of both worlds: true Alpine hospitality with natural materials, and inobtrusive luxury in its splendid rooms, suites, restaurants and facilities.

Flexibility, design and lifestyle are the hallmarks of the refurbishments carried out by Grape Hospitality from France, owner, operator and manager of 87 hotels in eight European countries and well over 9,000 rooms operated under a franchise contract. Jointly owned by Eurazeo, Accor Invest and the group management, Grape Hospitality has opened twelve new restaurants in the three years of its existence and raised the annual turnover from 200 to 250 million EUR. An impressive achievement by any standards. At the same time customer satisfaction has gone up from seven to a value of almost nine out of ten – another point to confirm the group’s successful and value-adding hotel management.

You like climbing and enjoy going to the gym, but signing up for both is too expensive? Urban Sports Club has come up with a solution which covers not only various sports, but also enables training beyond a country’s borders. Co-founders and CEOs Moritz Kreppel and Benjamin Roth explain how Urban Sports Club is transforming the sports and leisure industry and why it is an optimum solution for private members and companies alike.

Hotels, restaurants, coffee shops: The hospitality business is dominated by huge big-name chains. While many smaller establishments are also successful, they nevertheless face serious challenges in competing with the large corporates. As hoteliers based in Canazei in the Italian Dolomites, the Nicolodi family recognized that while individuality is a positive attribute, there is also strength in numbers. The family founded Union Hotels Canazei, a group of local hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities owned by the family itself and other local business people, to create a strong and successful hospitality presence in the region.